East Village Arts is a non-profit artist collective
We are a membership based co-operative of artists, musicians, and patrons.
We believe that diversity and collective creativity is the strength of a healthy community.
POETICALLY SPEAKING is a writing workshop of sharing & healing through written and spoken word. The featured poet for the month of July is Jahman Hill, an astute poet and Birmingham influencer. Each month a guest artist will present original work and suggest a prompt for creative writing. The atmosphere is informal and inclusive & presents an opportunity for sharing in open mic. The series is curated by Fayth Hope, founder of the Soutopian Society. Come as you are with a pen & pad, observe and create. Thursday July 18 at 7:00 p.m.
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 the screening of historic Birmingham clips of Sun Ra to be included in the documentary film by French filmmakers Guillaume Maupin and Pablo Guarise with the last scene of the movie filmed at the celebration!
The EXPROV Concert Series features progressive music, free improvisation, electronic music, and avant-garde jazz with local and notable musicians who are internationally known, from the locale, region and country! Curated by T. Rouss
EXPROV SERIES AT EVA
features free improvisation and experimental musica exploration
Curated by Taylor Rouss
7:30 p.m. Byob $10
INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
ECHOES SURREALISTE CONTEMPORAINS
GRAND OPENING RECEPTION,
Surrealist ART Exhibition , Music
Film & Performance Art!
FRIDAY MARCH 15, 2024
6:30 p.m Doors open Collaborate! Set the atmosphere! Exhibition and open improvisations on latest stringed instrument inventions by Birmingham's acclaimed creator, inventor, engineer, artiste Jean-Jacques Gaudel!
7:30 PERFORMANCES; Body Language and performance art by CillaVee (NC), Susan Hefner and Shelley Hirsh (NY) Ruthlessly Killing: LaDonna Smith & Taylor Rouss, DadaUU wind synths, Rachel Inman & Mary Foshee, Doctor Khlurr poetry and manifestos, wild wombs, ghosts and intuitions.
8:30 SURREALIST SHORT FILMS by Si Reasoning, Michael Mills. An engaging and entertaining long night, and in the spirit of collaboration. This historic event was part of "Echoes Surrealiste Contemporaines" an international collaboration of related 2024 exhibitions hosted in 2024.
Luxor, Budapest, Saint-Cirq LaPopie France at the Summer home & now Cultural Museum of Andre Breton in, France and here at East Village Arts of Birmingham, Alabama!
Welcome Tunde Odunlade to Birmingham!
East Village Arts is 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. The Exhibition Opening Exhibition of 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. The gallery 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!" Dont' miss your opportunity to meet Prince Tunde! He will be coming back in late September for more co-creating with batik workshops, lecture, drumming and creative connection to Birmingham's art community.
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 Nigeria. In the early 1970’s Tunde studied with Yinka Adeyemi, of the Oshogbo school of art that was largely responsible for the explosion of creative contemporary art emanating from Nigeria. Tunde will be visiting the United States again in 2024, premiering his new work.
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.
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.
The first Friday of the month features poetry, rap and reggae with curator, and Master of Ceremonies, Tmbuk2 in a community celebration of the Word! Each monththere is a new poet or rap artist featured, and open mic's introduce talented local artists!
East Village Arts is supported in part by fees paid by member organizations.
Check out these community groups that hold their meetings, rehearsals, and events at EVA!
BAMA New Music Festival 2024
2024 Birmingham Art Music Alliance New Music Festival Tenth Anniversary "THE NEXT MOMENT" was held on Saturday May 11, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. and Monday May 13 at 7:00 p.m. 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 Birmingham Art Music Alliance BAMA as one of the creative member organizations of EVA!
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.
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.
Recent Events
Fire, food, and friends at EVA on Family Flow Night--check back for upcoming dates!
Family Flow Night
Come see the show at 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.
INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
ECHOES SURREALISTE CONTEMPORAINS
GRAND OPENING RECEPTION, EXHIBITION, FILM
& PERFORMANCE ART!
6:30 p.m Doors open Collaborate! Set the atmosphere! Come early to experience and improvise on latest stringed instrument inventions by creator, inventor, artiste Jean-Jacques Gaudel!
7:30 performances BODY LANGUAGE PERFORMANCE ART beginning by CillaVee (NC), Susan Hefner and Shelley Hirsh (NY) Ruthlessly Killing (LaDonna Smith & Taylor Rouss), Si & UU, Rachel Inman & Mary Foshee, Johnny Williams, Doctor Khlurr (Clifford McPeek) poetry and manifestos, wild wombs ghosts, intuitions & you?
8:30 SURREALIST SHORT FILMS by Si Reasoning, Michael Mills, Scott Bazaar (FL)!
East Village Arts is a community artist collective supported by memberships, by you, and generous donations: Suggested $20, $10, what you will!