A New Day in Old Birmingham

The mural titled A New Day in Old Birmingham by Ronald Scott McDowell celebrates Birmingham as a melting pot of ideas and cultures.  It is located on the first floor of the Central Library. It was unveiled on August 15, 2003 during a ceremony.

About the Artist

Ronald Scott McDowell is a renowned international self-taught sculptor and visual artist. He is well known for his ability to create life-like pictorials, which master the range of human emotions and capture the essence of the human spirit.

He is one of the most sought after artists of his time. Locally, McDowell’s works are on display at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Miles College, Jefferson State Community College, Lawson State Community College and others. He has created commissioned works for the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and for Alabama Governors Don Seigelman and Fob James. He was commissioned to create sculptures in Birmingham’s Kelly Ingram Park and Eddie Kendrick Memorial Park. The Alabama Music Hall of Fame in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, is home to 50 of his portraits.

McDowell has a strong following of famous patrons including Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Bill Cosby, Dixie Carter, Lionel Richie, Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, Barry Gordy, Jr., Maya Angelou, and former President Bill Clinton.

His talents have allowed him the flexibility of changing creative direction at any time. However, it is his devotion to God, that guides and inspires him. “I honor the gift God gave me,” McDowell said. “This isn’t about me … I’m [being used] to tell a story of a time, a place and a people,” he added.

The City of Birmingham and the Birmingham Public Library Board are proud  to hang this mural by a renowned multi-talented artist to depict forty years of Birmingham’s history.

A New Day in Old Birmingham

The Birmingham Public Library is a cultural icon in the city of Birmingham. The wealth of knowledge it encompasses influences the lives of every citizen, business, and educational institution it serves. This knowledge is not limited by race, background, age or culture, because the library is the information place where everyone is welcome and encouraged to visit.

In the year commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham it is fitting that the Birmingham Public Library Board commissioned "A New Day in Old Birmingham."

This mural, celebrating Birmingham as the melting pot of ideas and cultures, is permanently located on the first floor of the central library downtown. Visitors from the United States and abroad will be able to view this magnificent historic work of art.

A project of this magnitude required the commitment of many people and organizations in this great city. Mayor Bernard Kincaid's leadership was the perfect catalyst to accomplish this idea. Twenty-seven Birmingham Neighborhood Associations as well as corporations and individuals strongly supported and endorsed this project. The teamwork and support of Mrs. Barbara C. Sirmans and staff and the City of Birmingham Community Development Department were essential to the completion of this project.

Thanks to all for their financial support, good wishes, and prayers for bringing to fruition this outstanding result of public and private partnership.

Sincerely,

Alma P. Dennis, President
Birmingham Public Library Board
August 15, 2003
 

Program
Mistress of Ceremony	Shelia Smoot Jefferson County Commissioner
Invocation	Reverend Al B. Sutton, Jr. Sixth Avenue Baptist Church
Welcome	Elias Hendricks, Jr., Councilor Birmingham City Council, District 5
Occasion	Lillie M. H. Fincher, Historian Library Board Member
Greetings	Bernard Kincaid, Mayor City of Birmingham
Reflections	Rodger M. Smitherman, State Senator Oliver Robinson, State Representative Gwen P. Sykes, Councilor, Chair of Education and Community Services W. L. Williams, Jr., President, Neighborhoods USA Hezekiah Jackson, IV, President, Citizen's Advisory Board
Acknowledgments	Alma  P. Dennis, Library Board President
Unveiling	Bernard Kincaid, Mayor City of Birmingham Barbara C. Sirmans, Library Director Marie Ingalls, Library Board Member Alma P. Dennis, Library Board President
Response	Ronald S. McDowell, Artist Margaret Serra, Library Board Vice President
Closing	Barbara C. Sirmans, Library Director
Contributors
Mayor Bernard Kincaid
Neighborhood Associations
Brownsville Heights	Hillman Park	Roebuck
Bush Hills	Industrial Center	Roosevelt
East Brownville	Inglenook	Smithfield
East Thomas	Jones Valley	South Titusville
Fairview	Kingston	Southside
Five Points South	Liberty Highlands	Tarpley City
Glen Iris	Mason City	Tuxedo
Grasselli Heights	North East Lake	West Brownville
Hillman	Penfield Park	Woodlawn
Corporations
Alabama Power Company	Margaret Jones Interiors	Sirmans' Realty, Inc.
Community Outreach Partnership Center	Regions Bank	Sixth Avenue Baptist Church
Compass Bank	Serra Automotive Management	SouthTrust Bank
Elected Officials
Senator Sundra Escott	Representative Oliver Robinson	Councilor Gwen P. Sykes
Senator Rodger M. Smitherman	Council President Lee Wendell Loder	Commissioner Sheila Smoot
	Council President Pro-Tem Carole Smitherman
Individual Donations
Dr. William A. Bell	Mr. Robert Dennis	Mrs. Dora U. Sims
Mrs. Georgia Blair	Mrs. Lillie M. H. Fincher	Mrs. Barbara C. Sirmans
Ms. Irene Blalock	Mrs. La Dennis, Gray, Gadsden, Alabama	Mrs. Peggy F. Sparks
Mr. & Mrs. Darrell Blount	Mrs. Willie Mae Hale	Mrs. Gwendolyn B. Welch
Mrs. Minnie C. Booker	Dr. Marie E. Ingalls	Mrs. Barbara B. Williams
Mrs. Marie Chatman Bracy	Mrs. Pamela O. Lyons	Attorney W. L. Williams, Jr.
U.S. Representative Artur Davis	Ms. Vickie Reynolds	Mrs. Odessa Woolfork
Mrs. Alma P. Dennis	Mrs. M. Margaret Serra
Acknowledgments
Programs Dr. William A. Bell, Representative Oliver Robinson	Reception Commissioner Sheila Smoot	Neighborhood Certificates Mrs. Peggy F. Sparks