Festivals & Events

The AHSAA Basketball State Finals, formerly know as the Final 48, is one of the top high school basketball championship events in the country. The state finals brings seven classifications, boys and girls, to the Birmingham for the semi-finals and finals. Alabama was the first state to adopt this format for crowning a state champion.

The games will take place at UAB Bartow Arena and Birmingham Crossplex Bill Harris Arena.

Does anything important happen on a Wednesday night in your home? What did you, or your girlfriend, daughter, spouse, or any female in your life do last Wednesday night? They more than likely spent time watching their favorite tv show uninterrupted by social obligations, plucked their eyebrows, shaved their legs, or laid around with their cat or dog. Wednesday Night is an installation by Philadelphia-based artist Shona McAndrew. Utilizing sculptures and paintings, Wednesday Night presents a representation of women not often experienced in visual art or popular media; moments of private, personal banality not intended to be viewed by strangers.

McAndrew’s multi-disciplined artistic practice draws on her personal experiences as a plus-size woman and her own struggles with society’s expectations of womanhood. The slightly-larger-than-life figures are modeled after the artist herself or her friends and are presented partially or fully nude – unembarrassed by their exposed bodies and carefree from the viewer’s gaze (even the female gaze). They challenge or even dare the viewer to acknowledge and accept the intrinsic beauty of every woman’s body.

Shona McAndrew holds an MFA in Painting from the Rhode Island School of Design and a BA in Psychology and Painting from Brandeis University. Her solo exhibitions include shows at the Moore College of Art and Design, Philadelphia, PA (2020); CHART, New York, NY (2019); and Spring/Break Art Show, New York, NY (2019). She has also exhibited in group shows at Stems Gallery, Brussels, BE; Mindy Solomon Gallery, Miami, FL; Allouche Benias Gallery, Athens, GR; and Museum of Sex, New York, NY.

Lucas Blalock uses both traditional and modern photographic processes to exploit the inherent artificiality of photography to present “constructed representations” that reveal deeper truths about our own existence. Referencing the history of photography, visual art, avant-garde theater, and surrealist filmmaking, Blalock’s work is an evolving conversation with itself about humanity’s current “culture of imagery,” and the simultaneous dilution and strengthening of modern photographic imagery.

Blalock’s work conceptually builds upon the foundation laid by the post-modern photographers of the 1960s and 70s, who used “staged” photography to shift the medium away from photography’s traditional function as journalistic documentation – a shift that is largely attributed to the widespread cultural disillusionment associated with America’s involvement in Vietnam. These artists sought to question the role of photography as a reliable presentation of historical fact; a cultural dilemma we, as a society, still face today.

The title of this AEIVA exhibition, Lucas Blalock in T-E-L-E-P-H-O-N-E humorously breaks the metaphorical “fourth wall” by announcing the artist’s own starring role. In its naming, Blalock draws conceptual inspiration from the classic children’s game “Telephone” in which a group of children pass along information to each other through a series of 1-on-1 whispers until the message has evolved into something unrecognizable when compared to the original message. The artworks on display, not easily classifiable as either photographs or paintings, engage in an ongoing “whispered dialogue” with each other; resulting in a playful and sometimes unsettling series of misinterpreted appropriations of themselves. This concept evolves into a visual deconstruction of our culture’s desensitized and convoluted relationship with photographic imagery as well as the way we consume and digest visual information in the 21st century.

Blalock’s self-referential installations offer a metaphorical dialogue between the art and viewer through their exploration of our own reactions to a culture inundated with continuous photographic bombardment, while teasing the possibility of new insights and undiscovered truths these images might reveal about ourselves.

Lucas Blalock received his MFA from UCLA in 2013, and currently lives and works in New York City. His work has been featured in numerous exhibitions all over the world, including the United States, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Russia, Japan, Italy, the United Kingdom, and others. His work resides in numerous public and private collections, including The Whitney Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Hammer Museum, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, just to name a few. Blalock was recently featured in the Whitney Biennale 2019 at the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY.

Special thanks to Lucas Blalock, Eva Presenhuber Galerie (Zurich/New York), and all the lenders to this exhibition. Thank you to our UAB Visual and Performing Arts members and all supporters - without you this exhibition and programming would not be possible.

