The Way
The Way is a mural installation in the alleyway between 1st Avenue North and 1st Avenue South off of 55th Street in Woodlawn, behind the James Rushton Early Learning and Family Success Center.
The project was initiated in 2021 with six murals by female artists completed as part of the inaugural Magic City Mural Festival sponsored by Woodlawn United and the Alabama State Council on the Arts and facilitated by Blank Space BHAM and Woodlawn Neighborhood Association president and business owner Jason Avery. Five additional murals were added during the November 5–12, 2022 festival.
One goal of the project include "placemaking" to transform the alley into usable public space to support neighboring businesses with lighting, security cameras, seating and landscaping. Other goals include encouraging residents to "reclaim the narratives" and become personally invested in their neighborhood. It is also intended to support and showcase artwork by women and artists of color.
"The Way" was cited in the Woodlawn Neighborhood Association's successful entry to be recognized as "Neighborhood of the Year" during the 2023 Neighborhoods USA National Conference in El Paso, Texas.
Murals
- Her Voice Carries (2021) by Sarah Rutherford of Rochester, New York
- Untitled (2021) by Jamie Bonfiglio of St Louis, Missouri
- Untitled (2021) by Erica Chisholm of Atlanta, Georgia
- Maxwell's World (2021) by Nico Cathcart of Richmond, Virginia
- Sisterhood (2021) by Lydia Walker of Birmingham and Jhamasa Lewis-Adams of Los Angeles, California
- Untitled (2021) by Sophy Tuttle of Boston, Massachusetts
- Untitled (2022) by Tyra Robinson of Birmingham
- "Light as a Feather" (2022) by Charity Hamidullah of Atlanta, Georgia
- "I'm So Glad You're Here" (2022) by Annie Hight of Atlanta, Georgia
- "Ate" (2022) by Anna Dugan of Salem, Massachusetts
- (2022) by Azha Sanders of Tupelo, Mississippi
References
- Itson, Patience (November 8, 2022) "Magic City Mural Festival is back in Woodlawn with 5 new community murals + a big reveal Nov. 12." Bham Now
- Trammell, Claire (December 18, 2022) "Changing Perceptions: Mural Art as a Catalyst for Change." The Local
- Michaels, Ryan (June 7, 2023) "Birmingham’s Woodlawn Receives National Award for ‘Neighborhood of the Year’." The Birmingham Times
External links
- Magic City Mural Festival at blankspacebham.com
- 99 Voices: Woodlawn Neighborhood Association's The Way on YouTube.com