Willie Perry mural
The Willie Perry mural is a painted mural on the north side of the Magnolia Point Building at 914–916 23rd Street South in Birmingham's Southside neighborhood.
Building owner and developer Michael Mouron of Capstone Real Estate Investments commissioned the artwork from Marcus Fetch and Dewon Moton in 2024. Fetch suggested using the piece to honor "Birmingham Batman" Willie Perry and the "Batmobile Rescue Ship" in which he patrolled the streets, assisted motorists and entertained the public for years before his death in 1985. It was a proposal he had pitched to a few building owners before Mouron got on board with it.
While working on the mural over six days in February, Moton donned a red jumpsuit and white helmet in tribute to Perry. Fetch added an "R" to his own jumpsuit as a reference to Batman's sidekick, Robin.
Inspired by the mural, the Magnolia Point Restaurant honored "Willie Perry Day" on August 3, 2024 with a special menu.
References
- Garrison, Greg (February 23, 2024) "Birmingham’s ‘Batman,’ who helped motorists with his 1971 Ford Thunderbird, honored in mural." AL.com
- Carlton, Bob (August 1, 2024) "New Alabama restaurant celebrates ‘Birmingham’s Batman’." AL.com