Blog

John Lauriello

4/26/2012 1:13:15 PM

The Title Building, originally the Title Guarantee Land and Trust Building, located on 3rd Avenue North and 21st Street in Birmingham, Alabama is a landmark!  Constructed in 1902 per the design of William C. Weston, the Title Building was the second skyscraper in the City and the first to supply the tenants with electric power from the building's own power-generated plant and water from it's well beneath the building's foundation.

The Building was certified as Historic in 1984, having been secured by John Lauriello and friends, and restored to it's original glory in 1985. A creative photo from 1914 shows the building then and in 2011. On Jeremy Erdreich's Bhamarchitect's Blog, the addition of a period neon sign identifying Mr. Lauriello's company, Southpace Properties, Inc., the largest independent commercial real estate firm in Alabama, to the Title Building, is described as "mimic[king] the original projecting signs installed in the 1920's" and noted as a progressive "sign" for Birmingham e.g. enlightened folks will return to and remain downtown.

In tribute to John, one of my husband's best friends who endured a wine tasting and does not even care for wine, I have painted the Title Building and it's neon sign.

Credits

www.southpace.com/history.asp

HMdb.org, The Historial Marker Database, 27501

Flickr.com/photos/50245058@NO3/6188413699

Friends

4/7/2012 6:00:35 PM

It is an honor for me to have been asked by Mel Machen to participate in the Indian Springs School Faculty and Friends Art Exhibit. Six of my paintings will be displayed alongside works of talented professors, most of whom do not teach art! The works will be on display in the Town Hall on the campus from April 12, the first day of Alumni Weekend, through May 12.

I hope you'll find time to see the Exhibit and those exquisite blue birds flying around the lovely grounds of Springs.