A Brush with History

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Keysha Drexel
Journal Editor

Bob Moody in his Mountain Brook art studio.

In his 81 years, Bob Moody of Mountain Brook says he has done a little bit of everything. Through it all, he has always considered himself first and foremost a painter.

Bob has worked as a graphic designer, an architect, an artist for NASA and has served on the Mountain Brook City Council, but he said watercolor painting is still is true passion.

“Every day, I still feel the desire to create, and when I sit down with the watercolors, I still get that rush of adrenaline,” he said.

Bob will be the featured artist on Nov. 19 at the Mountain Brook Art Association’s holiday art show at Brookwood Mall. The show runs through Dec. 1, with a different artist featured each day.

Bob said his path to being a featured artist in the show started out in an unlikely place.

“I grew up in Boaz, and it was a very rural area back then. I grew up on the farm, picking cotton and never dreaming I would earn a living in art,” he said.

Bob said he started sketching when he was in high school as “an excuse to get out of going to church” and said he was blessed with supportive parents.

“Both of my parents were very supportive and encouraged me to pursue art. They didn’t try to dissuade me or talk me into doing something just for money. They both wanted me to follow my passion,” he said.

So Bob graduated from high school and set off for Auburn University to study architecture.

“Here I was, this kid from the country who had never had a formal art class in his life, and I was down at Auburn with all these kids who had taken tons of arts classes. It was a little overwhelming,” he said.

But Bob continued to follow his artistic passions and graduated from Auburn with a degree in architecture, specializing in interior design.

After graduating, Bob said he went into commercial art to support his young family and worked for R.G. LeTourneau in Dallas.

From there, Bob found himself taking part in history as an artist for NASA in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

“I worked on what was called future projects. I was working with all these artists from Disney to illustrate the Apollo flight. We also illustrated the moon flight and landing with 65 slides that were presented in Washington (D.C.),” he said.

Bob left NASA in 1965, and by the time the moon landing took place in 1969, the event was somewhat anticlimactic for him, he said.

“We had illustrated that moon trip scenario so many times before the landing that I felt like I’d been to the moon and back 1,000 times. Looking back, I realize I was a part of history, but at the time I didn’t think anything about it. Now, my children and grandchildren think it’s pretty neat,” he said.

Bob’s work for NASA was published in Time, Life and Paris Match.

He also had a chance to work with Wernher von Braun, the German-American rocket scientist who was the director of the Marshall Space Flight Center and the chief architect of the Saturn V, which propelled the Apollo spacecraft to the moon.

“He was one of the most gracious people I’ve ever met,” Bob said. “If you stayed up all night working on a presentation for him, he would write you a thank-you note.”

After seven years at NASA, Bob said he decided it was time to work in his field of training. He spent the next seven years working at an architectural firm in Birmingham.

After that, Bob opened his own architectural firm, Moody and Associates, in the building that today is the home of Highlands Bar and Grill.

Bob retired from his firm in 2002 but said he has never really retired from art.

“I didn’t really retire, I just came here to my home studio and started working again,” he said. “My wife and I did a couple of watercolor books. One was on churches in Alabama, and then we did one on English churches.”

The book on the English churches, “The Church Triumphant,” found a royal audience when Bob was asked to personally present it to Queen Elizabeth and the Archbishop of Canterbury at the 50th celebration of the Historic Churches Preservation Trust at St. Bartholomew’s Church in 2003.

Bob said he had been painting and exhibiting watercolors for 60 years when he decided to participate in an early Mountain Brook Art Association show.

“It’s a great organization with hardworking people,” he said.

Bob said the holiday art show is a great way for people to support local artists.

“Artists need people to see their work. It’s about more than money, it’s about an affirmation of your work,” he said.

Bob said he feels blessed that he has been able to get affirmation for his work and continue to create.

“It’s still a lot of fun for me, and sometimes I wonder how a man at my age can still get so excited about pigment floating around in water,” he said.Hol

For more on the Mountain Brook Art Association’s holiday art show, visit www.MountainBrookArtAssociation.com.