As You Walk Through the Door, Your Hearts Starts Pumping! The irresistible lure of HOCKEY and the buzz of a packed house causes your ADRENALIN to surge. The music is PUMPING, the lights fade and the smoke swirls – and that’s just the beginning. Monster hits, UNBELIEVABLE GOALS and in-your-face hockey keeps you on the edge of your seat. The action is NON-STOP! With heart pounding music, contests, and the prospect of catching a fantastic FREE SOUVENIR, what are you waiting for? Build your team’s SPIRIT by sharing in ours. It’s an EXPERIENCE to remember.

Jurassic Quest is North America’s largest and most realistic Dinosaur event. Guests walk through the Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic Periods and experience for themselves what it was like to be among dinosaurs of all kinds. Jurassic Quest is the only interactive dinosaur event that has over 100 true to life-size animatronic dinosaurs in each of its indoor touring shows from the very small to the gigantic. In collaboration with leading paleontologists, each dinosaur has been painstakingly replicated in every detail. Whether their prehistoric counterpart had skin that was scaly, had feathers or fur, Jurassic Quest has spared no expense in bringing the dinosaurs to life. Jurassic Quest exhibits also allow future paleontologists to dig up fossils, ride their favorite life-sized dinosaur, enjoy walking dinosaur and baby dinosaur shows, and enjoy a dinosaur themed play land in addition to face painting, crafts and much more. Jurassic Quest produced 96 multi-day events in 34 states and Canada selling over one million tickets in 2019.

The all-new Alabama Boat Show and Expo will take place Friday, March 5 - Sunday, March 7 at Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Alabama. See boat inventory from dealers all across Alabama, boat dock systems, ATVs, kayaks, trucks, SUVs and so much more. Plus win great daily prizes, and attend daily seminars - all for FREE!

The all-new Alabama Boat Show and Expo will take place Friday, March 5 - Sunday, March 7 at Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Alabama. Admission is FREE, and proceeds will benefit the AmFirst Foundation.
See boat inventory from dealers all across Alabama, boat dock systems, ATVs, kayaks, trucks, SUVs and so much more. Plus win great daily prizes, and attend daily seminars - all for FREE!
​The first 125 children 12-and-under in attendance each day will receive a FREE youth fishing rod and reel courtesy of the Alabama Bass Trail!

Ticket prices will be $15.00 for Adults, $14.00 for Children. Members will get $1.00 off the adult and child price.
Book your tickets today!
Click here!
Long ago, in the fantasy world of Kumandra, humans and dragons lived together in harmony. However, when sinister monsters known as the Druun threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, those same monsters have returned, and it's up to a lone warrior to track down the last dragon and stop the Druun for good.

A monthly gathering of local artisans, musicians, food trucks, specials from our Main Street merchants, and much more.

Make-A-Wish Alabama's Wish Night 2021 Gala will be held at the Renaissance Ross Bridge Resort and Spa. Wish Night spreads the mission of hope, strength, and joy by granting wishes to Alabama children with a critical illnesses. The event includes an opportunity to meet local wish kids and their families, bid on silent and live auction items, participate in our Wine Pull and Diamonds Direct Raffle, as well as see the power of a wish yourself!

"Welcome to Mitford" brings to the stage the wonderful characters Jan Karon created in her delightful books. Clay Boyce directs this cast of actors who embody the small town friendships and dynamics. Visit Mitford, at the Leeds Arts Council.

Middle & high school students will board a luxury party bus in route to the Pixel Room for endless selfies on 30 curated backgrounds, live dj, food, fun & chaperones. The 3 hour event is for groups of 10 where they can dress to impress or casual best. Go to www.ExperienceBirminghamTours.com for specials.

Temperature checks & sanitizer provided and masks are required.

Space One Eleven is pleased to announce that registration for Alabama Charcoal art classes is open! We are very excited about our classes this year! Through the generosity of foundations and private contributors, families may qualify for free or reduced tuition.

Alabama Charcoal is Space One Eleven’s rigorous studio art program for high school students designed to build visual communication skills and foster creative thinking.

Students learn and strengthen foundation skills, create individually conceived projects, learn about art-related careers, and work with a mentor to advance writing abilities. Juniors and seniors receive guidance for college applications and essays while building visual arts portfolios to increase college opportunities.

All skill levels are welcome.

