East Village Arts is a non-profit artist collective
7611 1st Ave. North, Birmingham AL 35206
We are a membership based co-operative of artists, musicians,
and patrons. We believe that diversity & creativity is the strength of a
healthy community.
This month's feature artist is sculptor Randy Gachet from the visual arts faculty at the Alabama School of Fine Arts. His work is exhibited in galleries, non-profit spaces and museums throughout Alabama and the Southeastern region. His sculptures have been included in the Home Grown Southeast Exhibit 2007 at the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Awards received include the 2008-2009 Individual Artist Fellowship from the Alabama State Council on the Arts, a 2009 Art Teacher fellowship from the Surdna Foundation, merit awards at Kentuck Arts Festival, and Magic City Art Connection, & the Spirit of the South Award. Mr. Gachet’s work can be found in the collections of the Huntsville Museum of Art, the Wiregrass Museum of Art, UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Southern Environmental Center at Birmingham-Southern College, as well as in private collections across the country. No Place Left to Land I was created by visual arts students at the Alabama School of Fine Arts with artist/ sculptor / educator Randy Gachet. The piece was originally conceived and created for the 2023 Magic City Art Connection High School Sculpture Challenge Shape- Shift- Flight, where it garnered 1st prize.
For this project, use recycled / upcycled / repurposed materials to create a kinetic sculpture or installation that is innovative, creative, unique and responsive to its surroundings. ”Students chose to use concepts around birds and flight to respond to societal and environmental issues they find important. No Place Left to Land is informed by elements of “Hostile Architecture” found in urban settings to discourage the homeless. Using upcycled secondhand clothing to suggest birds in flight over a hostile, uninviting architectural form, the piece addresses the plight of disenfranchised and marginalized people.
Join us on December 12, 2024 at 7:00pm CST for an evening of poetry and community. The four poets of the inaugural cohort of Poets Across Lines, Arlo Pate and Kevin L. Tarver in Birmingham and Kevin Sanchez and RuthAnn in Tucson, will read poems created during the program. These poems center around the themes of housing, immigration, and LGBTQIA+ identity, amplifying poetry and poets from communities underserved by the traditional literary establishment. Featuring readings by program Mentors Erika E. Wade and Gabriel Dozal, and poems by Advisors Salaam Green and Ofelia Montelongo! This incredible evening of poetry and readings featuring emerging and established poets will center and celebrate community poets, their role and their work.
Sponsored by PEN America
Learn more about the four selected poets of Poets Across Lines 2024:
From Birmingham, AL
Arlo Pate (he/they) is a writer and educator currently nestled in Birmingham, Alabama. After studying Anthropology, they got their start in farming and since then has followed opportunities that lead him closer to agriculture and labor organizing. Their relationship with the land has a profound influence on their songwriting and poetry.
Kevin L. Tarver (he/him) is a writer, educator, and mental health advocate living in Birmingham, AL. He is a Black gay man trying to live a joyful life through fierce self-care and emotional honesty. His subject matter includes mental and emotional health awareness, sexual health education, and his experiences within the southern LGBT+ community.
From Tucson, AZ
Kevin Sanchez (he/him) was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. As a first generation college graduate, he earned a BA in English and a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Arizona. Kevin is currently a high school teacher, sharing his love for literature and writing with the future generations of poets.
RuthAnn (they/them) is an aroace abolitionist and accessibility advocate. Born and raised in Arizona, they love the Sonoran Desert, where they continue to reside today. They are a translator and aspiring librarian. In addition to poetry, they enjoy singing, dancing, photography, cross stitch, and hand lettering.
Free and open to the public with registration! Birmingham guests can attend the event virtually using the Zoom link provided on the day of the event OR attend in-person at East Village Arts on the day of the show.
Watch for East Village Arts ~ Winter Solstice Open House
Saturday December 21 1-3
Enjoy our new patio tables & firepit, art exhibition & studios
and have some Holiday Wassal!
Artist, Maker or Performer, have art, handcrafts, kitch or carols,
or just curious, now is a good time for inquiry into making plans at
EAST VILLAGE ARTS Winter Solstice Open House!
