Mayor Randall L. Woodfin to reveal StrongHer art exhibit at City Hall on March 8 in honor of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day

In recognition of March being Women’s History Month, Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin will unveil a new StrongHer art exhibit honoring women on Friday, March 8 at 10 a.m. on the second floor of City Hall. Friday also happens to be International Women’s Day.

In 2019, Mayor Woodfin launched an initiative known as StrongHer to honor the unsung women who live, work, volunteer or attend school in Birmingham and the outstanding work they do in our community. Each day in March, a StrongHer honoree is highlighted on the city’s website and social media pages, detailing how she is making a difference in the Magic City. More than 150 stories have been written on Birmingham women since the series started. A StrongHer book was released in November 2023 to highlight those stories.

The stories of the next StrongHer class will continue in 2024, along with the unveiling of the art exhibit, which was created by 2024 StrongHer honoree Christina Johnson. Johnson, who is a self-taught artist and the Artist in Residence for Railroad Park, has created 20 pieces for the exhibit. Some of the pieces were inspired by the StrongHer campaign.

“Reading the StrongHer book truly inspired me and spoke to my soul.  My goal (with the paintings) was to just really embody all that we are as women,’’ said Johnson, a married mother of three. “As a woman, as a wife and as an artist, we have many moving pieces. We wear many hats. But we carry a great strength within us, and when you put us together, there’s even more strength.’’

Johnson’s pieces feature layers of acrylic paint. Pieces of sheet music, newspaper, pages from books and even jewelry are mixed into her creations. Because of such textures in her artwork, the exhibit is called, “Textures of Strength.”

Alongside Johnson’s art is a piece by Titusville library patron Milana Price. Price is a 9-year-old lung cancer survivor with a dream of becoming an artist and pilot one day. Upon hearing about Milana’s dream, it was decided that one of Milana’s drawings be placed in the Women’s History Month showcase. Johnson, 46, had non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma when she was a child and survived the cancer.

“Together, Christina and Milana remind us that strength knows no bounds and that hope can shine through even in the darkest of times,’’ Mayor Woodfin said. “Their artwork isn’t just on canvas or paper. Their works are masterpieces that showcase vibrant dreams full of courage and hope.’’

The exhibit, which will be on display until mid-April, has titles for each piece such as “Start Where You Are’’ and “Don’t Wait Decades to Believe in Yourself.’’  There are also inspirational quotes to go with each painting. Several of the StrongHer honorees for 2024 will attend Friday’s press conference.

The book, “StrongHer: Women Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges in Birmingham’’ by Senior Project Manager Chanda Temple of the Mayor’s Office, is available for sale at the Birmingham Public Library’s Friends Bookstore for $28. The bookstore is open Monday – Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information on StrongHer, visit www.birminghamal.gov/strongher.

The book, “StrongHer: Women Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges in Birmingham’’ by Senior Project Manager Chanda Temple of the Mayor’s Office, is available for sale at the Birmingham Public Library’s Friends Bookstore for $28. The bookstore is open Monday – Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information on StrongHer, visit www.birminghamal.gov/strongher.