Dates: Saturdays, 1/16 to 5/1
Time: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
$395 per student, $28.22 per class
Classes will meet in person in the studio once per week.

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

On March 27, 1814, Major General Andrew Jackson‘s army of 3,300 men attacked Chief Menawa’s 1,000 Red Stick Creek warriors fortified in a horseshoe- shaped bend of the Tallapoosa River.  Over 800 Red Sticks died that day.  The battle ended the Creek War, resulted in a land cession of 23,000,000 acres to the United States and created a national hero of Andrew Jackson.                                    In March 1814, General Jackson's army left Fort Williams on the Coosa River, cut a 52-mile trail through the forest in three days, and on the 26th made camp six miles north of Horseshoe Bend. The next morning, Jackson sent General John Coffee and 700 mounted infantry and 600 Cherokee and Creek allies three miles down-stream to cross the Tallapoosa and surround the bend. He took the rest of the army - about 2000 men, consisting of East and West Tennessee militia and the Thirty-ninth U.S. Infantry - into the peninsula and at 10:30 a.m. began an ineffectual two-hour artillery bombardment of the Red Sticks' log barricade. At noon, Coffee's Cherokee allies crossed the river and assaulted the Red Sticks from the rear. Jackson quickly ordered a frontal bayonet charge, which poured over the barricade. Fighting ranged over the south end of the peninsula throughout the afternoon. By dark at least 800 of Chief Menawa's 1,000 Red Sticks were dead (557 slain on the field and 200-300 in the river). Menawa himself, although severely wounded, managed to escape. Jackson's losses in the battle were 49 killed and 154 wounded, many mortally.                                                                  Though the Red Sticks had been crushed at Tohopeka, remnants of the war party held out for several months. In August 1814, a treaty between the United States and the Creek Nation was signed at Fort Jackson near the present day city of Wetumpka, Alabama. The Treaty of Fort Jackson ended the conflict and required the Creeks to cede 23 million acres of land to the United States. The state of Alabama was carved out of this domain and admitted to the Union in 1819.           In 1828, partly as a result of his fame from the battles of Horseshoe Bend and New Orleans, Andrew Jackson was elected the seventh President of the United States.                                                                                                                We may have the opportunity to watch a short film and view the exhibits before we begin our hike which is rated easy.  Viewing the film is contingent upon the visitor center being open   on March 6.  As of the time this announcement was written, the visitor center, restrooms and picnic area were closed.

Hike distance is 5.8 miles.

Admission to the park is free.                                                                    Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age eight and over welcome.

Note-To view photos of what we will see on this trip, please click on this link:

https://goo.gl/photos/iFRUaQwqf5UFbEef7

Please be sure to click on the link and view the photographs.

Optional restaurant dinner after the hike.                                                            Please meet 9:45 a.m. at the Publix in The Village at Lee Branch in Greystone.  We plan to depart from there at 10:00 a.m.                                         Info: Randall Adkins, 205/317-6969

DIRECTONS TO MEETING PLACE

Publix in The Village at Lee Branch in Greystone-- 410 Doug Baker Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35242-2682.  Take U.S. Highway 280 East going away from Birmingham to intersection with AL Route 119, Cahaba Valley Road.  Continue on U.S. 280 through that intersection 9/10 more miles and turn right on Doug Baker Boulevard.  This turn is right after the very large Driver’s Way used car dealer.  Drive 3/10 miles on Doug Baker Boulevard and then see the Publix Super Market on your right.  Please park in front of the Publix, but fairly far out towards 280, not right by the front door.

DESCRIPTION OF SOUTHEASTERN OUTINGS

Do you wish you had friends who share your active lifestyle and enjoyment of outdoor activities?  Then become active with Southeastern Outings (SEO), a nonprofit organization committed and created to serve people who enjoy being active in the outdoors.  The organization plans, organizes and leads outings such as dayhikes, easy kayak and canoe trips, stream and waterfall walks, bicycle rides, lake events and other fun activities to beautiful sites in our natural environment.  From time to time we also sponsor potluck suppers and other socials.  All events and activities of the group are open to the public.  Participating in SEO activities is a splendid, simple way to make congenial new friends who enjoy the outdoors.

NO DOGS OR SMOKING ALLOWED, PLEASE, ON ANY SOUTHEASTERN OUTINGS EVENTS.

