Eric EssixArts organizations at the University of Alabama at Birmingham are presenting a month full of events in December. Give a month of the arts — including streamed access to the sold-out Holiday Drive-in concert starring Eric Essix — with the Virtual Arts Pass for $29. Add an Alabama artisan box for just $20 more.
The programming is presented by UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center and Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts, with ArtPlay.
For a $29 Virtual Arts Pass subscription, get full virtual access to all events presented in December, as well as an art bag that provides the supplies needed for the month’s workshop. Upgrade to a $49 subscription and receive an Alabama artisan box, with products from local artisans, plus art workshop supplies. The December box features goods from Bottega, Wax & Tin, and featured artist David Sandlin.
The Virtual Arts Pass offers exclusive access to artists, with performances both online and at drive-in events, discussions and activities. VAP subscribers help support the arts at UAB and performing artists. Private links to view these special events via livestream are emailed to VAP subscribers 24 hours in advance.
Visit AlysStephens.org to buy tickets, subscribe or gift a Virtual Arts Pass, or become an Arts member. Gift certificates, performance tickets and ArtPlay classes also make great gifts. Call the ASC Box Office at 205-975-2787 for details.
Tuesday, Dec. 1
AEIVA presents an Arts Circle LIVE event featuring a VIP virtual reality closing reception of “A la carte: A Visual Exploration of Our Relationship with Food” and a preview of its 2021 programming. Read more.
Wednesday, Dec. 2
Join ArtPlay for a Lunch and Learn “Film Critique: Holiday Edition.” Register here. Gareth Jones, co-host of “Sleep in Cinema” on Substrate Radio, will offer insight into the art of critiquing films using classic holiday films as examples, at noon CT. Read more.
Thursday, Dec. 3
Join AEIVA at 7 p.m. CT for Outside the Lines LIVE coloring night featuring guest artist David Sandlin. Register online. Work on your own pages or receive coloring pages created by Sandlin. Sandlin is a teacher at the School of Visual Arts and has been painting, printmaking and creating installations professionally since moving to New York City in 1980. His current projects include “Belfaust,” a graphic novel, and “76 Manifestations of American Destiny,” a new series that represents American heroes and villains of fact and fiction and iconic occurrences and folktales in a fresh context. Read more.
Monday, Dec. 7
Join UAB Institute for Arts in Medicine at 6 p.m. CT for a virtual Mental Health Monday, “Addressing Grief with Art Therapy.” Sign up here. Guest speakers Christianne Strang, assistant professor in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Psychology, and Patricia Isis, LMHC, board-certified and registered art therapist and certified mindful self-compassion teacher, will share their professional insights into addressing grief with art therapy. Read more.
Frank StittTuesday, Dec. 8
Hear from the chef himself when the Arts Circle LIVE: AEIVA Salon Series presents Frank Stitt, James Beard Award winner and Birmingham chef and restaurateur, 6 p.m. CT. Virtual Arts Pass subscribers can listen to a live Q-and-A and discussion about Stitt’s career, the role mentors play in creative and artistic development, and food and cooking as a form of art. Read more.
Wednesday, Dec. 9
Let it snow and create an amazing piece of art in Winter Wonderland with Tonya Wise, 6 p.m. CT. Wise will lead Virtual Arts Pass subscribers and Arts members in an art project highlighting the joys of winter. ArtPlay will provide all supplies needed in the monthly art bag/artisan box on Dec. 3 and 4. Read more and register.
Sunday, Dec. 13
Grab curbside or pack dinner and enjoy a Holiday Drive-in concert starring Eric Essix and Holiday Soul. The concert will be on UAB’s campus, at 1500 University Blvd., with the performance projected on a 40-by-80-foot screen. The original 7:30 p.m. show is sold out; a second show has just been added at 5 p.m. Get into the holiday spirit with fun activities: Arrive early to sing carols, wear your holiday gear, decorate your car and get a car photo with Santa. Tickets are $25 per person; children under 12 are admitted free. Virtual Arts Pass subscribers can watch the concert at home with a livestream link. Read more and buy tickets or subscribe.
Thursday, Dec. 17
Join AEIVA at 7 p.m. CT for a free Outside the Lines LIVE coloring night featuring guest artist Gary Chapman, MFA, professor of painting and drawing in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Art and Art History. Registrants can work on their own pages or on pages created by the artist. Chapman has had more than 70 solo exhibitions and participated in more than 80 group and invitational exhibitions with regional, national and international venues. Chapman’s work has received recognition and awards from notable figures Ned Rifkin, Dennis Barrie, John Ravenal, Annette Carlozzi and Jack Cowart. Read more and register.
Saturday, Dec. 19
ArtPlay presents Vocabby’s World, a free monthly program for children from birth to 5 years and families, designed to grow preschoolers’ vocabulary skills, 10:30-11:30 a.m. CT. For this month’s program theme, “Space,” blast off with Vocabby’s World® and ArtPlay friends to learn new vocabulary words about space through song, movement and creativity. Tune in using any electronic device. Read more and register.
Saturday, Dec. 19
Join ArtPlay’s Virtual Family Day Holiday Party via Zoom and celebrate the holiday season, 2 p.m. CT Saturday, Dec. 19. ArtPlay will provide the festive supplies needed for this workshop, available for pickup from the ArtPlay porch the week of the event. Participants must register to arrange supplies. Read more and register.