Vulcan, vulcan, vulcan
Great cities incorporate public art into the built environment; Birmingham has lagged others in this regard. Yesterday at Design Review Committee, the City took a step towards improving the situation with unanimous approval of a mural painting on the East wall of the Lichter’s Building (facing a parking lot fronting 19th Street North between 3rd and 4th Avenues, rendering above). The mural will be in the style of the late artist Andy Warhol, and will feature Vulcan, the symbol of the city.
It was especially heartening to see a unanimous approval for such a relatively large, bold artwork. Eight years ago there was push-back on the large painted mural sign we proposed for our 2nd Row development–which was at the time considered audacious for a downtown historic district (a muted dark gray in color, it was ultimately approved; progress photo from 2007 below). Thankfully, the Committee, and the public generally, now better appreciates the role that art, and its cousin good graphic design, can play in helping to revitalize and invigorate urban areas.
A truly skilled urban artist at work
[thanks to Kyle Kruse for the Lichter’s mural image, and to the Birmingham News for the file photo of the 2nd Row mural]
Bhamarchitect's Blog 
love reading your blog and glad you started up again! does the DRC publish meeting agendas ahead of time?
Tim, thanks for reading. Yes, the agendas are published ahead of time; you can email John Sims at the City and he will add you to the notification list: John.Sims@birminghamal.gov
Good blog. The Birmingham News file photo is of David Ray who is a bit more than an urban artist. David, a skilled journeyman sign painter / muralist, worked for us at Skidmore Sign Co. and we are the company commissioned to the paint the 2nd Row walls. Painted signage / murals are still our specialty.
Sam, thanks for reminding us about David White and Skidmore Sign’s long history as a provider of urban signage in Birmingham.
Hi Jeremy,
Thanks for the update! Was there any other items and decisions made about other projects?
Thanks!
Hey Chuck, initial signage package approved for the Gray building (Booker T Washington); landscape and small office building design tabled for Carraway Blvd and 12th Av pending changes; not too much else major downtown or otherwise. Thanks for reading!
I am interested in painting murals for the city. I am from Montgomery. Thanks. Plz email me back.