Photographs of Lonnie Holley and his workshop at what has come to be known as the Birmingham Alabama Airport environment. They date to 1992 or so. I believe at the time this was both "studio" and home for the artist.
You'll find dozens of his sculptures (made from scrapped foundry sandstone) and hundreds of painted and shaped works of wire, fabric and detritus. It might look ragged, but every thing was purposeful and in place. Something out of a dream. While chatting and touring with the artist, I realized everything was connected through small caves from which children began to emerge. Beautiful, handsome young children who had been living (or hiding) in their places for safety. Shy at first, they romped like any kids as they became comfortable with my visit.
Holley had purchased the land intending to establish it as a refuge for artistic expression. He was certainly not one short of artistic ideas. Apparently the airport didn't agree and claimed the land. I hope the artist and his family received what was deserved, but it sounded like a land grab at the time. Mr. Holley was and is a genius. This is something I have learned to know and increasingly appreciate over the last 25 years.
A feature article was published by The Guardian which tells his personal story in depth.
ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS by Jim Linderman Collection Dull Tool Dim Bulb.
My sister and I visited Lonnie at his home next to the Birmingham airport. He gave us a tour of his home and property and explained his installations and their meaning. We were fortunate enough to purchase two sandstone sculptures each, and received his interpretation or vision of what each one expressed. They are not dated, and I can't pinpoint the year, but it was before the airport expansion threatened him. To add importance to the sculptures, our father worked at one of the businesses that created the sandstone "scrap" that he used.
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