Studio 2500 launches ‘Identities’ summer art series

Studio 2500 started two years ago with a simple vision: to give budding artists a creative platform and physical space to exhibit their art in the community. As of summer 2018, the gallery is about to engage with the Birmingham community much more frequently.

“I want to get the community to see that there’s another side to Birmingham that’s untapped, and that’s through artists,” said Studio 2500 creator and director Willie Williams. “The more people invest in the artists and their future, then the more creative we can be in community development and redevelopment and growth.”

Since 22-year-old artist Williams graduated with a bachelor’s of fine arts from Birmingham-Southern College in May, he will be shifting his focus to full-time management of his multi-functional art studio and gallery, and will be bringing the city more artists and exhibits, such as the three-month Art at Night ‘Identities’ summer series. 

“This is a space that really cultivates the creative spirit, we really want to get the community involved, get the community to respond to anything that’s going on society-wise, but through art,” Williams said.

The ‘Identities’ series features fine art exhibitions that explore place of origin, personal background and heritage of local artists. The first part of the series is July 20, and the remaining dates will be 7-9 p.m. on Aug. 17 and Sept. 21.

Williams, who was born and raised in Birmingham, graduated from the Alabama School of Fine Arts in 2014 and quickly realized artistic ambitions in college while taking fine art classes. 

His art has since centered on representing African-American culture and other related themes, and it spans across mediums such as painting, drawing and wood and metal sculptures to positively reflect black heritage and identity through visual art.

As Williams strengthened his art education and abilities and got to know other novice artists in Birmingham, he began to look for a place to engage the community and share his work. About two years ago, he found what he considered the perfect place: an old mechanic shop, located at 2500 26th Ave. N. It had a lot of open space, plenty of windows and natural lighting, while still maintaining an intimate and welcoming feel. Half of the space, he said, is used as a working studio, with the other half operating as a gallery space.

“The idea was to use what I was learning in school and to actually put it into practice,” Williams said.

After renovating it, Studio 2500’s first show was July 29, 2016, where Williams — along with several other artists he met at schools, art crawls and through friends — did a kickoff exhibit of their work.  

The community responded well, Williams said, and he has since made time outside of his studies to put on seasonal shows. Now that his full attention is turned to the studio, he plans to put more exhibits on the calendar. 

“We will be doing more shows oriented toward north Birmingham and Birmingham at large for people to come out and see the creativity of the city,” he said. “It is definitely of our mission for young artists to inspire and be inspired from art.”

In July, Williams also opened the studio for public viewing hours during 2-5 p.m. on Mondays, Fridays and Sundays, where two or more artists will have their work on display. 

One example is Birmingham resident and self-taught artist Derek McKenzie, who recently moved many of his paintings “that were cooped up in his parent’s garage” to exhibit at Studio 2500. He said the opportunity to show his work has been “monumental and life-changing.” 

“It gives me a chance to get feedback that I was never offered before, a chance to get different perspectives within that feedback,” he said. “Meeting other artists [is] a very big part about it. It’s something that you can’t take for granted.”

McKenzie said he thinks each creation at Studio 2500 is like a self-portrait in a way. 

Even though Studio 2500 is a fine arts gallery in its official capacity, it is not just a place for visual artists, Williams added. It welcomes musicians, poets, writers, dancers, performers or anyone else who is in the arts.

Williams encourages local artists of various talents to reach out and take part in upcoming shows. The summer series, for example, will showcase performing or spoken word artists. 

Email studiotwentyfivegallery@gmail.com for information on how to submit art. The deadline for the August show is Aug, 1, and the deadline for the September show is Sept. 1. Go to studio25.gallery to keep an eye out for upcoming community outreach shows.