The organization currently has about 300 members.  We scheduled seventy-four events during calendar year 2020 for an average of 6 fun events per month.  We enjoy the outdoors in all seasons throughout the year.

SEO does not charge for participation in any of its outings.  You do not have to be a member to participate in one or two SEO activities.  Dues are only $10 per family or household.  Please contact Dan Frederick, President, 205-631-4680, or seoutings@bellsouth.net for more information and to obtain three free monthly newsletters with membership application and a complete description of all our outdoor events.

Southeastern Outings now has a website.  Just go to seoutings.org to find announcements of all our upcoming outings scheduled plus some brief, general information about Southeastern Outings, a membership application and 1500 lovely photographs from most of our outings.

Thank you.

Vinegar presents: Brandi Shah: Sawubona/Sala Kahle

Vinegar Contemporary
701 37th Street South #12 Birmingham, AL 35222

Face coverings and social distancing required. Limit 4 persons in gallery at a time.

Exhibition is on view February 19, 2021–March 27, 2021. Gallery hours Saturdays 10am–2pm and by appointment.

Exhibition reception Friday, February 19 from 5–8pm.

Reception attendees who are not actively viewing the artwork may enjoy a socially-distanced reception outdoors with fire pits and refreshments, including s'mores and a free signature hot cocktail by George Dickel Tennessee Whisky.

In Sawubona/Sala Kahle, Birmingham-based writer and digital storyteller, Brandi Shah, explores the instinctive conversations that occur between language and visual stimuli. Experimenting with still images, animation, photography, video editing, found media and sounds has been a liberating process in imagining how words can be enlivened in new, interpretive ways. Time (specifically its impermanence), memory and the sheer necessity of sharing stories motivate all of her work. This exhibit is concerned with the documentation of events/experiences and the question of how intersectionally diverse audiences internalize universal touchpoints. While the pieces traverse a spectrum of digital articulation—traditional digital story; digital poetry; emergent, cross-genre collaboration; narrative advocacy—their unifying gaze invites you to explore the individual and collective power in reimagining and reclaiming oppressive narratives.

She believes that all of this—and infinitely more—is possible with the scaffold of language, the indispensable inspiration of story, and the guidance of authentic collaboration, community-building and human connection. The title of the exhibition combines Zulu words for greeting and leave-taking, respectively--words in the fabric of her heart’s lexicon since living in Swaziland almost two decades ago. Sawubona translates to “I see you,” an intentional greeting offered indiscriminately to every person no matter the situation or circumstance. Sala kahle translates to “stay well.” We need more of this everyday love-language in our ever-healing world now and forever. In order to see each other, we must allow ourselves to be unconditionally seen; to leave others in wellness, we must go and come with a sense of not only good intention but uplifting impact. This is my first exhibit; I present it to you with this spirit and hope.

Brandi Shah is a family medicine physician who specializes in adolescent and young adult health. She is the inaugural Director of the Office of Identity, Inclusion and Collective Conscience in the UAB Department of Family and Community Medicine. She is a stalwart advocate for sexual and reproductive health, rights and justice. She is also a loving and proud member of a multicultural family including her husband and two young children. Before she served any of these roles, she has been a lifelong creative writer/poet for her own personal growth, catharsis and enjoyment. Most recently, she expanded boundaries in her writing practice to develop an identity as a digital artist and storyteller. Combining her passions for storytelling and health justice, her ultimate vision is to create a community storytelling lab for health justice that can serve as a “third place” where people of all identities, groups, perspectives, burdens and histories can congregate, affirm, collaborate and reclaim narratives about health and resilience for catharsis, collective voice, public awareness, advocacy and social change.

Brandi is excited and grateful to collaborate with Birmingham artist, Celeste Amparo Pfau, on the digital poem "Woman in the Alley." Celeste is an interdisciplinary artist who makes fine art as well as interactive public art installations. Her work is often inspired by the diverse natural and human cultural world of Birmingham. Celeste’s materials and methods are multifaceted. She is native to Birmingham, but also cherishes her experiences of living and traveling elsewhere around the country and world, gaining invaluable experiences about life, culture, art and creativity. Follow her on Instagram @amparo_creative_house.

