BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Someone has draped pink tutus over several of Birmingham’s public statues in recent days, turning landmarks such as Miss Fancy in Avondale Park and the Storyteller fountain at Five Points South into the talk of neighborhood social media feeds. The whimsical decorations have drawn smiles from some residents while leaving others wondering who is behind the stunt and why they chose those particular sculptures.
The elephant statue known as Miss Fancy has been a fixture in Avondale Park for more than a century and has seen renewed attention in recent weeks after local resident and preservation enthusiast Leslie Smukler led a campaign to restore and relight the statue. That work, completed in March, has recast the statue as a restored piece of Avondale’s history, which may help explain why it became a focal point for this latest bit of street‑level art.
The Storyteller fountain, located in Five Points South, is another frequently photographed landmark that depicts children clustered around a central figure. The fountain has long served as a gathering spot for families and passersby, and its placement in the heart of a busy commercial district makes it highly visible to drivers and pedestrians alike. The addition of a pink tutu has drawn extra attention without, by all appearances, damaging the artwork.
City officials and park staff have not issued formal statements about the tutus, and local social‑media posts have treated the decorations more as a lighthearted prank than a malicious act. Some residents have suggested the tutus could be a community effort to celebrate women’s history, local arts groups or neighborhood pride, though no group has publicly claimed responsibility.
If left untouched, the tutu‑clad statues may remain a short‑lived, if colorful, chapter in the city’s ongoing conversation about public art and how residents interact with shared spaces.