Come out to visit! Think creatively toward the New Year. Currently we have three Studios for rent & open to choose. Join our family of core of artists! Join the Collective.
STUDIOS FOR RENT PERFORMANCE, WORKSHOP & TEACHING SPACE
Contact: director@evabham.org txt: Steve! 205-266-3933
See some of our most RECENT EVENTS in 2024
MASKS AROUND THE WORLD
Art Exhibit by Craig Legg & artist talk
Paper Machet, Found-object Assemblage
Currently Showing: Gallery Open Saturdays 11 am-3 pm
Mask Workshops! Come see.
What's happening at EVA?
Prince Tunde Odunlade at East Village Arts!
EVA celebrated Prince Tunde's return to Birmingham with an Exhibition of his new work, experiencing the Prince in person, his presence, stories, artworks, & amazing beaded batiks. Prince Tunde Odunlade, Cultural Ambassador of Nigeria is a print and textile artist who has exhibited, taught, lectured, studied and traveled extensively within Nigeria and throughout Africa, North America, and Europe. His work is in the collections of major institutions including the Smithsonian Museum of African Art as well as the World Bank Headquarters in Washington, D.C., the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the MacArthur Foundation collection in Chicago, the State House in Lagos, Nigeria, and in Birmingham, Alabama at East Village Arts! ;)
Not only a hub for visiting international artists, we largely support amazing local talents that live and thrive in our own Birmingham Greater Metropolitan area! EVA is the scene for home-grown creativity: diverse & multi-cultural, non-commercial and alternative music, visual art & poetry, the innovative cutting-edge, outsider and traditional folk arts! A gathering place for all!
Hidden Impact! - a tribute to two artists whose mostly hidden works impacted the community in powerful ways. Eddie Melton was an inventor, a creator, and who played with shapes, fractals, & recipes! His work manifested in many unusual mediums. Neko Linda, writer & artist, silently co-organized the Sister City Connection - a multi-cultural collective of female poets. She fostered a deep awareness of Women's Spirituality was producer of the first performance of the Vagina Monologues in Birmingham. She supported and heralded the LGTBQ Community organizing fundraisers and spoken word. Eddie's impact was as subtle as a poet on a skateboard! Celebrating their many hidden talents and community impact! Poetry, Exhibition and Performance!
Create Birmingham featured an early morning "Meet and Greet for artists and non-profits across the city to engage in a forum on Accounting Tips and Insight for Small Businesses and Nonprofits. The guest presenter was Talibah M. Bayles, founder and CEO of TMB Tax & Financial Services Benefit Corporation. A Birmingham native and esteemed leader, Talibah Bayles is a renowned National Small Business Advocate with a unique blend of local dedication and national influence.
Coffee with Creatives is an opportunity for artists, entrepreneurs and graduates to graduates to socially interact, network and engage.
CULTURAL FORCES
FROM THE UKRAINE FRONTLINE WITH THANKS
SECOND MUSIC TOUR OF GRATITUDE
Tuesday OCTOBER 15th, 2024
featuring world-class amazing musicians who were on the frontlines of the Ukrainian war , injured & recovering with the beauty of sharing their music!
The cultural arm of the Armed Forces of Ukraine brings together active servicemen and volunteers of artistic and creative trades. Through culture and arts, Cultural Forces improves troops’ morale and provides psychological support to soldiers in combat and recovery zones.
Professional artists before the war, now active duty soldiers and frontline volunteers, they will present a wide variety of music from Ukrainian and world classics to covers of popular hits and country tunes. Most artists fought in some of the fiercest battles of the war. After recovering from injuries, they went back to playing music.
The artists’ repertoire presents renditions of a wide variety of music, from Ukrainian and world classics to covers of popular hits and country tunes, featuring the traditional Ukrainian string instrument, the bandura. There will be an opportunity for interaction between the audience and the artists.
