CLASSES
Floral Design Class: Basic Birmingham Botanical Gardens February 9, 2012. Experience the joy and satisfaction of floral design. This course will introduce you to trusted techniques and styles commonly used by floral design professionals. Learn how to make long-lasting arrangements using the basic shapes, preparation techniques, and styles of floral design. Participants will need to bring scissors, floral knife, and clippers (or purchase a pair at Leaf n’ Petal at the Garden). All other materials will be provided. Pre-registration is required. $30 for members and $40 for non-members. 6-8 PM.
“ARTfix!” Space One Eleven, 2409 Second Ave. North. Class and a glass with photographer, designer and body painter Rachael Rausch. Materials provided. Space is limited.Wednesday nights. 6-8 p.m. $20 per class. (205) 328-0553, www. spaceoneeleven.org.
Photography Workshops. Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Road. Held weekly, classes cover the basics, gear, theory and good practice. Check it out:(205) 414-3931, www.bbgardens.org.
Art Classes. Forstall Art Center, 402. Palisades Blvd. Located in the Palisades Shopping Center, Forstall is currently offering classes in contemporary realism oil painting, advanced oil painting, soft pastels, and drawing live figures. For dates, times, and prices of various classes, check out: (205) 870-0480, www.forstallartcenter.com.
ON GOING EXHIBITIONS
Opening Day: The Look of Love- Eye Miniatures from the Skier Collection. Birmingham Museum of Art. February 7, 2012. This stunning exhibition explores the little-known subject of “lover’s eyes,” hand-painted miniatures of single human eyes set in jewelry and given as tokens of affection or remembrance. In 1785, when the Prince of Wales secretly proposed to Mrs. Maria Fitzherbert with a miniature of his own eye, he inspired an aristocratic fad for exchanging eye portraits mounted in a wide variety of settings including brooches, rings, lockets, and toothpick cases.
With 96 examples, the collection of Dr. and Mrs. David A. Skier of Birmingham is the largest in the world. This exhibition offers an unprecedented look at these unusual and intriguing works of art. The exhibition is accompanied by a full color, hardbound catalogue of the same name, edited by Dr. Graham C. Boettcher, The William Cary Hulsey Curator of American Art, and published by D Giles Ltd., London. An essay by Elle Shushan sets the historical scene and examines the role of lover’s eyes in the broader context of Georgian and early Victorian portrait miniatures. Boettcher looks at the language and symbolism of these tokens and their jeweled settings. Additionally, novelist and biographer Jo Manning offers five fictional vignettes imagining the circumstances surrounding the creation of these extraordinary objects.
Artbreak: Love Your Museum Library Presented by Birmingham Museum of Art at Birmingham Museum of Art February 7, 2012. Feed your body and mind at lunchtime every Tuesday at noon. Join us for these free 20-30 minute gallery talks, then stay for lunch at Oscar’s. They’ll even include a free dessert! This week: Did you know the Museum has a Library, and lots of archival materials related to our art and history? Come delve into the books and archives and see some unique treasures with Librarian Tatum Preston. FREE.
Variations. by Matt Wycoff at beta pictoris gallery January 27th – March 3rd. beta pictoris is pleased to announce the opening of VARIATIONS, New York based artist Matt Wycoff ’s first solo exhibition with the gallery. Over the past ten years Wycoff ’s work has covered a wide range of conceptual, stylistic and material approaches. VARIATIONS brings together four major works from this period, two text pieces from 2006 - 2007 and two large-scale abstract paintings from 2011. The works on view are drawn from what appear to be two visually and conceptually distinct bodies of work. The exhibition is less about the differences between the works, however, and more about the experience of the viewer as they find the underlying themes that tie them together. Naked Art Gallery - February 3 - 25
“Microlove”. An annual event featuring miniature paintings and handcrafted jewelry by a wacky pack of artists Opening reception Fri Feb 3th, 5-9pm Sweet treats created by Chef U! Sat Feb 4th, 1-6pm Sweet treats created by Chef U! Lots of gift ideas for your Valentine! February 12 (Sunday 2-4pm) we are at the Daniel Day Gallery with a Hearts Are Wild, I love My Blues - Valentine Show featuring Debbie Bond and the TRUDATS! This is another wonderful alternative, great listening room cool venue - indoor/outdoor space - BYOB and community potluck! Hope to see you there! Could be an early Valentine date - or just a good I Love the Blues hodown! Go to http://www.debbiebond.com/ for more information.
Birmingham-Southern College to present Holocaust exhibit and speaker series in February and March. Two exhibits will be housed on the main level of the N.E. Miles/C.A. Rush Library. “The Courage to Remember” is a 40-piece colored poster exhibit that charts the course of the Holocaust.
“Children of the Holocaust” is a collection of literature on the Holocaust and genocide published for children and young adults. This is the first time these collections have visited BSC. The exhibit in the Durbin Gallery can be viewed during the college’s regular business hours— Monday through Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Library hours of operation are Monday through Thursday—8 a.m. to midnight; Friday—8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday—9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday—2 p.m. to midnight. An opening ceremony and reception for the exhibits will take place Friday, Feb. 10, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the gallery.
Crestwood Coffee Company: “Entranced” The exhibit “Entranced” features architectural photography by Brenda Miller. From minimalist to opulently decorative, each portal represents a functional boundary as well as distinction in architectural design. Through February 14. Crestwood Coffee Company, 5512 Crestwood Blvd. (205) 595-0300
Dixon-Ballog Glass Gallery Opening Reception Friday February 10th, from 5:00 to 8:00pm Featuring All Gallery Artists; Open to the Public 2040 Old Montgomery Hwy. Pelham 35244 (205) 402-2333 www. dixon-ballog.com
Send information on art classes, gallery openings, ongoing exhibits, lectures, and other art events to bhamweeklyarts@gmail.com