art

As they age out of the public school system, art programs for adults on the autism spectrum begin to disappear. To break the barriers created by age, Studio by the Tracks in Birmingham has been providing free resources and materials for autistic adults for over 30 years. The non-profit aims to combat misconceptions about adults with autism by providing their artists with a source of income through art.

What happens when you mix forensic engineering with abstract art? Ask Dr. Raymond Thompson. The first-gen college student turned engineering legend has spent more than 60 years looking at the hidden beauty inside metals. On this episode of Quick-Fire Quips, he joins APR's Baillee Majors to talk about the evolution of Alabama tech, his "love letter" to the city that launched his business career—and how he's turning industrial steel into stunning public art at Sloss Furnaces.

Fannie Etheridge has been quilting for 30 years, but she’ll be the first to tell you that the legacy of Gee’s Bend started long before her. She shared a beautiful insight during our latest Quick-Fire Quips: The women who started the Freedom Quilting Bee didn't have five-year business plans—they had an idea, a community and the drive to build something from nothing. Today, those quilts aren't just blankets, they are world-renowned art.

This week on StoryCorps, Tres and Helene Taylor return to tell the story of the community mural they organized in Selma, Alabama and how they used the power of art to bring people together.

The Kentuck Festival of the Arts is being welcomed back to Tuscaloosa's Snow Hinton Park for the second year. With all of the festivities, a front man who's found a profound new meaning and unexpected power in the historic hymns and hollers stands ready to share music with the Druid City. Walter Parks & The Unlawful Assembly remake the songs and connect them directly to the roots of rock and roll.

This week on StoryCorps, fellow artists Carey Fountain and Valencia Benjamin discuss the potential benefits and concerns of AI in regards to art, social media and history.

Alabama Public Radio is proud to share the work of local artist Abi Brewer, who created an original painting exclusively for the station. Views of Home is what Abi calls "a love letter to Alabama." The painting celebrates the different flora, fauna and landscapes of the Yellowhammer State.

Jessie Andrews is a native of Huntsville, a muralist and the founder of Honey Blood Mural Company. She talks with Quick-Fire Quips host Baillee Majors about making art, local eateries and keeping Alabama alive. Plus, the irony of scuba diving being on her bucket list despite her irrational fear related to swimming in a pool.

Auburn welcomes artists of all styles to take part in an exhibition happening in May. Artwork must center around types/kinds of gardens and things found in gardens are open to personal interpretation. Works may be two or three dimensional in any style.

Artists are being invited to showcase their talent in Auburn. Registration is currently open for the Inaugural Juried Ceramics Exhibition at the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center. Applications close on Feb. 14.