Artist Jamey Grimes, whose installation “Kalmia” is currently on display at Troy University’s International Arts Center, will present an artist talk from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 20 in the IAC Foyer Gallery.

Grimes will be joined by public historian Dr. Julia Brock. Together, the duo cofounded Flow Tuscaloosa, an interdisciplinary environmental humanities and public art project that centers on the history and ecology of the region through the story of Hurricane Creek, an ecologically important tributary of the Black Warrior River. Grimes’ “Kalmia” sculptures were included in an outdoor gathering at Hurricane Creek as a part of Flow Tuscaloosa.

The artist’s talk is made possible by a grant from the Alabama Humanities Alliance and the National Endowment for the Humanities, a federal agency.

Brock and Grimes both teach at The University of Alabama, where they began developing Flow Tuscaloosa in 2019. The first series of public events occurred in 2022, with a second series in 2024. Both programs were generously supported by the Alabama Humanities Alliance.

During the event, the two will reflect on Flow Tuscaloosa as they sit amid Grimes’ art installation. They will compare early hopes and strategies with adjustments and observations learned along the way.

Both Grimes and Brock share a desire to overcome limitations of traditional methods of presentation, particularly in public history and art, seeking to find meaningful connections to unique communities. The talk will contextualize the artwork displayed in the gallery, sharing a story of a community’s connection to nature and to each other. An open forum will invite the audience to consider how this example can potentially expand into future events in Tuscaloosa, Troy, and beyond.

“Kalmia” will be on display in the IAC Foyer Gallery until Jan. 12. Inspired by the mountain laurel, a flower often found along local waterways, “Kalmia” consists of a mass of suspended sculptures that create a captivating interplay of light and shadow, an experience that is simultaneously unsettling and serene. Inspired by nature, Grimes generates unique forms through the manipulation of synthetic materials. He has exhibited extensively across the U.S., with notable installations in various museums and public spaces, including the prominent “Taraxacum” sculpture in the John and Joyce Caddell Sculpture Garden at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts.

Grimes will also work with children and families at an ArtSpark event from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 7. ArtSPARK is a monthly program made possible in part by grant funding from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

“We invite our community to experience the many opportunities for engagement offered by the “Kalmia” installation, currently on display at the IAC,” said Carrie Jaxon, Director and Curator of the IAC. “Our goal is to provide enriching experiences that deepen the audience’s appreciation of both the power of art and community-based projects, while also offering more insight into Jamey’s intentions behind this beautiful installation that has been a highlight of our museum this semester. In addition to the artist talk on November 20, we hope our Troy families will join us on Saturday, December 7 for a special ArtSPARK with Jamey Grimes.”

More information about the artists and exhibitions can be found online on the IAC’s website. To learn more about Jamey Grimes, visit www.jameygrimessculpture.com.