Yurii Ivaskevyeh
Vocalist and Soloist, the Zapariatutua Philharmonic Orchestra, Grenade Launcher Operator, 110TH Separate Brigade
Taras Stoliar
Bandura player Honored Artist at Ukraine, PFC Reconnaissance Operative, 112th Separate Brigade
Olha Rukavishmikova Violinist, conductoer, and symphonist, Reconnaissance Operative, Grenade Launcher, Operator, 112th Separate Brigade
Mykhaile Olinyk
Composer, pianist and singer, Separate Mechanized Brigade
Sasha Poole Country music singer, composer, and writer, Capt. 22nd Separate Infantry Battalion
Liubov Shipiliuk, Bandura player, singer and songwriter, (CF frontline volunteer)
Mykolai Sierga Popular presenter, poet, musician and lproducer (CAPT, 50th Separate Mechanized Brigade)
for more information about these cultural ambassadors visit
https://culturalforces.org/international/
BAMA
Birmingham Art Music Alliance
presents Iron Giant
Thursday, October 10, 2024
Iron Giant Free Association premieres new music by local composers in boundary-stretching performance.
Iron Segments - Michael Coleman
Versicles for Aries - Kyle McGucken
Improvisation - LaDonna Smith / Iron Giant
differance - Mark Lackey
as reflected in the glimmer of the black pond Holland Hopson
Thus Spoke the Giant - Joseph Landers
Armature - Monroe Golden / Iron Giant FREE
HALLOWEEN ART PERFORMANCE PARTY BEAM SPLITTER ~ PHIL MINTON AUDREY CHEN HENRIK MUNKEBY NØRSTEBØ OCTOBER 31 , 2024
Some very special voices to Woo and BOO the imagination! Beam Splitter a trio of hyper extended close mic'ed vocal mouthfuls and breath driven antics for double voice and trombone. Also performing were Birmingham improvisors featuring LaDonna Smith & Taylor Rouss, as Ruthlessly Killing and Dada U'u'
Si Reasoning & Aiden Ritchey wind synths.
"For each of us, breath is a highly personal signature at the audible edge of sound; to magnify it, as BEAM SPLITTER does, is to make oneself available in a particularly bold way. And the work on Rough Tongue is nothing if not bold.”
— Daniel Barbiero, Avant Music News (US)
BEAM SPLITTER (Audrey Chen & Henrik Munkeby Nørstebø) is a duo for amplified voice, trombone & analog electronics. They have been touring globally since 2015, playing over two hundred concerts in a wide variety of spaces and contexts, bringing their own brand of highly amplified dialog, which is as intimate as it is equal amounts raw and entirely exposed. They join together their two individual voices into a distinct language that delves beyond the borders of un-processed voice and trombone, while utilizing analog electronics to offset their hyper extended physical play.
“BEAM SPLITTER is highly improvised, extremely crafted and held in an iron will for
experimentation.”
— Jean Louis Fernandez, La Nacion (AR)
Phil Minton comes from Torquay in the UK. He played trumpet and sang with the Mike Westbrook Band in the early 60s- then in dance and rock bands in Europe for the later part of the decade.
Phil Minton returned to London England in 1971, rejoining Westbrook and was involved in many of his projects until the mid 1980′s. For most of the last forty years, Phil has been working as an improvising singer in groups, orchestras and situations, in various locations worldwide. Some composers have written pieces that especially employ his extended vocal techniques and improvisations. A master sounder, he has the distinction of being considered a founding father of improvised vocal phenomena. He has performed worldwide. Since the eighties, his Feral Choir, where he voice-conducts workshops and concerts for anyone who wants to sing, has been performed in over twenty countries.
September 21, 2024 Jonas Van den Bossche Belgian guitarist, based in the United States explores music both through written songs and improvised playing. Van den Bossche embraces contradiction and change which enables his improvised playing to flow seamlessly from noise to melody to silence and back. He has explored noise, free jazz, and improvised music on guitar and drums for well over two decades. Also on the bill, exquisaire
T Roussi, Playplace, Patrick Stone & The Hotel Bibles.
This night of free improvisation called opens ears to task! Manifesting the interception of improvisations, flow, & friendships at East Village Arts beautiful creative space!
