Birmingham is bringing magic back to the streets of Birmingham for the holidays. Some might recall the Enchanted Forest in the Pizitz or maybe the embellished streetlights along 20th street. Throughout the years, the Magic City has seen many holiday festivities! As we continue to grow and add vibrancy to the streets of Birmingham, projects are on the way to bring positive change and create a more inclusive downtown city center.
Downtown Birmingham has partnered with seven local artists to begin the first Birmingham Holiday Magic Window Art Trail! The artist had full access to the unoccupied window spaces to create a holiday-related art scene. Artists were encouraged to use multimedia art types in their windows, and began to go up the last week of November. You can check out all the artist and their work now until the end of the year!
We listed all the artists and locations below however, we recommend you get an up close and personal view of the installations after you catch a flick at the Alabama Theater or dinner!
This project has been made possible by a grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts.
1. Kwanzaa in Birmingham
Artist: Jenesys “FairyGodJenn” King
Location: Fleetio Building – 1900 2nd Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203
Instagram: jenesys111
Summary: The goal and inspiration for my potential art installation stems from the incredible impact my culture has on the holiday season for my family and me. I celebrate Kwanzaa, which honors African American culture from December twenty-sixth to January first, through offerings and festivities. I plan to artistically symbolize the seven days of Kwanzaa: Umoja, Kujichagulia, Ujima, Ujamaa, Nia, Kuumba, and Imani, with a magical and larger-than-life approach to bring the holiday Kwanzaa to the streets of Birmingham.
2. Winter Wonderland
Artist: Janna Philips Art
Location: Former Family Dollar next to Fleetio (Left Window)
Instagram: jannaphillipsart
Summary: Woodland Winter brings the feeling of a magical Nordic winter to Birmingham, AL. The handmade snowflakes are blowing in the wind creating a cozy snowy scene filled with painted woodland animals and evergreen trees.
3. & 8 Let it Snow
Artist: Natalie Zoghby
Location: Former Family Dollar next to Fleetio (Right Window)
Instagram: nataliezoghbyart
Summary: Let me transport you to a magical winter wonderland!! Snow is one of the most unifying themes of the holiday season! I created an artistic scene focused around a large snowman made of paper mache. Using glitter, jewels, paint, and paper, I transformed the inside and out of the business front into a white winter wonderland. The snowflakes, twinkle lights, winter flowers and a giant snowman make for a perfect photo opportunity.
4. Christmas in Lala Land
Artist: Vero the traveling artist
Location: Former National Shirt Shop
Instagram: Vero_the_traveling_artist
Summary: I created the puppet heads for a movie that never was filmed due to 2020’s global cancellation of everything. But since then, they have taken part in art installations, a rock show at Saturn, and have had impromptu appearances around town, now in the windows of Downtown Birmingham!
5. Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Artist: Leah Sanderson
Location: Former Harvest grocery store (Left Window)
Instagram: wearyandlight
Summary: This piece is about transition. The transitional colors of “The Minis” reflect when the leaves begin to change and the Christmas lights come out. The holidays are among us, and we all know it. For some, this carries an unexpected weight- grief, sorrow, loss, and disconnection from loved ones. For some, the holidays aren’t merry and bright. As “The Minis” cascade into a larger work, my hope is to shine a bright light on our humanity and to say “nothing is wrong with you”. You don’t have to hide your real and raw emotions once the holiday joy comes out. And most importantly, if you’re feeling weary this season- please come and be. We need you. Birmingham needs you. Reality needs you. Closing, what my desire to leave viewers with is the kind promise of Jesus…“come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. for my yoke is east and my burden is light”.
6. Merry Cwastemas
Artist: Carey Fountain
Location: Former Harvest Grocery Store (Right Window)
Instagram: careyfountain
Summary: The environmental impact of the holiday season is tremendous. I want to bring attention to the impact of human consumption by using commonly disposed holiday items such as cardboard, greeting cards, wrapping paper, etc, to create renditions of a Hanukkah menorah, Christmas tree, and Kwanzaa Kinara. The goal would be to show that this is an issue that affects us all, regardless of our affiliations during the holiday season. As a nation, we annually produce paper waste that accounts for 33 million trees, and that number increases when you take global usage into account. I want to create an installation that addresses this issue through a visibly stunning installation made out of common waste to make us consider our environmental impact this holiday season.
7. Keep on Shining
Artist: Rosa Delagado
Location: Yieldings Building
Instagram: rosamarie.art
Summary: The window is a colorful, evergreen landscape with the moon in the distance. A starry night-inspired art installation has “Keep on Shining” in reference to the beautiful city of Birmingham!
Business Highlight
Pizitz
Artist: Natalie Zoghby
Location: 120 19th St. N Birmingham, Al 35203
Website: https://www.thepizitz.com/
Charm
Location: 321 20th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203
Website: charmbham.com
Forstall
Location: 215 20TH St. N. Birmingham, Al 35203
Website: forstallart.com
Goodyear Shoe Hospital
Location: 2016 3rd Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203
Related News
-
Why we say yay to two-way streets
Filed Under: Developer, Downtown Birmingham, Filling Vacant Spaces, Front Page, Transportation, Yaysayers
REV Birmingham is a long-time advocate for making the switch to two-way streets downtown, and this is something recommended by planners studying our downtown for years. In fact, the team that developed the 2004 City Center Master Plan recommended many street changes but noted 4th Avenue North conversion should take place “immediately.” We believe this project is a catalytic moment for Birmingham – but you may find yourself wondering why that is.
-
The Key Tool for Urban Revitalization: Downtown BHM's Business Improvement District
Filed Under: Business-Proving, Developer, Downtown Birmingham, Front Page, Get Involved, Potential-Proving, Why BHM
By the time REV took on BID management in 2018, downtown had a new set of needs from its BID. Downtown Birmingham in the ‘90s had a population mainly of 9 to 5 employees. But the downtown of 2018 had a whole new population of residents and visitors throughout the day and night. We had new opportunities to create positive experiences, inviting them into more downtown businesses and public spaces, and to keep them coming back for more.
-
Introducing the six businesses that call Nextec home
Filed Under: Business-Proving, Developer, Downtown Birmingham, Filling Vacant Spaces, Front Page, Historic Preservation, Potential-Proving, Why BHM
On the corner of 3rd Avenue and 16th Street North, you’ll find Nextec, a redevelopment of the 90-year-old, 65,000-square-foot Edwards Motor Company building (also formerly known as the Sticks ‘N’ Stuff building). With experience in historic renovation, developer Michael Mouron, chairman of Capstone Real Estate Investments, began this civic project in 2021 as a space for business startups to continue their work in the Magic City – a function encouraged by REV Birmingham.