Selmians who’ve driven by the corner of Water Avenue and Lauderdale Street may’ve noticed an interesting display of new art above the dry cleaners.

The collage of metal parts and the outline a figure that can be seen from the street is the work of celebrated local folk artist Charlie Lucas.

“I love it,” said Lucas of the new public display of art. “It’s really off the hook.”

Lucas and the Black Belt Benefit Group (BBG) partnered to place the art in the windows at the Harmony Club, the three-story building on Water Avenue built as a Jewish social club in 1909.

According to Lucas, the sculptures depict David Hurlbut, who purchased and renovated the building nearly 20 years ago, being abducted by Martians and then returning to earth.

“That’s what I love about it,” said Lucas. “It has a story to go with it.”

“That’s me,” said Hurlbut. “He made me lie on the boards and he took a sharpie and drew me out. That’s the first one [sculpture] and the last one. It’s me getting sucked up by a space alien.”

Hurlbut was happy to be a part of the project. As a fan of Lucas’s work, he was happy to allow the building to be the home of the artwork.

“He’s self-made and self-taught,” said Hurlbut. “It’s very much American ingenuity. It’s somebody taking what other people consider garbage and trash and making art out of it and I think that’s neat.”

BBG secured funding for the project by applying for and receiving grants from Alabama State Council on the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts. Local businesses Fuller Building Supply and Summerlin Hardware also contributed to the funding of the project. BBG’s Edgar Reeves, Allen Reeves and his wife, A.C., were at the Harmony Club early Saturday morning helping secure the art to the windows.