Exhibition Opening:

Thursday, April 11, 2024

5:30 to 8:00 p.m.

The exhibition will continue through May 24, 2024

Tuesday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and by appointment

Anne Arrasmith Gallery

at Space One Eleven
2407 Second Avenue North, Downtown Birmingham

Buoyed by our predecessors’ paths to joy and liberation, we transmute pain into progress and become a beacon. Illumination is our charge and our destiny.

The dual exhibition, “My Yoke is Easy and My Burden is Light”, features the works of Erin LeAnn Mitchell and E L Chisolm who delve into the fortitude and genius of Black womanhood.

In the face of systemic injustice, we resist with skill and style. These new artworks call viewers to act.

In conjunction with the exhibition, attendees will be encouraged to reflect on the narrative and then respond to a text prompt: “How do you turn pain into progress?” In addition, a gallery walkthrough will be hosted by the artists to discuss the intricacies of their work. The date for the walkthrough is to be announced.

Erin LeAnn Mitchell is a textile artist from Birmingham, Alabama who received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Master of Arts in Art Education from Columbia College Chicago. Her work is an expansion of the southern quilting tradition, using a mixture of textiles and collage gathered in textile markets and fabric stores. These multidimensional assemblages render the realities of southern Blackness into radical new imaginings.

E.L. Chisolm (b. 1993) is an interdisciplinary artist, muralist, art activist, and creative placemaking consultant living and working between Birmingham, Alabama, and Atlanta, Georgia. Her work across mediums has activated public spaces in underserved communities to help decrease blight and increase walkability and wellness using tactical urbanism projects and public art. Guided by the belief that all people are equally as deserving of vibrant and healthy communities, the artist explores the strength and honesty that come from the natural world and seeks to illuminate the distinctive facial attributes of Black people, emphasizing texture and feature diversity in her mixed media paintings and murals alike.

The graduating University of Alabama at Birmingham students will have their works featured in a Bachelor of Fine Arts exhibition April 2 – 27.

“The BFA exhibition represents crossing the threshold into the professional environment for students who are often showing their work for the first time in the setting of a gallery or museum,” says Rich Gere, professor and chair of the Department of Art and Art History. “We are very fortunate and happy to collaborate with AEIVA’s staff and curators, who afford students the same experience in preparing for and mounting the exhibition as the professional artists who come in from around the globe,” Gere said. “Students write about their work and give oral presentations explaining their inspirations, research, processes, and concepts. The BFA exhibition is the studio capstone experience and one of the spring’s premier closing receptions in the area, and we hope to see you there.”
The Department of Art and Art History’s Bachelor of Fine Arts degree offers undergraduate art studio students an intensive exploration across a range of disciplines that allows them to prepare to be artists, and designers, begin careers in the arts, or continue their studies in graduate school. Students gain skills and competencies including team-based learning, technology, communication, aesthetic judgment, interdisciplinary and innovative approaches, critical analysis, and professional development throughout their program of study.

Please join Erin LeAnn Mitchell, Birmingham, and E L Chisolm, Birmingham/Atlanta; as they give an artist talk about their work in the exhibition, "My Yoke is Easy and My Burden is Light."

The exhibition will be on display at Space One Eleven through May 24. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10am to noon, and by appointment.

Adults will learn tap combos and have fun working their tap rhythms. Tap dance sharpens reflexes and improves memory skills and coordination. This beginner’s class will work toward establishing fundamental tap movements, vocabulary and work on basic rhythms and steps that progress into fun and lively dance combinations.

Join us on April 25th from 6pm - 8:30 for MAKEbhm's Spring Open House + Makers Maker, a celebration of artistic expression, community collaboration, and the spirit of creativity. This exclusive event provides the public with a unique opportunity to explore MAKEbhm and meet talented makers. We’ll have 20+ Makers, Ricksaw Food Truck, & 450 Bakeshop joining us!

Have a fever to learn Fosse? Or an appetite to learn Ashford? Fulfill your Broadway fantasies in this class where you will learn the choreography to  famous musical theatre numbers.

