Vulcans on Parade, Unveiled

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2015/08/MG_2806.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1920;s:6:"height";i:1280;s:4:"file";s:19:"2015/08/MG_2806.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:13:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"MG_2806-336x224.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:224;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"MG_2806-771x514.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:514;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"MG_2806-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"MG_2806-768x512.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:512;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"1536x1536";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"MG_2806-1536x1024.jpg";s:5:"width";i:1536;s:6:"height";i:1024;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:17:"MG_2806-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"MG_2806-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"MG_2806-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"MG_2806-467x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:467;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"MG_2806-398x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:398;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"MG_2806-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"MG_2806-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"MG_2806-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Gina Yu
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => WBHM
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:1290038;s:14:"optimized_size";i:276934;s:7:"percent";d:78.530000000000001;}s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:47:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/08/MG_2806.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:1064373;s:14:"optimized_size";i:120051;s:7:"percent";d:88.719999999999999;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:55:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/08/MG_2806-336x224.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:20009;s:14:"optimized_size";i:14797;s:7:"percent";d:26.050000000000001;}s:5:"large";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:55:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/08/MG_2806-771x514.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:76499;s:14:"optimized_size";i:50273;s:7:"percent";d:34.280000000000001;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:55:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/08/MG_2806-600x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:44199;s:14:"optimized_size";i:29577;s:7:"percent";d:33.079999999999998;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:55:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/08/MG_2806-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:23577;s:14:"optimized_size";i:17297;s:7:"percent";d:26.640000000000001;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:55:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/08/MG_2806-466x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:34482;s:14:"optimized_size";i:25230;s:7:"percent";d:26.829999999999998;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:55:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/08/MG_2806-397x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:26899;s:14:"optimized_size";i:19709;s:7:"percent";d:26.73;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1616941157 
1440611932

If you drive by Railroad Park in downtown Birmingham, you might notice two eight foot replicas of Vulcan, the city’s famous Roman god of fire and forge. They’re a part of a new civic art project called “Vulcans on Parade.” WBHM’s Gina Yu was at the unveiling yesterday morning.

People gathered in the stark sunshine of Railroad Park early Wednesday morning. They congregated in front of two figures draped in white fabric. It’s the unveiling of the Vulcans on Parade project.

A Local Parade

Vulcans on Parade is a collaboration between Project Corporate Leadership and the Vulcan Park and Museum. The mini Vulcans will be painted by local artists and placed all over the city. The first statue, painted by Carrie McGrann, will stay at Railroad Park, and the second statue, painted by Paul Cordes Wilm, will be placed at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex. Morgan Berney, Director of Marketing and Public Relations, for Vulcan Park and Museum is proud of the project.

“Vulcans on Parade is a symbolic tribute to our city and the growth of what is happening here in Birmingham,” she said. “Vulcan has stood over Birmingham for 111 years and is that unifying symbol of our city.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Celebration for Progress

This concept of placing painted replicas around a city was first brought to the U.S. by Chicago in 1999, when painted cows on parade filled the streets. Since then, cities like Washington D.C. have pandas, San Francisco has hearts, and now Birmingham, Vulcans. Earl F. Hilliard, Jr., Chair of the Vulcan Board of Directors, believes that projects like these will only further Birmingham’s progress.

“By putting them on parade, it’s a way of not only building morale but showing that the city of Birmingham, we’re growing. We’re, as they said, forging ahead,” he said. “Using local artists, representing the movement that the city’s doing by the growth of all the different things we’re trying to do from construction and other things.”

The group’s goal is to place at least 20 Vulcan statues around Birmingham over the next year.

 

IVF could help her start the family she wants. Will Alabama’s personhood law derail it?

Despite a law meant to protect IVF in Alabama, patients and advocates worry the protections won’t hold — and warn of future attacks on reproductive rights.

Struggling Birmingham-Southern College says it will close at end of May

The College Board of Trustees voted unanimously to close the longtime institution, officials announced in a news release. The announcement came after legislation, aimed at securing a taxpayer-backed loan for the 168-year-old private college, had recently stalled in the Alabama Statehouse.

What happens when a rural hospital shuts its doors? Look to Pickens County

Residents in the west Alabama county warn that the lack of emergency care can have deadly consequences. It's a fate that could befall a growing number of rural communities.

What issues are driving you to the polls this year?

What issues are top of mind as you head to the polls this year? What do you want the candidates to be talking about?

Q&A: A bad deal made Jackson’s water problems worse. It wasn’t the only Mississippi city harmed

Reporter Sarah Fowler talks about her investigation that found at least eight Mississippi cities were harmed by deals over faulty smart water meters.

Anti-DEI bill becomes law as lawmakers return for the second half of the session

Alabama lawmakers returned from spring break this week to take on several priorities for the Republican majority. Chief among them was a bill that would ban diversity, equity and inclusion programs in schools, universities and government offices.

More Arts and Culture Coverage