Tmbuk2 hosts
"FRIDAY NITE WRITES"
The Soultopian Society graced the mic for the September monthly edition of Poetically Speaking. This event was the humorously delivered, thought-provoking commentary of Akeyla Chatman! Totally entertaining, and then participants were prompted to write and "Speak their Peace" on the subject of "There's no turning back" Participants bring a pen, pad, and an open mind to “speak your peace” on Third Thursdays!
Photos below: EVA's Sun Ra departure event: outdoor screening, parade, music, poetry and art fair, and Sun Ra's favorite soup (all for free!) Celebrating the upcoming documentary film of Sun Ra's Birmingham legacy by French film makers, Guillaume Maupin & Pablo Guarise.
All this as the final scene of the movie was filmed at the EVA celebration! Just wait 'til Spring! ;D
We've installed some amazing mosaic Patio tables!
Do you have a green thumb? Sound & Lighting experience? Social Media Wizard? Good with a broom? Volunteer!
East Village Arts hosted an open air outdoor event celebrating the departure date of our son of the city, Sun Ra! Beginning with a parade of musicians and the Sun Ra giant puppet down first Avenue North accompanied by the volunteer ad hoc Sun Ra Band, music, poetry, a history lesson, art, merch, tee's, BBQ, and a screening of early historic Birmingham clips of Sun Ra to be included in the documentary film by French filmmakers Guillaume Maupin and Pablo Guarise.
POETICALLY SPEAKING - a writing workshop of sharing & healing through written and spoken word. The featured poet for the month of July was Jahman Hill, an astute poet and Birmingham influencer. Poetically Speaking hosted by the Soultopian Society is Third Thursdays!
The EXPROV monthly Concert Series features improvisation, electronic music, and avant-garde jazz. Presenting local and touring musicians from all over the country, as well as brilliant musical innovators from around the world.
ECHOES OF CONTEMPORARY SURREALISM
This historic event was part of "Echoes Surrealiste Contemporaines" an international collaboration of correlated Surrealist exhibitions hosted in Luxor, Egypt, Budapest, Hungary, Saint-Cirq LaPopie, France at the summer home, now Cultural Museum of Andre Breton, and in all places, right here in Alabama at East Village Arts!
The Alabama Surrealist group, FRESH DIRT, has drawn itself into the international Surrealist movement, and the Alabama exhibition was celebrated as one of the most innovative of all in live performance! The Alabama exhibition at East Village Arts included visual art from Egypt, France, Canada, Australia, Britain, Scotland, USA and Peru. Our event featured spontaneous sound poetry, dance, & performance artists, 'automatic' music, surrealist films, and the experimental stringed instruments of local artist Jean Jacques Gaudel.
BAMA New Music Festival 2024
2024 Birmingham Art Music Alliance New Music Festival Tenth Anniversary "THE NEXT MOMENT" held on Saturday May 11, 2024 and Monday
May 13 featuring "Esther & Holland"
New Old Time Music! free admission!
The Birmingham Art Music Alliance is an autonomous nonprofit organization with the twofold mission of promoting music by Alabama composers and presenting concerts of recently created art music to communities in Birmingham and beyond. We are proud to acknowledge BAMA (Birmingham Art Music Alliance) as one of the creative member organizations of EVA!
CASSANDRA GRIFFEN EXHIBITION
“I, TOO SING AMERICA”
Celebrating Black History Month
FEBRUARY 15, 2024
Cassandra Griffen is a nationally known Civil Rights Movement documentarian. Her photographs are powerful revelations of the journey of individuals and communities of color during her 30 years of intense documentations of civil unrest and cultural challenge. My images expose the individual’s hidden self. I am curious of what lies behind their eyes; where they have been; and where they hope to go. My images evoke the passage of time. Serving as Human Rights commissioner of a New State Commission taught me that racism was still a factor and this revelation impacted her passion to the underserved and overlooked.
