A Brave New Generation At The Birmingham Museum of Art

Last night, the Birmingham Museum of Art Junior Patrons wined and sauntered through the gorgeously renovated space at the new Matt Jones Gallery in Birmingham. The forty foot ceilings, and elegant French grey walls added to the drama of the setting but it was the smart looking and smart thinking crowd that really made the evening click. The gallery harkens back to Birmingham's steel city founding. In one corner area where now hangs a number of very large and at times combustible constructs by Dali acolyte, Nall, there was, decades ago, a fiery smelter of molten ore. The Birmingham art scene is hot.

The Junior Patrons event was spearheaded by young, Cate McCusker of the Birmingham Museum of Art's special events group. Cate is a North Carolina native, a Sewanee alum and a beautiful blonde that Botticelli would have swooned to have model for him. After meeting Cate and being introduced to the also young and enthusiastic new head of the BMA's American Collection, Graham Boettcher, I dropped BMA director, Gail Andrews a note of congrats on recruiting an impressive next generation of leadership for our city's top notch, nationally acclaimed fine art museum.

If you haven't toured the Birmingham Museum of Art in the last few years, please include it on your arts sojourn down South. There is something for every taste and interest and often something big--like that huge, 9' x forever, Bierstadt of the Yosemite Valley or that even huger Joan Mitchell lush garden canvas, or perhaps the biggest collection of Wedgwood on this side of the pond. And, isn't that a big, beautiful, Botero babe basking in the Birmingham sun?Birmingham is big on art. Come enjoy the grander than ever Birmingham Museum of Art and grand new venues like the Matt Jones Gallery. P. S. Y'all, Have a big blast of art in Birmingham

Magic City Art Connection/Bham April 25-27

Some people only come to Birmingham in the Fall for pigskin and barbecue. Those folks miss one great, fun, high/low cultural blast. The Magic City Art Connection is 3 days and 215 fine artists and artisans in the emerald beauty of Downtown Birmingham at Linn Park. This year is the 25th Anniversay celebration each day from 10a.m. til 6p.m.

A decade ago, I served as the volunteer chairman of this event. It was big then, but now it's absolutely ginormous. Do consider the fancy and friendly "Corks and Chefs" food and wine tasting. It's only $25 and you can leave as satiated as a foie gras goose.

Kudos to the still babelicious and hugely charismatic Eileen Kunzmann who birthed this baby and has nurtured it for all these many terrific years. For more info go to www.magiccityart.com . See you Southern art lovers, and wine lovers and other lovers there this weekend. People drive up from New Orleans for this event, over from Atlanta and down from Nashville. All roads lead to Birmingham and the 25th Annual Magic City Arts Connection this coming weekend. See y'all and your sweet tea and funnel cake there.

P.S. Y'all: Alabama Chanin

I just got off the phone with a Southerner I first read about in a "New York Times" article on "slowing." She is one of the 2,008 "Positively Southern" people I'm excited about and goes by the unlikely name of Alabama Chanin. This international figure in fashion is now basing her creative operation in Florence, Alabama. This weekend, Ms. Alabama Chanin is sponsoring her open-to-one-and-y'all annual Southern storytelling and picnic weekend.

Check out some of Alabama Chanin's home and fashion designs at www.alabamachanin.com . Ms. Chanin is often quoted about celebrating slow food and slowing. I'm mailing her a bottle of SLOTION for her weekend celebration. Then, I'm trying to decide how to work a couple of her recycled necktie chairs into my new sloft--yes, that would be my "slowing loft." Chanin and her team of creatives are making one of a kind limited editions. Y'all are gonna love 'em.

P.S. Y'all, Positively Southern 2008

Hi Y'all, This blog is going to be people, places and things to celebrate in 2008 that are "Positively Southern." You might check out our huge roster of 2,008+ Positively Southern mentions on the website. We consider it, perhaps THE most comprehensive listing on the web. Because Southernness celebrates "The Art of Being Southern," this blog will regularly be about art shows and new films and museum openings and dance and theatre events throughout the 12 states of our American South.

We want to introduce you to emerging art talents and new venues that are Positively Southern. Southernness is HUGELY about being a positive place in Southern arts. You will find buoyantly colored art and some of the happiest, Southern music anywhere.

As a first mention for this first day of blogging, may we suggest the landscape to watercolor on the Southern "Tubing Trail" that was in the "Escapes" travel section of today's NYTimes. The trail centers around High Springs in the Florida Panhandle. Take you pad and paints and tube and enjoy being a Southern Monet or a 21st Century Audubon. P.S. Y'all, Have a great, Southern weekend.