Reviewed by: Nathan Watson
The “Living Wall” exhibit at the Birmingham Airport replanted and restored [PHOTOS]
Reading time: 2 minutes
An iconic exhibit at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) by one of The Magic City’s most beloved artists has been restored.
According to the Birmingham Airport Authority, the “Living Wall”—the calming colorful wall located at the passenger walkway between Concourse B and C—has been replanted and restored to its original glory.
A living quilt showcasing the natural beauty of Alabama
Ten years ago, the late Murray “Muff” Johnston collaborated with Canadian company Green Over Grey to install an exhibit called “Earth, Wind, and Water: The Landscape of Alabama” at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport. Since then, the display has often been referred to as the “Living Wall” or “Fern Wall” by locals and travelers alike.
The public art project was part of the BHM’s terminal modernization program.
In a tribute to Johnston after her passing in 2020, Bham Now writer Sharron Swain described how her work with quilts helped her stitch together a beautiful mosaic of native Alabama plants into a living quilt.
“If you’ve ever been past the Living Wall at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, you’ve seen Johnston’s work. You may not have realized, though, that her primary medium was quilts, and that the Living Wall was designed to be a living quilt that would showcase the natural beauty of Alabama.
Excerpt from “A tribute to Murray “Muff” Johnston, renowned art quilter, dog breeder + Birmingham native”
8000+ plants fill the space
If you haven’t seen the Living Wall, it is memorable for its lush greenery and soothing effect on travelers.
Additional details about the wall:
- The length of the wall is 105 feet long, 35 yards, about one-third the size of a football field
- The wall is 12 feet tall
- More than 8000 individual plants fill the space
- The plants were installed by Foliage Design, the same company that will work to maintain the wall.
Below are photos of the newly replanted wall:
Have you seen the Living Wall at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport? Do you have fond memories of this beautiful space? Tell us on Instagram by tagging at @bhamnow !