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St. Bartholomew the Great, London

St. Paul's Cathedral, London

St. Mary's Entry, Oxford, England

York Minster, England

Wells Cathedral, England

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Certainly, we have the amazing historic structures, but Birmingham’s landmarks need financial support if they are to remain.  Remember the fate of Birmingham’s Terminal Station….And since 2009, The Lyric’s been among buildings listed on Alabama Historical Commission’s “Places in Peril”.

To those who might claim that it would draw business away from the Alabama Theater (now booked 325 days a year), Glenny counters, “The Alabama Theater was built for ‘moving pictures’ with 2200 seats, and The Lyric Theater was built for live performances with 1200 seats and 12 dressing rooms.  It’s much better suited for some of the small, live performances now booked for the Alabama.  And Willie Nelson has been turned away twice because of scheduling difficulties.  The theaters would actually complement each other and attract even more business.”

Glenny says that the original interior floor plan and finishes were almost identical to the now vibrant and completely restored Wells Theater in Norfolk, VA.  (Photos HERE)  It’s comparable to some of the best theater venues that New York has to offer.  The Story of the restoration of the Wells Theater in Norfolk, VA.

We can have that right here in Birmingham!  Years before Cecil Whitmire died, he asked Bob to render in watercolor what the Lyric could look like to solicit support (while insisting upon blue seating when the original seating was red!)  Here’s the watercolor below.  And Glenny has picked up the legacy left by Cecil Whitmire to solicit support  for the Lyric with passion and commitment.  But even the strongest advocates need the help and enthusiasm of others.  Glenny says that at one point in his life, even Cecil was frustrated and tired and ready to quit trying.  The Lyric and Glenny need our help.  If you have a group of fans, contact the Lyric for a tour.  And then, please  do what you can…   Can you help?

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So what now?  Here’s the remaining shell below.  We drove by again this morning and the damage is extensive and heartbreaking.  Obviously the roof is gone, and the upper floor has collapsed.  The $500,000 in insurance mentioned in the article above is just a drop in the bucket for restoration.  In order to save Powell School, this project will need a purpose and benevolent committed patrons who believe in that purpose with deep pockets.

FOOD REVOLUTION SHOULD BE HERE!

So we’ve been thinking…   What’s a long-term issue supported nationally that will benefit Birmingham?  Well, we’ve decided that it could be the Food Revolution spearheaded by Jamie Oliver.  In Jamie Oliver’s words…

WHAT IS THE FOOD REVOLUTION?

“We’re losing the war against obesity in the US. It’s sad, but true. Our kids are growing up overweight and malnourished from a diet of processed foods, and today’s children will be the first generation ever to live shorter lives than their parents. It’s time for change. It’s time for a Food Revolution.

“Since I’ve been working in America, I’ve been overwhelmed by the number of people who have come out to support the Food Revolution. More than 630,000 people have signed the petition, over 300,000 of you subscribe to our newsletter and thousands of you have written to me. The only message I keep hearing is that you believe your kids need better food, and that you want help to keep cooking skills alive. That’s why this Food Revolution matters.”  ~ Jamie Oliver

“The problem stems from the loss of cooking skills at home and the availability of processed foods at every turn, from the school cafeteria to church function halls, factories and offices. This Food Revolution is about saving lives by inspiring everyone: moms, dads, kids, teens and cafeteria workers to get back to basics and start cooking good food from scratch.”

THERE’S A TELEVISION SHOW

If you haven’t seen the popular show, here’s the link.  Thanks to dedicated volunteers, Birmingham already has an edible garden for kids close by with Jones Valley Urban Farm.

WHAT DOES BIRMINGHAM ALREADY HAVE

So, Birmingham has Sam Frazier, a local historian who’s spearheading the movement to save the school.  It has Mayor Bell’s encouragement.  It has Frank Stitt, and Chris Hastings – both award-winning chefs who support the movement.  It has Whole Foods.  It has the new FoodBlogSouth and lots of food editors spawned by Southern Living.  Birmingham is really a food town and we should be leaders in this movement.  But sadly, Alabama ranks #2 of the fattest states 2011, and Birmingham ranks #10 among the fattest cities 2011 in America.   Our legacy can be better!

