06/24/2026
What a night! 🎨
BI was proud to sponsor IIDA Alabama’s recent “Battle of the Brushes” event, a creative evening that brought Birmingham’s design community together for a little friendly competition and a very meaningful cause. This year’s theme was “Iron and Imagination,” with Sloss Furnaces-inspired canvases setting the stage.
BI’s team included Dia Baldwin and Andrew Aho from KPS Group, Mary-Claire Brown from TURNERBATSON, and Brock Hurley from Spartan Surfaces. The team did a great job showcasing both their artistic and collaborative talents — even breaking outside the bounds of the canvas and onto the wall.
A special shoutout as well to two of our own BI designers who participated as artists during the event: Tara Blevins on the Bentley team and Emily Pinneo on the Milliken team. They did a great job showcasing their own artistic talents while contributing to two of the other sponsor teams.
The evening also served as a fundraiser for The Common Thread For The Cure, a nonprofit that supports individuals in the design and furnishings industry who are facing breast cancer by providing confidential financial assistance through grants. To learn more, donate, or get involved, visit The Common Thread for the Cure Foundation online or follow them on social media.
Thank you to IIDA Alabama for hosting such a great event, to the event committee for making it happen, and to Gallery Services Collaborative for opening their fabulous space to the design community.✨