Author Archives: André Natta

Local artist takes art reviews into her own hands

Posted on September 24, 2007 | Leave a comment

One thing that many would say is missing from our local art scene is a more divers offering of reviews.

Local artist M. Blue Horn decided that she’d do something about it. She’s started recording podcasts on her personal site reviewing various art shows. The first one that we’ve stumbled across is one about the recent East Atlanta Village Strut two weekends ago. The show was part of a larger running event for the community, entering its 10^th year.

Take a listen (it’s the one on top) and let us, and M. Blue, know what you think…

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Posted in alabama, art, birmingham, citywide, reviews

New Adventures After Hours

Posted on September 19, 2007 | Leave a comment

Art on the Rocks was apparently just the beginning. Have you noticed the current flood of after-hours adults-oriented events at the city’s cultural institutions? It’s a great way to introduce people to some of Birmingham’s gems–and each other.

This Thursday, McWane Science Center unveils Science Uncorked, featuring organic beer, food, music, and the film An Inconvenient Truth.

Next Thursday, the Birmingham Zoo gets in on the act with Wine Down at the Zoo, which also features drinks, food, and music – and the added attractions of twilight zoo tours and animal walkabouts.

UAB’s Alys Stephens Center has the ASC Social Club, which is throwing a pre-party before the Cuban band Tiempo Libre kicks off the new season of performances this Friday.

On Sunday, September 30, Vulcan Park launches its second season of Vulcan AfterTunes fall concerts.

And don’t forget about Sixteenth and Sixth at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and Cocktails in the Gardens at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

Check out all the links for details for each event, including hours, costs, and how to buy tickets (or just keep track of what’s coming up next on the calendar on our front page).

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Posted in alabama, birmingham, citywide, culture, events

Newkirk is 2007 UAB Visiting Artist, lectures Sept. 27

Posted on September 18, 2007 | Leave a comment

Kori Newkirk has been announced as the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Art and Art History’s 2007 Jack Drake Visiting Artist in a recent press release. The Bronx, NY native will deliver a lecture as part of his five-day visit to the university’s Southside campus. It will take place at 6 p.m. on September 27; it’s free and open to the public.

Click here for directions courtesy of our calendar.

Newkirk makes “multimedia paintings, sculptural installations and photographs that explore the formal properties of materials, the politics of identity and the artist’s personal history” according to the release. He’s known for using pomade and plastic pony beads, both used to style black hair, as well as for his use the color white, with its connotations of race and pristine environments.

Click here to learn more about work by Newkirk that was included in the Whitney Museum of American Art’s 2006 Biennial, including hearing from the artist himself via podcast.

He now lives in Los Angeles, having received his bachelor of fine arts degree from the School of Art Institute of Chicago and his master of fine arts degree as a Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of California at Irvine.

For more information, call the department at 205-934-4941.

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Posted in 35205, alabama, art, birmingham, lecture

Memorial service plans for Michael Prichard announced

Posted on September 17, 2007 | Leave a comment

The following information has been posted on personal Myspace profiles and sent out to Sidewalk’s email subscription network this morning:

PRICHARD, MICHAEL DOWLING, age 40, beloved daddy of Marley and Avery, died unexpectedly in an accident at home Friday, September 14, 2007. He was a caring father and a dedicated and loving husband to his wife Christine. Mr. Prichard was self-employed, working in the film and television production industry as well as doing residential construction. He loved gardening, music and the outdoors. He was passionate about traveling and had explored much of the world with Christine, his partner in life for 17 years. He was a great cook, and enjoyed preparing meals for his family daily as well as for get togethers with friends. He was open minded, out spoken, smart, honest and kind. He embraced life with fullness. He cherished his two young children and loved watching them discover the world. Mr. Prichard is survived by his wife, Christine; his daughter, Marley; his son, Avery; his parents, Dinny and Frank Bomberg of Las Cruces, NM, and Michael and Lyne Prichard of St. Paul, Minnesota; his b rother, Alex Prichard of Fairbanks, Alaska, as well as Alex’s wife, Angela, and their two daughters. He was preceded in death by his sister, Becky Prichard of Cuzco, Peru.

A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, September 17 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmingham, 4300 Hampton Heights Drive. Prior to the service, a Buddhist-led meditation will be held from 1-2 p.m. Monday at Johns-Ridout’s Southside Chapel, 2116 University Boulevard, followed by visitation from 2-3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to:

The Redmont School
1220 50th Street South
Birmingham, AL 35222
www.theredmontschool.org

or to:

The Becky Fund
1866 Coyote Ridge Drive
Las Cruces, NM 88011,
www.thebeckyfund.org

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Posted in 35209, 35233, alabama, birmingham, film

A closer look at Artwalk 2007

Posted on September 8, 2007 | 1 comment

We figured we should at least have some photos from last night’s Artwalk festivities in downtown Birmingham.

Enjoy!

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Photo credit: Bob Farley/f8photo

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Posted in 35203, alabama, art, artwalk, birmingham, events

Travel options:Red Dot gallery opening tonight

Posted on August 24, 2007 | Leave a comment

Red Dot Gallery owners

Gallery owners Dori Decamillis and Scott Bennett in their Homewood Studio. Bob Farley/f8photo

A grand re-opening celebration lost in the shuffle of all of the larger events taking place this evening is the one for Red Dot Gallery. The gallery and teaching space was located near Pepper Place and is now settling in to its new home in Homewood. Check out their site for more information about the facility and head on over and talk to Dori and Scott.

The fun starts at 6 p.m. for those looking for a slightly more relaxed way to spend your Friday evening.

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Posted in 35209, alabama, art, events, homewood

There’s always time to vote for your favorite bar!

Posted on August 20, 2007 | Leave a comment

It’s been years since The Garage made it onto GQ’s list of “The World’s Best Places To Fly To”. Now, they and three other local bars are preparing for a similar fate at the hands of Esquire magazine as they vie to be voted one of the Best Bars in America for 2007:

Click on any of the links above, slide the rating meter to 100% and make your voice heard! Visit the complete list to view the current rankings.

Editor’s note: modified from original post on Musings on Birmingham, 8.2.2007

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Posted in 35205, 35222, alabama, birmingham

A Helping Hand In Paw

Posted on August 17, 2007 | 1 comment

Hand In Paw’s (HIP) seventh annual “Picasso Pets” is not your average art show. This year, 18 local dogs and 2 cats have taken time out of their busy romping and napping schedules to become collaborative artists with some of the finest painters in Birmingham. Using their paws, tails, and-in the case of one very mellow longhaired dachshund-their whole bodies, these treasured pets are doing their best to help raise money for the therapy programs HIP has pioneered in Birmingham. The roster of human artists (which reads like a “Who’s who” in Alabama art) work with the marks made by the pets to develop surprisingly sophisticated landscapes, Warhol-esque portraits, and not-so traditional folk art paintings.

Since 1996, the Birmingham-based group HIP has made sure that people in need will always have a furry friend nearby. HIP has spent the last decade pairing “Pet Partner” teams of human volunteers and their beloved pets with various social services, hospitals and shelters. When you think about how much unconditional love the average family dog radiates, it becomes easy to imagine how much solace a troubled child or lonely senior might find in an interaction with a friendly pet.

But like all good things, Hand-In-Paw needs lots of resources to do their work. A recent trip to HIP’s offices on 7^th Avenue South revealed an office in full charity-gala preparation mode.

Continue reading →

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Posted in alabama, birmingham, events