Football season is upon us.
Hallelujah. Amen.
But that’s not really the point of today’s post. In fact, today’s #FridayPhoto highlights one of Birmingham’s public treasures and most familiar pieces of art.
This sculpture, commissioned by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to honor Fred Sington (a.ka., “Mr. Birmingham”), can be found on the corner of 5th Avenue North and 20th Street. Local artist Brad Morton completed the work in 1999.
- “Winged Victory”
(Here’s where football comes in.)
Sington was one of the University of Alabama’s greatest football players. He also went on to play professional baseball and later opened Sington Sporting Goods here in the Magic City. Sington was known throughout Jones Valley as “Mr. Birmingham”, a nickname cast for all his philanthropic efforts within the city. This sculpture honored Sington’s “Legacy of Leadership” award.
Hope you learned something new today! Head on down Birmingham Green and check it out for yourself.
And all I have left to say is…
Rooooooll Tide, Roll!
3 Comments
RTR??? Really?? And I thought we were friends!
Thanks for doing my homework. I shot this Wed and was looking for the info. I love Brad Morton’s work and what a nice man!
I also am a fan of the work of Brad Morton! The title caught my attention because I’ve had a summer trip to Paris and the Louvre where another “Winged Victory” from antiquity stands, possibly the inspiration for this modern one. My grandson, Nicholas, sketched the one in the Louvre and I wouldn’t be surprised if he, too, wasn’t inspired to produce an ekphrastic piece of art from this one.
Kathleen, thanks for your comment! I hope Nicholas continues his love for sketching. I just realized that one of Morton’s pieces is in the sculpture garden at BMA.