LOTS OF NATIONAL AND STAR-STUDDED SUPPORT

And back to Powell School…It’s got classrooms, a cafeteria, meeting areas, and history.  It’s near Jones Valley Urban Farm, and hundreds in our city know and love it.  The Food Revolution has the support of the nation, and the backing of First Lady Michelle Obama, along with lots of stars including Paul McCartney, Justin Bieber, P Diddy, Jennifer Anniston – well, read the names for yourself here.

There are nearly a million people (and the numbers are growing every day) who’ve signed a petition in support of the Food Revolution.

It could be SUCH A POSITIVE THING FOR BIRMINGHAM!  Is it possible to hope that THE FOOD REVOLUTION could save Powell School, too?

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The tent sale on the Crestline Elementary athletic fields is from 9AM to 5PM and includes over 100 artists living within a 25 mile radius of Mountain Brook.   Rain date is the following day.  Please click on the MBA logo at right for map and additional details.

Here’s a look (video) from this year’s show:

Mountain Brook Art Association Show 2011

Interested in exhibiting next year?  Details are HERE.

To view examples of Bob’s watercolors, please click HERE.    HOPE TO SEE YOU SATURDAY! Mountain Brook Art Association Show 2011

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The contest, Prize 2 the Future, is all about cool ideas to transform Birmingham!  And over 1,000 have been received.  So we’ve been thinking –  what makes a good idea better?  Well, most often when it becomes a reality or when it stimulates another good idea!  So ultimately every idea has to be shared to create value.

“Ideas are cheap. I’ve never had a good idea I didn’t have to cram down someone’s throat”

This is one of Bob Moody’s favorites quotes (not sure where it came from!).  It just means to him that good ideas are followed by massive amounts of work!  Yes, ideas are cheap and mostly free for the taking by those who are willing to risk all their energy and resources to make them happen, and consistently refute obstacles along the way.  Often a good idea develops from one that never happened, or maybe a better one is sparked by the ideas of others. Over the years, Bob has had LOTS of ideas for Five Points South and has spent LOTS of hours trying to sell them.  Some are still valid, and maybe it’s better that some were never financed.  Nevertheless, there are lessons to be learned from all of them.

So we decided to share some of these, the good AND the not-so-good.  Below is a sketch for a mixed-use development that included a mid-rise tower on the corner of  20th and 10th Avenue South now under development by Chick Fil-A.  At one time, we hoped to create a residence over what is now Chez Fon Fon (and which used to be our design offices).  Thankfully, the developer was unable to obtain financing and it was never built. (Click on images to view larger.)

Proposed Mixed-Use Sketch for Five Points South 1986

Five Points South Proposed Site Plan Mixed Use 1986

It’s followed by one where something NEEDS to happen – but hasn’t happened yet!  It’s known as Pickwick Place, and because retailers are hidden behind The Highland Hotel, some excitement needs to be created which will draw them into the interior spaces.  Bob created a few sketches with landscaping and ‘eyewash’ to try to help stimulate investment and subsequently attract retailers.

Pickwick Place Courtyard

Site Plan Pickwick Place - Five Points South

It’s interesting to see which ideas become reality.  I hope to continue to post some that did not get built – maybe to illustrate why not – or maybe to spark a good or better idea in someone else’s mind…

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Well, here’s the scoop! It costs 50¢!  And here’s the full schedule! It runs every 10-20 minutes on the three routes below and The Red Line stops at Terminal Station – near Railroad Park.  Currently it travels from the City Center to the Convention Center to Five Points South.  What are the tourism possibilities?  What COULD they be?  Stay tuned!

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Map of Birmingham's Steelworks hanging in Bessemer's Hall of History Museum

Watercolor by Bob Moody of Bessemer's Hall of History Museum (in former train station)

Early in the 20th century, railroads crisscrossed through Birmingham to connect steel mills and transport natural resources mined in our area throughout the country.  I found this old map (above) in Bessemer’s Hall of History Museum, housed in a refurbished and very interesting old train station (seen in watercolor on left), which put it in better perspective for me.  Many of these tracks and industrial sites have been abandoned and incredible images of the decay are posted HERE.  Bob wants to paint a map of the railroads currently in use through Birmingham, but it’s been difficult for us to find information and connect all the dots.  We’ll keep looking but suggestions are WELCOMED!