Join us at Sloss Furnaces to celebrate the Spring Art Festival's 41st year in Birmingham. Take in MCAC's sights, sounds, tastes, and aromas at this storied, rustic, industrial backdrop central to our city’s skyline. We look forward with much anticipation to fusing the show’s vibrant contemporary arts with this former master of industry. 2024 will spotlight 150 juried, fine artists from the region and around the country alongside Corks & Chefs: A Taste of Birmingham (27th year!), Imagination Festival art workshops for Kids, Collectors Classroom art demos for Adults, live dance and music performances, special exhibitions and sculpture installations, a café, lounging in the open air, and more. We hope you’ll find art and more at MCAC the last full weekend in April in Birmingham, Alabama

America’s Next Great Author winner, poet and novelist Joi Miner will revive her production of Ntozake Shange’s groundbreaking choreopoem, for colored girls who considered suicide when the rainbow was enuf. This is MCPF’s first theatrical event, and we’re excited to share it with our community!

Each year, MCPF brings poetry alive in unlikely places like public parks, national monuments, and this year, we will reprise our popular Poetry at the Monument event. Poetry at the Monument, sponsored by the Alabama State Council on the Arts and hosted at the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, will feature three local poets who will share work related to civil rights and social justice.

City Center Art is Space One Eleven’s afterschool studio art program for students of all skill levels and is designed to build visual communication skills and foster creative thinking. Through individually conceived projects and collaborations, young artists learn the elements of art and principles of design, strengthen foundation skills, and further their understanding of art criticism, art theory, and art history.

Teaching artists balance instruction between creating and responding—students make, discuss, and write about their work—thereby facilitating a transformative learning experience for young artists.Space One Eleven’s philosophy is to provide an environment in which young artists can learn, create, explore, and forge their own path into the world of art. All CCA students participate in the student art exhibition at the end of the semester.

Students are welcome to join the art class any time during the school year if seats are available. Class cost will be pro-rated for those who join later in the semester

Can you believe it's been five incredible years of growth, achievement, and community building?! We're thrilled to announce that The Flourish Alabama 5-Year Celebration is just around the corner, and we want you to mark your calendars for a night of joy, reflection, and pure celebration!

Date: April 27, 2024
Time: 7:00 PM
Venue: Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Birmingham, AL

This milestone wouldn't be possible without the continuous support and dedication of our amazing community. We've flourished together, and now it's time to come together to commemorate our journey.

Tickets are available now, so don't miss your chance to secure your spot at this unforgettable celebration! We can't wait to see you there, as we raise a toast to the past, present, and future of The Flourish.

Curious about works of art that aren’t always included on a BMA tour? Take a DeTour with us each Sunday, where we’ll spend 30 minutes focusing on a work of art that is off the beaten path. This Sunday, drop by and join BMA Teaching Fellow Jessica Chanel Davis as she facilitates a discussion on Frank Fleming’s Rat located in the Sculpture Garden. Meet Jessica in the Main Lobby on the First Floor at 1:00 pm.

Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate. Ages 16+

This four week course lays out the foundational practices of seeing/drawing in order to equip the student with tools to have the confidence to explore observational drawing.

This class is taught by David West, an artist and teacher living in Birmingham, Alabama. West has nearly twenty years of art teaching experience, with a specific focus on drawing. He has taught and shown work throughout the Southeast as well as in Massachusetts and in Italy. His work is driven by deep observation and the desire to understand the rhythms and structures of the world around us. Register on our website today!

Have a fever to learn Fosse? Or an appetite to learn Ashford? Fulfill your Broadway fantasies in this class where you will learn the choreography to  famous musical theatre numbers.

A six-week class at Red Mountain Theatre dedicated to teaching you the ins and outs of improv.

Improv is a fun, exciting, and often hilarious way to loosen up and improve your interpersonal skills! Whether you’re looking to be the next cast member on SNL, or you’re hoping for a promotion at work, the foundations of this time-honored skill will help you be able to keep up in any conversation. Acting has been proven to grow public speaking skills, stimulate memory, and boost teamwork mentality, so students will leave being prepared for any professional or performance situation, paired with a whole bunch of laughs along the way!

Join us at Saturn Birmingham for this month's installation of The Moth StorySLAM! The Moth StorySLAM is an open-mic storytelling competition in which anyone can share a true, personal, 5-minute story on the night's theme. Sign up for a chance to tell a story or sit back and enjoy the show! Tonight’s theme is…

GREEN: Prepare a five-minute tale involving verdant fields, blades of grass, tree-huggers, or leprechauns. The bubbling envy over the childhood friend whose sneakers always shone brighter than yours. Of coveting thy neighbor, or chasing the benjamins. Stories of the unripe and inexperienced. The time when nature nurtured you, or when you were lost in the forest at nightfall with no flashlight. The grass is always, well… you know.

