Now through September 6, visitors to the Birmingham Museum of Art can still catch Rising Up: Hale Woodruff’s Murals at Talladega College. In 1938, Woodruff, an Atlanta-based artist, was commissioned to paint a series of murals for Alabama’s Talladega College, one of the nation’s first colleges established for African-Americans. His six murals portray the journey of blacks from slavery to freedom. Their story and strikingly bold use of color and imagery caught the attention of the nation. Cultural leaders in the African-American community, in particular, championed Woodruff’s murals as symbols of the centuries-long struggle for human and civil rights. This is the first time the exhibition has been presented to a national audience. Docent-led tours are available for groups of 10 or more. Birmingham Museum of Art