Segment of a 1935 Birmingham Railroad Map from www.bhamrails.info

Birmingham Rails is a GREAT site for Birmingham railroad information.  We found this 1935 rail map here This is just one small piece of a very extensive map scanned by Birmingham Rails in 8 1/2 x 11 inch segments and shows the downtown area.

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those downtown near Morris Avenue, but also those in Bessemer, Irondale, Ensley, Fairfield, and the coal loading rail-to-barge stations in Port Birmingham (also known as Bimingport) on the Warrior River.  We discovered that Birmingham Southern Railroad is one of the busiest railroads in the country.  And through sites called American Rails.com, and American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, Wikipedia, Birmingham Historical Society, and an excellent local hobbyist site called Birmingham Rails, we found a list of all the railroads that continue to serve Alabama as well as the history of our railroads. There are even some interesting maps of the railroad lines.  It’s amazing what we have right here in Birmingham!  Even today, over 20 trains a day come right through Birmingham.  We can be extremely proud of our railroad heritage!

So here’s a preview of Bob’s watercolor tribute to the railroads and industry of Birmingham. I think he makes our railroads look beautiful!  And if you get interested in the railroads like we did, take a tour of the area.   There’s lots to see just within Jefferson County!

Finally, railroads are still a leisurely way to travel and if you have the time, we can personally recommend taking the AmTrak sleeper car from Morris Avenue to Washington D.C.’s Union Station.  You board at Morris Avenue in the afternoon, and arrive the next morning in the heart of Washington D.C. in the completely renovated Union Station.  It’s a great trip for kids AND adults!

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Scott introduced this idea at Ignite Birmingham and his enthusiasm for its potential is contagious!  He got me thinking:   Is it the people, the climate, the award-winning restaurants, the beautiful rolling landscape, the emerging residential life downtown, or the new Railroad Park that provides our unique quality of life?  Is it the beautiful suburbs, the convenience, or the quality medical care and educational benefits provided by UAB?  While these are just a few of the reasons that immediately came to mind, I realized that my relationship with Birmingham is complicated and has evolved over the years.  Yes, all those things mentioned above are compelling,  but it hasn’t always been a love story for me and Birmingham!  And I realized the reason this city has kept me intrigued, interested, and involved  long enough to see the amazing changes occurring now, is analogous to one of my favorite stories, The Little Prince by St. Exupery.

To paraphrase, The Little Prince is asked by the wise old fox why he loves his grumpy old rose which is covered in thorns!  He points out that there are lots of beautiful roses in the world and many of them have a better attitude!  The Little Prince responds that it is special to him because it is HIS rose.  And he tells the fox that his rose needs him to protect it, and defend it, water and nurture it, and most of all to LOVE it above all others despite its thorns and its occasional attitude.

The wise old fox responds that The Little Prince has captured the secret–that you only love the things that you consistently nurture, defend, feed, and water – you only love the things you “tame” and that depend upon your consistent care.

So after 30 years, I guess this is why I love Birmingham!  It’s “tamed” me. Yes, I see its thorns…but I also see its amazing potential.  I always have!  And never more so than now, for all the reasons listed above!

For any detractors out there who can’t yet see what we have right here in Birmingham, my advice is to get involved (and here’s one way with a deadline of March 11th). Find something that you like about our city (if it’s art, some links to get started are HERE).  Write about  something that you want to see happen in Birmingham and nurture it (like this!).  I promise you, just like the rose, thorns and all, this city will take hold of you and never let go!  I believe in Birmingham…

“But my rose, all on her own, is more important than you altogether, since she’s the one I’ve watered. Since she’s the one I put under glass. Since she’s the one I sheltered behind a screen. Since she’s the one for whom I killed the caterpillars (except for two or three for butterflies). Since she’s the one I listened to when she complained, or when she boasted, or even sometimes when she said nothing at all. Since she’s my rose.”

–from The Little Prince by Antoine de St. Exupery

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