The Perils of Art: Think and Drink opens dialectic on dangerous art
“VIRGIN MARY, Mother of God, become a feminist!”
The anthem resounded from the heretofore silent and pious rafters of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. The punk prayer delivered by members of the Russian feminist band, P***y Riot was a call to action that reverberated through Vladimir Putin’s regime. Members Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alyokhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich were arrested and charged with hooliganism, proclaimed blasphemous and shipped to work camps. The world was watching. News organizations followed their story and took a closer look at Putin’s politics.
“People across the globe recognized not only a fierce act of political confrontation, but also an inspired work of art that, in a time and place saturated with lies, found a new way to speak the truth,” states Masha Gessen’s Words will Break Cement: The Passion of P***y Riot.
On Thursday, June 25 the Alabama Humanities Foundation (AHF) Young Professionals will hold a panel discussion exploring P***y Riot, Parisian satire magazine Charlie Hebdo, 2014’s film The Interview and other art forms considered controversial, subversive or even dangerous. Think and Drink: The Danger of Art will allow attendees and panelists to sip and sound off about radical roles the arts play in helping or harming the communities in which they occur.
The AHF welcomes to the forum, Brian “Voice Porter” Hawkins, a visual and performance artist; Cody Owens, staff writer for Weld; Willow Scott, artist; Martin Weinberg, civil rights attorney; Erin Wright, graphic designer and professor of graphic design at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The questions facing the panel and audience will be: Is it that art imitates life or does it dictate it? Has art gone too far? Have the lines that separate art and propaganda been blurred to extinction? Should artists be held accountable for the peril their art may cause?
As the poet Ranier Maria Rilke said, “No great art has ever been made without the artist having known danger.”
Think and Drink: The Danger of Art will be held at Avondale Brewing Company (201 41st St. S.) from 6 to 8 p.m. For more information, visit Alabama Humanities Foundation on Facebook.
THURSDAY, JUNE 18
Plant It, Pick It, Drink It! — Birmingham Botanical Gardens. 2612 Lane Park Rd. Birmingham writer and bartender Clair McLafferty will guide attendees through the history of vodka and demonstrate some popular vodka cocktails including the Moscow mule, berry smash and cucumber basil gimlet using fresh garden herbs and fruits. 6–8 p.m. $20. For more information, visit bbgardens.org.
Dining for Dads — Various restaurants throughout Birmingham area. The Firehouse Shelter will use diners’ dollars to support dads in need with their sixth Dining for Dads fundraiser. More than 15 restaurants in Birmingham, Gardendale, Homewood, Hoover and Trussville will donate 10 to 20 percent of sales to continuing the positive impact of the Firehouse’s outreach missions. Menu prices vary. For more information and a full list of participating restaurants, visit firehouseshelter.com.
Mt. Laurel Farm Stand — Mt. Laurel Town Square3. 5 Mt. Laurel Ave. The community of Mt. Laurel offers their farm stand featuring fresh, organic produce harvested from the farmers at Mt. Laurel Farm every Thursday through December 3. This week find freshly picked, organically grown squash, sunflowers, salad greens, kale, chard and potatoes. 4–7 p.m. Free. For more information, visit mtlaurel.com.
SATURDAY, JUNE 20
Beginner Sushi Class — Dixie Fish Company. 101 Resource Center Parkway. Birmingham Sushi Classes offers this intro to the art of sushi-making. From cooking sushi rice, shopping tips and raw fish safety tips to sauce recipes, etiquette and tasting this class aims to assist first-time sushi chefs in creating and serving their own makizushi. Ticket price includes two sushi rolls prepared by the chef for lunch and one roll prepared by the student. An open bar will also be available. 12–2 p.m. $40. For more information, visit birminghamsushiclasses.com.
Woodlawn Street Market — 1 55th Place S. Local produce, handcrafted goods and art can be found during Woodlawn’s new summer street market. Food from Cyclo Eatery, Teacakes, Inc., Bitty’s Back Porch, Bon Temps and Dirty Red will available to sample and purchase throughout the day. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free. For more information, contact WoodlawnStreetMarket@gmail.com.
Big Green Eggs in the Ham — Regions Field. 1400 First Ave. S. The third annual Birmingham Area Easter Seals’ Big Green Eggs in the Ham fundraiser will fire up this weekend. The Easter Seals aim to spread awareness of the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities during the event, which consists of 40 teams grilling on Big Green Eggs. Food samples, Steel City Pops, Dippin’ Dots and live music will be available as well as presentations by chefs John Henry Abercrombie of John Henry’s Food Products and Martie Duncan, a former Food Network contestant. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. $15. For more information, visit eastersealsbham.org.
Chef Demonstration — Pepper Place Market. Kalos orisate, kali orexi, or “Welcome, bring your healthy appetite.” Executive chef and owner of The Fish Market Restaurant George Sarris will be cooking a fresh feast at Pepper Place Market this weekend during the market’s weekly chef demonstration. Known as one of Birmingham’s top Greek and seafood chefs, Sarris will share personal tips and tricks. 9 a.m. Free. For more information, visit pepperplacemarket.com.
Trunkstock — Avondale Brewing Company. 201 41st St. S. Food, brews and music come together at this event in Avondale. Off The Hook Food Truck and Catering, Cantina on Wheels and the Coleman Foods’ truck will roll into the brewery’s parking lot to accompany Avondale’s unusual blend of craft beers. The Rick Carter Trio, The Hurlers, Federal Expression, Bloodkin and New Orleans Suspects will perform live. 2 p.m.–1 a.m. $14 in advance, $40 for VIP. For more information, visit avondalebrewing.com.
TUESDAY, JUNE 23
Culinard Home Food Preservation Workshop — Virginia College in Birmingham. 488 Palisades Blvd. Culinard and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System are offering a two-day home food preservation workshop. Participants will learn the basics of food safety and preservation while practicing techniques of in-home food preservation including pressure canning, water bath canning, pickling, fermenting and freezing. Tuesday and Wednesday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. $25. For more information, call (205) 669-6763.
Sweet and Spicy Restaurant Takeover — Tracy’s Restaurant. 75 Church St., Crestline Village. New culinary endeavors Eugene’s Hot Chicken and Pixie Ice Cream Company will take over Tracy’s Restaurant in Mountain Brook’s Crestline Village. Zebbie Carney will be serving his hot chicken and sides while Theresa Rumore will be dishing out her fresh ice cream made from local ingredients. 5–8 p.m. Free to attend. For more information, visit createbirmingham.org.
THURSDAY, JUNE 25
Drinks on the Links — Highland Park Golf Course. 3300 Highland Park Ave. SisterGolf throws this happy hour event semimonthly. The event features 90 minutes of golf instruction with Highland Park Golf Course golf pro Max Doster. Clubhouse drink specials follow with networking opportunities for Birmingham area female professionals. Clubs may be provided, or interested parties may bring their own. 5:15–7 p.m. $35. For more information, call (205) 564-2040.