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A SmARTguide to BMA’s Programs

BIRMINGHAM TIMES — The Birmingham Museum of Art (BMA) is more than just paintings, sculptures, and exhibits. Programming and education initiatives are also a large part of the institution, located at 2000 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd., Birmingham, AL 35203. BMA Curator of Education Rachel White said the museum’s education staff works with Birmingham City Schools and Jefferson County Schools to educate students about art.

Published

6 years ago

September 1, 2019

Oakland Post

Kids are shown in the ArtVenture interactive gallery at the Birmingham Museum of Art. (Photo by Mark Almond)

By Erica Wright

The Birmingham Museum of Art (BMA) is more than just paintings, sculptures, and exhibits. Programming and education initiatives are also a large part of the institution, located at 2000 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd., Birmingham, AL 35203.

BMA Curator of Education Rachel White said the museum’s education staff works with Birmingham City Schools and Jefferson County Schools to educate students about art.

“Some of my colleagues go out into the schools, think about what is being taught in classrooms, and connect the curriculum with our collection,” said White. “We also have a Teen BMA program, through which we work with about 30 different teens each year, so they can learn about a career in museums. They get to hear from different departments [in the museum]. They also give back by volunteering in different tracks, such as curatorial, if they’re interested in education and working with kids.”

Other programs include a Studio School, which offers art classes—including painting, drawing, printmaking, and pottery—for children and adults on weekdays and weekends, and Spanish Language Tours, which are conducted once a month. On August 24, the BMA will host Chocolate Milk Mommies, a Birmingham-based group that offers community support and educational resources promoting the benefits of breastfeeding and breast milk for babies.

One of the more compelling education initiatives took place last year, when the museum had an exhibition on a piece of art by artist Hank Willis Thomas called “Priceless,” which depicted the funeral of his cousin who had been shot. The event sparked conversation about gun violence.

“Using the artwork was a way for people to bounce ideas off of each other and talk through certain aspects,” White said. “Using the artwork kind of helped create a safe space to have that conversation.

The BMA also provides several digital offerings. The Smart Lab allows visitors to interact with the exhibition and actually get to be a part of the exhibitions.“Originally, the photograph had been in the building and in galleries, and it was really traumatic for people to look at, to see, and to witness. We wanted to create a safe space to talk about gun violence in our community. We brought in three community activists, as well as Mr. Thomas, who talked about the origin of the work and why it was important to create it, and then talked about gun violence in Birmingham.”

“[Smart Lab] is a space for us to test new digital projects,” said White. “We [also] have a Sensory Empowerment Program for visitors with low or no vision to be able to touch artworks either replicated from our collection or inspired by our collection or even new objects created for them. … They can touch, smell, and interact with an object, even though they can’t necessarily see it.”

White and her team also created smartguide, an online instruction for visitors to learn more about art in the museum.

“There is a small number on the bottom of labels you may see throughout the museum. If you go to our website, type in the number, and click it, you can hear audio, [get] a quick guide to the artwork, quick facts, and even video,” said White. “This is a way to have another form of engagement, even though the artwork is in front of you. … Some people just want to look. Some people just want to read the label. Some people want to a deep dive. The smartguide is your opportunity to do a deep dive into a work of art.”

For more information about the Birmingham Museum of Art’s smartguide, visit www.artsbma.org/art/smartguide.

This article originally appeared in The Birmingham Times.

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Tiguan’s AI Touchscreen & Gear Shift: VW Just Changed the Game! #2

Explore the Tiguan’s cutting-edge 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen featuring wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, voice control, and a new AI assistant. See how VW innovatively moved the gear shifter to the steering column, enhancing the center console and navigation system! #AutoNetwork #Tiguan #Infotainment #AppleCarPlay #AndroidAuto #AISystem #NavigationSystem #CarTech #TechReview #CarInnovation #Automotive

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IN MEMORIAM: Legendary Funk Pioneer Sly Stone Dies at 82

Sly Stone’s musical approach radically reshaped popular music. He transcended genre boundaries and empowered a new generation of artists. The band’s socially conscious message and infectious rhythms sparked a wave of influence, reaching artists as diverse as Miles Davis, George Clinton, Prince, Dr. Dre, and the Roots.

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3 days ago

June 17, 2025

Oakland Post

Sly and the Family Stone play the Opera House in Bournemouth. Mojo review. Photo by Simon Fernandez.

By Stacy M. Brown
BlackPressUSA.com Newswire

Sylvester “Sly” Stewart—known to the world as Sly Stone, frontman of the groundbreaking band Sly and the Family Stone—has died at the age of 82.

His family confirmed that he passed away peacefully at his Los Angeles home surrounded by loved ones, after battling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other health complications.

Born March 15, 1943, in Denton, Texas, Stone moved with his family to Vallejo, California, as a child. He began recording gospel music at age 8 with his siblings in a group called the Stewart Four. By his teenage years, he had mastered multiple instruments and was already pioneering racial integration in music—an ethos that would define his career.

In 1966, Sly and his brother Freddie merged their bands to form Sly and the Family Stone, complete with a revolutionary interracial, mixed-gender lineup.

The band quickly became a commercial and cultural force with hits such as “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People,” and “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”—all penned by Stone himself.

Their album “Stand!” (1969) and live performances—most notably at Woodstock—cemented their reputation, blending soul, funk, rock, gospel, and psychedelia to reflect the optimism and turmoil of their era.

As the 1970s progressed, Stone confronted personal demons. His desire to use music as a response to war, racism, and societal change culminated in the intense album “There’s a Riot Goin’ On” (1971). But drug dependency began to undermine both his health and professional life, leading to erratic behavior and band decline through the early 1980s.

Withdrawn from the public eye for much of the 1990s and early 2000s, Stone staged occasional comebacks. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grammys in 2017, and captured public attention following the 2023 release of his memoir “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”—published under Questlove’s imprint. He also completed a biographical screenplay and was featured in Questlove’s documentary “Sly Lives!” earlier this year.

His influence endured across generations. Critics and historians repeatedly credit him with perfecting funk and creating a “progressive soul,” shaping a path for racial integration both onstage and in the broader culture.

“Rest in beats Sly Stone,” legendary Public Enemy frontman Chuck D posted on social media with an illustrative drawing of the artist. “We should thank Questlove of the Roots for keeping his fire blazing in this century.”

Emmy-winning entertainment publicist Danny Deraney also paid homage. “Rest easy Sly Stone,” Deraney posted. “You changed music (and me) forever. The time he won over Ed Sullivan’s audience in 1968. Simply magical. Freelance music publicist and Sirius XM host Eric Alper also offered a tribute.

“The funk pioneer who made the world dance, think, and get higher,” Alper wrote of Sly Stone. “His music changed everything—and it still does.”

Sly Stone is survived by three children.

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PRESS ROOM: Clyburn on 10th Anniversary of Mother Emanuel AME Church Shooting in Charleston

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06) released the following video on X, paying tribute to the 10th anniversary of the shooting that took place at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17, 2015.

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3 days ago

June 17, 2025

Oakland Post

By Congressman James E. Clyburn

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CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06) released the following video on X, paying tribute to the 10^th anniversary of the shooting that took place at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17, 2015.

“Over 6 years ago, the House first passed my Enhanced Background Checks Act to close the Charleston Loophole that allowed a white supremacist to obtain the gun he used to murder nine worshipers at Emanuel AME Church on June 17, 2015.

“I’ll never stop fighting to pass this law.”