We Create Birmingham: John Fields
“We’re not trying to tell you there’s only one way to think about this work. We like to think that no matter who you are, there is an entry point. If we can get anyone to think about the world in a slightly different way for a second, that’s the win.”
We Create Birmingham: Emily Wines
“Birmingham has changed a lot from when I grew up here. The people recognize how vibrant this city is and what all we have to offer. The food and beverage scene is crazy for the size of the city. The number of nationally renowned chefs, bars, and bartenders is incredible. To be able to use the relationships I’ve built in the bar industry has been so great.”
We Create Birmingham: Alisha Ruffin Brown
“There are a lot of achievers and brilliant minds in Bessemer. Because of lack of support and misrepresentation in the media, we have the idea that we will boom in different cities, so we go to different places. It didn’t make sense to live here and transplant my business somewhere else. There’s nothing wrong with branching out, but I don’t want to be a stranger in my hometown. I want to claim where I’m from.”
We Create Birmingham: Dan King and Ryan Kindahl
“Filmmaking is challenging, and each day is different, but we have each other to lean on, and that’s encouraging. Find a group of people you can make films with, and make sure everyone is as enthusiastic as you are.” Ryan Kindahl
We Create Birmingham: Fairfield Black Art Collective
“Artists deserve to feel valued. We want to support living artists. We want them to be able to pay their bills with their gifts. We don’t want to be appreciated once we die.” Erika Mixon
We Create Birmingham: Annie Bryant of Bib and Tucker
“Come on in. We’ve got a place for you. Nothing is wrong. If you don’t know how to do it, just ask. We’ll show you. We don’t know everything, but there is usually somebody who knows a little bit more than you do, and we’ll help you in any way we can.”
We Create Birmingham: Carey Fountain
“This work can be very emotionally charged. It never loses its impact. Art has a way of inspiring people and inviting them into a deeper and uncomfortable conversation.”
We Create Birmingham: Daniel Drinkard, Owner of Seasick Records
“I wanted this place to be a more inviting space than many record stores tend to be…. Our goal is to be a space that makes people feel comfortable and welcome, purchasing whatever music they love. That’s why we make an effort to host community events that connect us to the city at large, more so than just being a retail store.”
We Create Birmingham: Willie Williams of Studio 2500
“Black artists are already underrepresented, so for me to own a fine art gallery as a black male and artist, I’m trailblazing and setting a precedent for generations now and to come.”
We Create Birmingham: Klein Arts and Culture
“I think that is the thing. Issues of trust. What is going on, and what is it really about? The longer that we go along, the more likely it is that people will say ok. We just have to do what we’re saying without hidden agendas. We just have to do that with time. Time and consistency are going to help.” Theo Perkins
We Create Birmingham: Andrea Early
We Create Birmingham: Ashley Woods
We Create Birmingham: Will Mason
We Create Birmingham: Aaliyah Taylor and Gelenda Norman
We Create Birmingham: Jordan Higgins and Jacob Patrick of Electra Film Lab
We Create Birmingham: Cameron Sankey
We Create Birmingham: Dr. Leah Tucker
We Create Birmingham: Tyler Jones
We Create Birmingham: Edina Shrestha
We Create Birmingham: Cristal Laraé Brister
We Create Birmingham: Jessica Moody
We Create Birmingham: Ursula Smith
We Create Birmingham: Anthony Waller
We Create Birmingham: Viola Ratcliffe
We Create Birmingham: Jorge Castro
We Create Birmingham: Anna Foshee
We Create Birmingham: William J. Rushton
We Create Birmingham: Meghann Bridgeman
We Create Birmingham: John Fields
“We’re not trying to tell you there’s only one way to think about this work. We like to think that no matter who you are, there is an entry point. If we can get anyone to think about the world in a slightly different way for a second, that’s the win.”
We Create Birmingham: Emily Wines
“Birmingham has changed a lot from when I grew up here. The people recognize how vibrant this city is and what all we have to offer. The food and beverage scene is crazy for the size of the city. The number of nationally renowned chefs, bars, and bartenders is incredible. To be able to use the relationships I’ve built in the bar industry has been so great.”
We Create Birmingham: Alisha Ruffin Brown
“There are a lot of achievers and brilliant minds in Bessemer. Because of lack of support and misrepresentation in the media, we have the idea that we will boom in different cities, so we go to different places. It didn’t make sense to live here and transplant my business somewhere else. There’s nothing wrong with branching out, but I don’t want to be a stranger in my hometown. I want to claim where I’m from.”
We Create Birmingham: Dan King and Ryan Kindahl
“Filmmaking is challenging, and each day is different, but we have each other to lean on, and that’s encouraging. Find a group of people you can make films with, and make sure everyone is as enthusiastic as you are.” Ryan Kindahl
We Create Birmingham: Fairfield Black Art Collective
“Artists deserve to feel valued. We want to support living artists. We want them to be able to pay their bills with their gifts. We don’t want to be appreciated once we die.” Erika Mixon
We Create Birmingham: Annie Bryant of Bib and Tucker
“Come on in. We’ve got a place for you. Nothing is wrong. If you don’t know how to do it, just ask. We’ll show you. We don’t know everything, but there is usually somebody who knows a little bit more than you do, and we’ll help you in any way we can.”
We Create Birmingham: Andrea Early
We Create Birmingham: Ashley Woods
We Create Birmingham: Will Mason
We Create Birmingham: Aaliyah Taylor and Gelenda Norman
We Create Birmingham: Jordan Higgins and Jacob Patrick of Electra Film Lab
We Create Birmingham: Cameron Sankey
We Create Birmingham: Dr. Leah Tucker
We Create Birmingham: Tyler Jones
We Create Birmingham: Edina Shrestha
We Create Birmingham: Cristal Laraé Brister
We Create Birmingham: Jessica Moody
We Create Birmingham: Ursula Smith
We Create Birmingham: Anthony Waller
We Create Birmingham: Viola Ratcliffe
We Create Birmingham: Jorge Castro
We Create Birmingham: Anna Foshee
We Create Birmingham: William J. Rushton