Art Crawl artist displays her work outside of Trim Salon. Photo courtesy of Birmingham Art Crawl.
Birmingham Art Crawl celebrates its first anniversary
Slipping into Mamanoe’s wine cellar during the Art Crawl is like stumbling upon a secret. Perched at a makeshift table and sampling wine with a friend feels like a scene from a Humphrey Bogart movie. Secluded for a moment, clutching a bag from Charm, the silence breaks with peals of laughter from a group of retired teachers from Mississippi. Then the camaraderie kicks in, a soft feeling of connection through art, music and pride in the Magic City. Numbers and directions to Urban Standard are exchanged as everyone emerges to hit the Crawl again.
In 12 months, Birmingham’s Art Crawl has accomplished a lot. A quick glance at the Art Crawl website reveals the monthly community arts event has been listed by Envensi as one of the top events to attend in Birmingham; Gina Yu featured the Crawl in the March 2015 edition of Eide magazine; in January, discoverbirmingham.org pointed readers in the direction of the Crawl in a “What to Do in Birmingham” write-up; and B Metro added the event to their “Top 3 at 3” video.
If you haven’t been to the Art Crawl in Downtown Birmingham, you have yet to experience the true creative bounty the city holds. The last Thursday of the month, local artists set up shop in stores, bars and restaurants throughout the area. Around every corner, artistic surprises await (some with a glass of wine or a beer).
The map, conveniently printed on the back of this issue of Weld, changes monthly, so attendees have the opportunity to give downtown more than just a glance over and discover new venues, while supporting Birmingham’s art and culinary scene.
Urban Standard, the Weld offices and Charm frequently stay open late for the Art Crawl, and local haunts like Rogue Tavern offer dinner and drink specials to coincide with the art offerings outside. New venues like Shive, Revelator Coffee and Birmingham Oddities have recently joined the cause of the Crawl: to meet and support local artists and discover all Birmingham has to offer.
June’s Art Crawl will take place Thursday, the 4th from 5 to 9 p.m. Venues across downtown Birmingham include galleries, restaurants and bars and downtown businesses throughout the historic, loft, business, arts and theatre districts. Free. For more information, visit birminghamartcrawl.com.
THURSDAY, MAY 28
Enduring Legacy: The Tuskegee Airmen — Southern Museum of Flight. 4343 73rd St. N. In its last week on display, Enduring Legacy by Chris Hopkins engages and educates viewers. The paintings and drawings in the exhibit are mostly based on real Tuskegee Airmen, an elite African American battalion of fighter and transport pilots during World War II. Tuesday–Saturday, 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. $7. For more information, call (205) 833-8226.
FRIDAY, MAY 29
The Sacred and the Mundane — The Future East Lake Performing Arts Center. 7604 First Ave. N. The Sacred and the Mundane: Transforming the Worldly Discarded into Art of the Supernatural is an art exhibit of found-object collage and assemblage, inspired by Hopi Indian kachina dolls, masks and costumes by local artist-historian Craig Legg. The exhibit will be open Saturdays 10 a.m.–3 p.m., or by appointment through May 31. Free. For more information, call (205) 410-7702.
SATURDAY, MAY 30
Smart Art Youth Cultural Arts Festival — Boutwell Municipal Auditorium. 1931 Eighth Ave. N. The City of Birmingham Mayor’s Office Division of Youth Services invites the public of all ages to explore the arts during the second Smart Art Youth Cultural Arts Festival. Local artists and vendors will represent Birmingham’s fine arts community in fields including poetry, creative writing and the culinary, visual and performing arts. Demos, games and lessons will be available during the event, which was postponed from its previously scheduled May 14 event. 11 a.m.–3 p.m. For more information, call (205) 320-0879.
Bad Art Night — Emmet O’Neal Library. 50 Oak St., Mountain Brook. As part of the Emmet O’Neal Library’s adult programs, Standing Room Only presents a night for the artistically challenged, the mess-makers and the child in everyone. Bad Art Night is a chance to scribble and scrawl and glitter glue with reckless abandon in the safety of trained professionals. “Bring your friends, but leave your talent at home.” Materials, drinks and pizza will be provided by the library. The worst artists will win prizes. 7 p.m. Free. For more information, visit eolib.org.
Photography Class — PaperWorkers Local. 3815 Clairmont Ave. S. John DeMotte will teach this class on the basics of photography, and share insights into the world of professional photography. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $85. For more information, email paperworkerslocal@gmail.com.
THURSDAY, JUNE 4
First Thursdays at the BMA — Birmingham Museum of Art. 2000 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd. The first Thursday of the month, the Birmingham Museum of Art stays open late to allow the community to enjoy studio classes, docent-led tours and film screenings. This month brings “Art Onstage,” a live interview with father and daughter artists Trés and Lillis Taylor; a Drop-In and Draw class; and “The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far from the Tree,” a Gallery Talk with interim curator of education Kristen Greenwood, who will be showing works by artists related to one another. 5:00–9:30 p.m. Free. For more information, visit artsbma.org.
ONGOING
The Way of the Dodo — Naked Art Gallery. 3831 Clairmont Ave. S. Michelle Reynolds and Shawna Ross are both “upcycling” artists who seem to have found a niche at Forest Park’s Naked Art Gallery. The duo are sharing their newest creations in The Way of the Dodo, a show that illuminates the capacity to see quirky beauty in discarded objects. Through June 6. Tuesday–Saturday, 10:30 a.m.–6 p.m. Free. For more information, visit nakedartusa.com.
Know Thy Farmer Installation — Dr. Pepper Building. Second Avenue South and 29th Street. Pepper Place Market is celebrating its 15th anniversary this season with the theme “Know Thy Farmer.” In commemoration, a 36-foot high mural of a photo by Paul Jones III has been installed to greet marketplace shoppers arriving from the west. The mural is available for viewing 24 hours, seven days a week. Free. For more information, visit pepperplacemarket.com.