Wine & Whiskey Trackside Train - Be trackside as the train arrives! Board and depart for a rail excursion on Ozan's private air conditioned car! Return for a vineyard walk, and wine tasting! All seating is outdoors on our deck or vineyard overlook courtyard. Indoor seating is not available at this time. $29 per person

As You Walk Through the Door, Your Hearts Starts Pumping! The irresistible lure of HOCKEY and the buzz of a packed house causes your ADRENALIN to surge. The music is PUMPING, the lights fade and the smoke swirls – and that’s just the beginning. Monster hits, UNBELIEVABLE GOALS and in-your-face hockey keeps you on the edge of your seat. The action is NON-STOP! With heart pounding music, contests, and the prospect of catching a fantastic FREE SOUVENIR, what are you waiting for? Build your team’s SPIRIT by sharing in ours. It’s an EXPERIENCE to remember.

Join Black Warrior Riverkeeper to spend an afternoon helping to clean up the watershed and litter in our community.
Safety: This event will take place along the roadside in an area without sidewalks, so please only sign up if you feel comfortable with this.
What we encourage volunteers to wear/bring:
1. Comfortable clothing that you do not mind getting a little wet or dirty (preferably long pants)
2. Your protective mask
3. Closed-toed shoes
What we will provide:
1. Garbage bags
2. Gloves/Litter Pickers
**Event organizers have taken extra steps this year to be COVID conscious and to protect our participants during this outdoor event. Therefore, masks are required during this event.
**Child/Youth Participation: Youth between the ages of 10 (minimum age) and 14 must have a parent/guardian onsite under their supervision. We can't allow youth to be dropped off. While a cleanup is not normally dangerous, it can be to an unattended child.

Mark your calendar to join the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens on Sunday, March 7, for a fun and festive evening featuring Chris Hastings, James Beard Award-winning chef and co-owner of Birmingham’s own OvenBird and Hot and Hot Fish Club! As part of this livestream fundraiser, which supports the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ Internship Program, you’ll receive a custom, three-course dinner menu created by Chef Hastings especially for the event, as well as his recipes, ingredient list, pro tips, recommended wine pairings, and a chance to ask questions. Cook along with Chef Hastings as he shares cooking tips and tricks and answers your questions live from his kitchen at Hot and Hot Fish Club. Learn more and register at https://bbgardens.org/expert.php

Space One Eleven is pleased to announce that registration for City Center Art 1 and 2 art classes is open! We are very excited about our classes this year! Through the generosity of foundations and private contributors, families may qualify for free or reduced tuition.

City Center Art teaches young artists in grades 2 through 8 the elements of art and the principles of design through individually conceived projects and student collaborations. Space One Eleven’s philosophy is to facilitate the needs of young artists on a concept by concept basis, providing an environment in which young artists can learn, create, explore, and forge their own path into the world of art. Students work in a variety of mediums such as paint, clay, charcoal, and ink. In City Center Art each young artist will learn:

Drawing skills
Color theory
Conceptual thinking skills
Art history
How to formally evaluate their own artwork and the artwork of others
Studio maintenance

Each student will work at their own pace and improve their art making skills. Students who wish to apply to the Alabama School of Fine Arts will develop portfolios for their applications.

Due to the rising number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Jefferson county and the state of Alabama, all classes in the spring will be held remotely through online learning. City Center Art classes will meet once a week for a real-time digital class with designated help sessions schedule throughout the week.

Teaching Artist: Tyler Carlisle

City Center Art 1 (Grades 2 – 5)
Dates: Monday, 1/4 to 4/26
Time: 4:30pm – 5:30pm

City Center Art 2 (Grades 6 – 8)
Date: Wednesday, 1/13 to 4/21
Time: 4:30pm – 5:30pm
$196 per student or $14 per class
All materials and supplies will be provided to students

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

OLLI at UA along with UA College of Community Health Sciences and University Medical Center is hosting this lecture series to explore medicine, health care, and health trends. Faculty physicians will lecture on issues and advances in medicine and research, incorporating science, research and clinical applications. Learn how the body works, hear about advances changing how we see disease and health, and find out where cutting-edge research is headed. See catalog at olli.ua.edu for complete list of weekly topics. Free, but registration is required for EACH Tuesday session. All sessions are via Zoom technology. Not familiar with Zoom? No worries, OLLI offers free basic training sessions. Call 205-348-6482 for more information or to register.