PRINCE TUNDE ODENLADE of NIGERIA is a print and textile artist who has exhibited, taught, lectured, studied and traveled extensively within Nigeria and throughout Africa, North America, and Europe. His art has been displayed around the world in dozens of one-man and group shows. His work is in the collections of institutions including the Smithsonian Museum of African Art and the World Bank Headquarters in Washington, D.C., the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the MacArthur Foundation Collection in Chicago, and the State House in Lagos, Nigeria. His work is also in the collections of many private individuals in the North America, Europe, and Asia. He is Director & Curator of the Tunde Odenlade Contemporary Art Center in Nigeria.
Prince Tunde Odunlade to Birmingham! March 1, 2024
East Village Arts was proud to host Prince Tunde Odunlade, acclaimed beaded batik artist & the cultural ambassador from Nigeria. The exhibition in March featured large handmade pieces that captured the village life and spirit of his people. His hand-crafted beaded batik was heralded with performances by the drummers of Sahi On Ko Djony and dance by Nathifa African Dance director Empress LaVondia. Attendees could not help but join in the dancing followed by poetry, reggae and rap curated by Birmingham's outspoken poet, Tmbuk2 the curator of the exciting monthly series, "FRIDAY NITE WRITES!" Such a high night celebrating the arts & cultural diversity!
Alabama Roots Music and Trading Card Series
Craig Legg's Alabama Roots Music & Trading Card Series is a visual/musical history in 300+ portraits. Open January through March, 2024, it was a super hit, & Painting with the artist on Saturdays from 11:00-2:00.
FRIDAY NITE WRITES features poetry, rap and reggae hosted by EVA curator and Master of Ceremonies, Tmbuk2 in a community celebration of the Word! Each month there is a new poet or rap artist and open mic introducing the community to many talented local poets in spoken word.
East Village Arts is an eclectic & affordable community venue of the poetic, visual arts & performance! celebrating diversity and inclusion, supporting local and visiting artists. Contact: director@evabham.org
Join us at East Village Arts as a volunteer, member, or studio resident!
Studio Residency
Uniquely conceived in the form of a "village" or town, we have an open gallery for artist exhibitions, a performance space with a stage & church pew seating, a nice wood floor for dance and classwork, and a number of village mini studios which may be occupied by local artists to show or execute their work.
click here for more info
Book a performance or exhibition
Book a one-time event or become a member and take advantage of our rates and packages for single and serial events.
Volunteer
Share your talents & interests and become a Volunteer!
You can earn many of the perks of membership by serving as an event curator, social media curator, workshop leader, housekeeper, or a member of our gardening team.
click here for more info
More Events...
Fire, food, and friends at EVA on Family Flow Night
Family Flow Night
Come see a fire show
on
our
new patio!
EVA in the news!
French filmmakers are celebrated at EVA for their work on an upcoming documentary about Birmingham's own Sun Ra.
Everyone is a unique expression of talent, insight, and reason for being. Join our membership and contribute to the wellness of the community in our city, impacting the state of things imaginative, authentic, and true. Because resources in the challenges of Life are inter-related, we ask you to join us in this mission! Become part of the EVA Vision as a listener, an observer, a supporter and a creative!
East Village Arts is a 501-c3 community artist collective supported by memberships, by you. All donations are fully tax deductible by law. Donate: Please give generously or Become a Sustaining Member Today!
ECHOES SURREALISTE CONTEMPORAINS
EXHIBITION, FILM
& PERFORMANCE ART!
6:30 p.m Art & Collaborations set the atmosphere! Early birds experience and improvise on latest stringed instrument inventions by creator, inventor, artiste Jean-Jacques Gaudel!
7:30 BODY LANGUAGE PERFORMANCE ART
CillaVee (NC), Susan Hefner and Shelley Hirsh (NY) Ruthlessly Killing (LaDonna Smith & Taylor Rouss), Si & UU, Rachel Inman & Mary Foshee, Doctor Khlurr (Clifford McPeek) poetry, music, manifestos, wild wombs ghosts, & intuitions.
8:30 SURREALIST SHORT FILMS by Si Reasoning, Michael Mills, Scott Bazaar