Doors Open: 6:30 PM

Show Starts: 7:30 PM

Tickets for Birmingham's StorySLAMs go on sale 3 weeks prior to the show date at 3 PM ET.

Seating is not guaranteed and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please be sure to arrive at least 10 minutes before the show. Admission is not guaranteed for late arrivals. All sales final. As many as 10 tickets may be available at the door for all of our StorySLAMs on a first-come, first-served basis.

*This venue is for ages 18+

In this class, you’ll learn all the basics of this craft that has propelled Red Mountain Theatre into its gorgeous new home. Character development and script analysis tools will serve as a springboard for imagination and creativity. You’ll walk away with new memorization skills, interpersonal understanding, and ingenuity that will benefit your performance not just on stage, but also at work, and in your daily life!

Humanities scholar Salaam Green, Birmingham's first poet laureate, will present a scholarly literature/history lecture and discussion: Poetry to the People: Historical Narratives of Poetry's Powerful Influence on Justice and the Legacy of Civil Rights in Birmingham. As part of this scholarly lecture, Salaam will read from recent works on the lecture theme. This open-to-the-public, free event will be presented in the first-floor space at the Birmingham Public Library located at 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, Alabama. Guests will receive eco-friendly pencils and thought journals to take notes and write questions—encouraging participation in the Question/Answer portion of the program.

Basic obedience course focused on leash walking, recall, impulse control, engagement, and socialization. Visit nightdaydog.com to learn more. 6 WEEKS: $300 Pink Block Dog Park 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

In this class, you’ll learn all the basics of this craft that has propelled Red Mountain Theatre into its gorgeous new home. Character development and script analysis tools will serve as a springboard for imagination and creativity. You’ll walk away with new memorization skills, interpersonal understanding, and ingenuity that will benefit your performance not just on stage, but also at work, and in your daily life!

Learn the basic skills of screen printing in our print studio. This workshop provides you with a casual, fun introduction to the materials and processes you use to use silkscreen for printing, including a brief look at how screens are created, how to select and mix inks, and how to make a smooth print onto paper and fabric.

Before the start of class you will be asked to submit a one color design to be printed on a few shirts or totes.

Please join Prosper and our partners from the Birmingham Business Alliance to embark on an exciting journey at the Network Navigator Launch event on May 1st from 10am-2pm during Small Business Week! The event will be held at the beautiful, historic Greyhound Bus Station. Entrepreneurs and small business owners are invited to dive into a wealth of workshops, connect with resource providers, and learn invaluable tips for self-care at the Network Navigator Launch event during Small Business Week 2024. This is an event you don't want to miss.

Register here.

Small Business Week 2024 is about to get even bigger. Let's chart the course to entrepreneurial success together!

We welcome children's book author and educator, Tangular Irby, to Birmingham for a read-aloud of her latest book "Pearl and her Gee's Bend Quilt." This engaging story is about family, art, and adventure. She will discuss the legacy of Gee’s Bend quilting, her relationship to Gee’s Bend quilters, and the inspiration for her children’s books. Tangular will also encourage others to consider writing and sharing their own stories.

Bib & Tucker, a local sewing cooperative, will bring a kid-friendly sewing activity and we will have the picture book for sale alongside our other feminist literature. This read-aloud is perfect for 5-8 year old kiddos, but older children and adults alike may have fun and learn something new. All are welcome. Parking is in the back of the house or on nearby streets and you can access the bookstore by going around to the front porch (ADA accessible ramp on the side nearest to the firestation). We hope to see you there!

One of our most popular workshops is back with great bluegrass music classes and Gee's Bend quilting. This four-day workshop provides a truly immersive experience with a fun and enthusiastic community of musicians and artists.

Registration, full class list, and lodging options available January of 2024

Banjo I : Jack Hatfield
Banjo II: Alan Munde
Fiddle I: TBD
Fiddle II: TBD
Mandolin I: Jason Bailey
Mandolin II: TBD
Guitar: TBD
Gee's Bend Quilting: Mary Ann Pettway & China Pettway
Natural Dyeing: Aaron Sanders Head
Goat Milk Soap Making: Laura Spencer

WHAT is Freedom Friday in the Park?  Freedom Friday in the Park is a monthly multicultural WUCNetwork initiative designed to help women reduce work/life stress, mitigate health issues, promote exercise through dance, foster socialization, and provide information via vendors to assist and support women of all ages and cultures with health, self-care, family, and financial resources.

