BPL Honors Artist Tara Stallworth Lee at Opening of "An Alabama Song"

Tara Stallworth Lee - “Hurricane” Elaine Hudson (A. G. Gaston Park 1), archival pigment print

The Birmingham Public Library is excited to announce the opening of An Alabama Song, an exhibition featuring works by artist Tara Stallworth Lee. On Friday, August 8, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., please join Lee at a reception at the Central Library as she celebrates her new show.

About the Exhibition

An Alabama Song presents photographs of such local music greats as singer “Hurricane” Elaine Hudson, trumpeter Daniel “José” Carr, and the late jazz composer, pianist, and poet Sun Ra. Among other subjects of her works are writers, advocates, and venues that Lee says represent “the beauty and struggle that is uniquely Alabama.”

In a striking analogy to the musical arts, Lee describes the creation and elements of her exhibition... “The camera is my core instrument, my subjects the notes, and the thrilling, often unexpected, outcome of using film comprise the melody of this visual song. Collage works, textiles and sculpture bring rhythm and harmony. The Alabama-sourced wood frames […] honor the natural landscapes and biodiversity of Alabama the Beautiful.” 

Daniel “Jose” Carr (blue jacket 2), archival pigment print

Daniel “Jose” Carr (chair 1), archival pigment print

Many of Lee’s photographs are the result of experimentation with available light and different types of films, which she likens to the improvisation that characterizes jazz music. In Daniel “Jose” Carr (blue jacket 2) she made use of a Portra film, which was scanned and rescanned to make the archival pigment print pictured above. In Daniel “Jose” Carr (chair 1), her employment of a Lomo Purple film transformed the color of Carr’s jacket from blue to green. The latter film was also used to create Pink Chair Was Yellow Chair.

An Alabama Song will be on display in the First Floor Gallery at the Central Library through October 2. The exhibition is made possible by a grant awarded to the Friends Foundation of BPL by the Alabama State Council on the Arts.

About the Artist 

Tara Stallworth Lee received her B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Art from Birmingham-Southern College. She is the 2021/22 recipient of the Alabama State Council on the Arts Gay Burke Fellowship in Photographic Art and studio resident at Ground Floor Contemporary. In 2023 she became the inaugural artist in residence at Studio By The Tracks, a studio and gallery for adult artists with autism. For over two decades, Tara has been teaching for individuals and institutions, including The Smithsonian Associates and the Alabama Prison Arts & Education Project. Tara lives and works in Birmingham, Alabama. Learn more about Lee and her work on her website at tarastallworthlee.com.

Artist Statement

“In a world that often emphasizes mass production, conformity, and homogeneity, the power of the singular lies in its ability to disrupt and challenge prevailing norms. By highlighting the individual person or place, the potential exists to celebrate diversity, foster empathy, and cultivate a deeper understanding of our shared humanity. In the midst of complexity, the impact of one person, one idea, one moment can be transformative.

In my practice and in collaborations with other artists, I employ discordant and oblique aesthetics to survey modern humanity. I consider the creation of music, where focused practice, improvisation, and experimentation can be springboards to creativity. The often unexpected and surprising outcomes of using film and manual cameras is a thrill. The process of looking through a lens quite literally narrows focus and invites concentrated gazing and listening. Trash and waste serve as powerful symbols of societal neglect and inequality. In my collage and textile works, I challenge the perception of trash as merely disposable and inconsequential. My work serves as a catalyst for reflection and inspired action.”

Pink Chair Was Yellow Chair, archival pigment print

 

Written by Margaret Splane, Library Assistant III - Birmingham Public Library