POWERGRAMS

39 Give Portia Williams buttons, fabric, wire, paper, paint – or anything else you may randomly find – and she can create art. She has the pedigree. Williams was raised in Birmingham and creativity-rich New Orleans, and in an artistic family who, as part of everyday life, embraced artistic expression of many sorts. "I create art simply because I have to," she matter- of-factly states. "I'm a multi-faceted person and I believe my art reflects that." Williams by day is a Labor Relations associate for Alabama Power where, among other things, she posts and awards jobs for covered employees in the Birmingham, Eastern and Southeast divisions. Williams plans meetings and events for executives and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. "Art is exhilarating, like realizing a dream … making something that didn't exist before I created it a reality," she says. Her work ranges from traditional oil and acrylic paintings to mixed-media abstracts in which she blends "found objects." She does commissions, solo and group exhibitions, and has recently traipsed into art festivals. In 2017, she won "Best of Show" at the Black Creek Arts Festival in Fultondale. "Portia's talent is undeniable," says Kara Kennedy, executive director of the North Jefferson Arts Alliance. "You can see it in the way she uses abstracts and color throughout her paintings. Her artwork won over visitors and judges of our Black Creek Arts Festival last June, so much so, she won the top prize. We're happy to have her back in 2018 as the featured artist of the festival." In describing her artistic process, Williams says: "Art is the process of revelation, and it is my wonderful challenge to channel and interpret the imagined Realizing a Dream WILLIAMS' ARTWORK BLOSSOMING AT FESTIVALS

• Cover