WHO - Women Under Construction Network (WUCNetwork).  WUCNetwork is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization created to provide programs and services that support underserved women, their children, and the elderly most in need in and around Birmingham, AL metro. Our Mission: REPAIRING HOMES, BUILDING WOMEN, CHANGING LIVES! Freedom Friday is supported by the Birmingham Parks & Recreation Department.

WHY Freedom Friday in the Park? It’s a one of a kind gathering that allows women to build their self-esteem, decompress from life issues and foster socialization of women from every walk of life. This event gives women their freedom back through movement and dance.

HOW?  With the generous financial and volunteer support provided by corporations, and other non profit organizations, WUCNetwork’s Freedom Friday in the Park will serve approximately 250+ women every 1st Friday of the month (May-August) using multicultural dance as well as limited mobility movement activities. This event will include staging, music, instructors, and vendors. Dances include:

Line Dance

Asian Dance

Country Western

Belly Dancing

Mixed Fitness

Chair Aerobics

Jazzercise

Dance Trance

Indian Dance

Salsa Hispanic

Limited Mobility

Zumba

West African Dance

Firehouse students are gearing up to the ROCK the BLOCK at our first Block Party of the year! Student bands will perform hits from Weezer to Taylor Swift.

Join us for this family-friendly event at the Firehouse Community Arts Center in the downstairs venue. Fun starts at 5:30 PM with a performance from Knowledge, Rhythm, and Understanding (KRU).

Lag's, Not Ya Average Leaf, and other food vendors will be serving up eats and treats throughout the night with drinks provided by Buffalo Rock, and adult bevs from Cahaba Brewing.

Tickets are a suggested donation of $10 each and all proceeds from this event will benefit the Firehouse Scholarship Program.

Learn the basics of ceramics while exploring handbuilding with Jess of Jenkies Studio. Over three weeks, learn slab building and sculpting methods to create mugs, vases, ring dishes etc. Finish by exploring various surface textures and glazes to complete your pieces.

This class will cover the basic terminology and techniques of handbuilding with all materials supplied, so it’s ideal for both beginners and those who've completed Ceramics: Throwing.

But when Nemo is captured and taken to Sydney, Marlin faces his fears and sets off on an epic adventure across the ocean. With the help of lovable characters such as optimistic Dory, laid-back sea turtle Crush, and the supportive Tank Gang, Marlin and Nemo both overcome challenges on their journey to find each other and themselves.

Featuring memorable songs such as “Just Keep Swimming,” “Fish Are Friends Not Food,” and “Go With the Flow,” Finding Nemo JR. brings a vibrant underwater world to life on stage in a story full of family, friendship, and adventure.

Art in the Village, well known for its 42 years, is a free community event that celebrates area artists offering a large variety of high-quality fine art paintings and drawings.

Shop the works of more than 50 Mountain Brook Art Association artists both inside and outside Mountain Brook City Hall, many award winning and regionally known.  Enjoy the Floral Art competition featuring floral arrangements by Lisa Bailey Designs.

Charming Crestline Village is the perfect setting to visit with the artists and mingle with friends, where there is free parking and plenty of food choices. It is also pet friendly and handicapped accessible.

Mountain Brook Art Association is a community of artists helping each other grow and refine painting and drawing abilities through meetings and demos, as well as developing professional artistic careers through group shows. It has been promoting interest in art across the community since 1981 and currently has 135 members from within a 25-mile radius of Mountain Brook.

Come check out one our most popular events known as Art in the Lot, which takes place twice a year. This free event serves as a platform to celebrate the exceptional gifts and talents of local artists and vendors. Presented by the Trinity Studio, Art in the Lot welcomes over 80 artisans who passionately display their God-given abilities across a diverse range of mediums, including painting, woodworking, ceramics, jewelry, fiber works, and much more. Come explore and support these incredible local artisans!

Want to be a vendor?
If you happen to be an artist or vendor, we extend a warm invitation for you to join us this year. By clicking the link provided below, you can access all the necessary information on how to become a participating artist.

Click here to find out more and become a participating artist.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Anna Leigh Daniel, the director of the Trinity Studio.

Become a volunteer
We’d also need some help making the event happen! If you would like to volunteer for one of the many roles we have available, then simply CLICK HERE.