Today we arose a bit less motivated than most others. Got in late and just feeling ready to hit the road for the south. We were a bit ambivalent about our possible sites in Birmingham. Well, fortunately we stayed true to our mission and opted for checking out a couple places on our list. That was a very wise decision.
1. The African Village in America by outsider artist Joe Minter - more below.
2. The Vulcan Man - a giant sculpture on the highest point in town. Ho-hum. We decided to take a pass on that one after driving by.
3. Satanic Story Teller fountain - amusing and so not Colorado Springs as the Focus People would surely freak out. Not even really all that photo worthy.
4. As we drove around downtown we happened to see a sign referring to "The Carousel Carving School." We parked the car and found our way back to the door upon which we called the number listed on the door and waited for Mr. Ira Chaffin to come down and let us in. He gave us the tour of the school and his studio. He is an artist (mostly bronze portraiture - including the one at Ave Maria Grotto of Brother Joseph Zoetl; there's a coincidence) owner and instructor of the school. Nice guy and very mellow. He told stories and all about the school as well as the process of carving carousel critters. (photos below)
5. The Garage - a quirky restaurant/bar that shares the courtyard with an architectural salvage company. This means eating in the patio of junk. Seemed appropriate for the day. The meal was nothing special but we enjoyed the quirky environment.
6. Cahawba - the so called ghost town of the first capitol of Alabama. There was not really much to see. The place is more about what was, not what is. There were only a couple of structures mixed in with mounds where something used to be and holes where something else used to be. Really kind of a ghost town of a ghost town. The grounds were quite beautiful but the early visits of the looming infestation were unpleasant precursors to what must be Mosquito Hell.
7. We've seen far too many smiley face and golf ball water tanks. Here's a well done one of a peach' excellent paint job.
Now back to Mr. Joseph Minter and The African Village in America.
I mean really come on....... we are just not worthy the incredible places we get to see and the people we have had the good fortune with whom we've crossed paths. On Sunday it was Earl Simmons then on Monday it was the magical world of Ave Maria Grotto. How can we top that? Well let me tell you.......
Keep in mind we almost skipped this one. Following our sometimes maddening GPS, "Madge," we wound around town and pulled onto a street that did not look promising. Then in what can only be called an explosion as we crept over a hill, there lies the site of our latest blessing.
Really people, I need a superlatives thesaurus. This place, the art, the man and his wife are off the chart. This "environment" had to be cover at least an acre. It is beyond comprehension. I thought I was going to pass out and I think Susan almost cried... I mean really, how much can we take.
I saw the curtains in the house flutter as someone peeked out. Shortly thereafter Mrs. Hilda Minter came out and invited us into the yard. Not long after that, Joseph greeted us with open arms and tales to tell. He is remarkable in every way a human can be. His story is long and book worthy. The pieces he creates are unf*#%@&* believable. In the photos below you cannot possibly see a minute fraction of what we did. Scale is impossible to relay - we do not have aerial photography cabability. The complexity is unfathomable. At first you may think you are looking at piles of junk - wrong, very wrong. Each and every piece has a title and theme/story. There are pieces about disasters from Katrina to 9/11. There are interpretations of numerous moments in civil rights history (made us very ashamed to be white). There are biblical sculptures, environmental statements and political commentary. This man has a lot to say and he shouts it literally to the heavens with his art and honestly, his personality and heart. He is a very serious man with a great sense of humor. He is a very religious man who lives his religion far more than on Sunday mornings. He expresses his opinion and his spirituality every single day of his life. He is an artist and uses his passion to promote peace. He carries what he calls his "talking stick" as he openly shares his deeply emotional ideals.
After some stories and a tour, he left us to wander to our hearts' and eyes' content - after all, he had work to do. The sound of his artistic machinations emitted from the backyard as he was serenaded by a loud radio playing gospel music. We could have spent days/weeks there. This place also has the added ambiance of being backed up on two sides to a vast and very old cemetery that we think is the resting place for blacks only. Truly, we needed oxygen.
Begrudgingly we headed to the front gate to be greeted by Hilda who asked us if we'd like a drink of water. She says "I is no artist. I am the supervisor.... Want to buy a book, cd postcard?" So, we sat on their front porch and chatted with the devoted and proud wife of this art God. She told many more stories and some of the history. It was all a cornucopia of memories that we will never forget. Honestly, that was a potentially life-changing experience. As Joe worked away, we shared hugs with Hida and left this mecca of visual wonder and fountain of deep emotion behind us knowing what a gift we had just received. Oh my oh my!
As Susan and I drove on to our next destination, for the first time on this journey, we were speechless. Minutes passed as we moved through the traffic in complete silence. We just could not find the words nor had even begun to fathom the treasure this day will be on our lives. This may all sound sappy and exaggerated but, dear friends, I assure you this is a very understated version of our thoughts and feelings. We met and were touched by a great man.
Love and never quite the same,
Rodney and Susan
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