Central Library Hosting Two New Art Exhibits Beginning January 31, February 12

Two new exhibits will open in January and February 2019 at the Central Library: Downtown: Photographs from the Archives' Collection in the Fourth Floor Gallery on January 31, and A Portrait of Birmingham at Work in the First Floor Gallery on February 12. The current art exhibit in the Fourth Floor Gallery, For Freedoms – Alabama, will be on view through January 25, 2019. 

From Downtown: Photographs from the Archives' Collection

 
What: Downtown: Photographs from the Archives' Collection

When: January 31–April 5, 2019

Where: Central Library, Fourth Floor Gallery

Details: The Downtown: Photographs exhibit contains historic photographs of downtown Birmingham that have been housed in the BPL Archives Department.  

On Thursday, January 31, 2019, the Fourth Floor Gallery is bringing back the popular exhibit Downtown: Photographs from the Archives' Collection. This exhibit, which will be open to the public during Central Library operating hours through April 5, 2019, originally was on display at BPL 25 years ago.

Downtown: Photographs contains historic photographs of downtown Birmingham that have been housed in the BPL Archives Department. This display of vintage photographs will allow visitors to explore four Birmingham streets as they appeared in the past: Second Avenue North, Fourth Avenue North, 19th Street North, and 20th Street North.

For more information about the exhibit, call BPL Archives Department head Jim Baggett at 205-226-3601.

From A Portrait of Birmingham at Work

What: A Portrait of Birmingham at Work

When: February 12–March 26, 2019

Where: Central Library, First Floor Gallery 

Details: A Portrait of Birmingham at Work is a 20-portrait collection highlighting Birmingham restaurant labor, created by Birmingham photographer Celestia Morgan and commissioned by the Southern Foodways Alliance. 

The art exhibit A Portrait of Birmingham at Work will be on display in the Central Library First Floor Gallery from February 12 through March 26, 2019. It will feature a 20-portrait collection highlighting Birmingham restaurant labor created by Celestia Morgan, a Birmingham-based photographer. 

Morgan says the food photos were inspired by growing up watching her mother cooking in kitchen. The photographs focus on the meticulous care in mixing ingredients that goes into preparing nourishment for others.

The Southern Foodways Alliance, a Mississippi-based organization, commissioned Morgan to create the photo exhibit showcasing the role workers play behind the scenes and in public of producing food. Before the exhibit opens at the Central Library, A Portrait of Birmingham at Work will make its public debut during the alliance's 2019 Winter Symposium: Food is Work, being held Saturday, February 9, at Haven, an event center in Birmingham.