Professor of Art Ms. Allison McElroy is originally from Anniston, Alabama and holds a MFA from Savannah College of Arts and Design. McElroy recently created an artist residency at Little River Canyon titled “Naturphilia.” 

Tell us about this residency program. 

I created a residency titled “Naturphilia,” which is a multi-disciplinary artist residency that fosters collaboration between art and nature. Accepted artists are alumni from Labverde, a highly competitive residency in the Amazon Rainforest. During this two-week research program, the artist will explore the deepest canyons and the highest point in Alabama Parks.

Alabama is known as the “Amazon of America’ due to its cradle of biodiversity. During the residency, Artists will explore the elements of the natural landscape: forests, caves, rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds. It is this type of research that lends to creative growth and great knowledge of our place within this great ecosystem. 

The work created by these international artists will be on exhibit at The Gadsden Museum of Art first Friday, May 5^th.

How long have you been working at JSU?

I have been at JSU since 2007 ~ full-time since 2008

What courses are you currently teaching at JSU? Which is your favorite?

I teach Creative Thinking, Painting, Mixed Media and BioArt. I love all of my classes. Each class is essentially a breakdown of my professional fine art studio practice. This allows me to change the class content as my studio practice evolves.

What is your favorite part of your job?

Seeing students with passion and the look on their faces when they create something that impresses them. In beginning painting, I have students reach an ‘aha’ moment. A moment that comes unexpectedly while you are up close to the work and step away from it and are shocked at how good it is. These moments are golden.

What is your favorite thing about the Art Department?

The students that I connect with and the amazing faculty I work with. My fellow colleagues are a great inspiration.

Do you have any ongoing projects or academic activities you’d like to share?

I am teaching BioArt as an Independent study course. If we can find funding, the class will travel to New York City and exhibit our work created during the semester, at Parson’s School of Design. We will be part of the Biodesign Challenge and attend the reception at The Modern Museum of Art in New York City to see the winning project announced and presented.

Do you have any notable achievements you wish to share?

I was accepted to “Baroque Blue,” an artist residency in Italy. I will be spending two weeks creating earth works with like-minded international artists from around the world.

What do you do in your spare time?

I have five rescue dogs, and I love to spend time with them. Walking in the woods, playing ball with them, and being with my family is one of my all-time favorite things. 

I also enjoy hiking. While hiking, I collect stones and dirt to make oil paints. I see it as an exercise to learn from place and experience its history. I have included images of soil I collect from every state in the U.S. and some examples of some paintings. 

If you are in Hammond, you can see a large painting I am working on with my homemade oils. It is a slow work in progress.

What advice would you give to a student of yours?

Don’t be so hard on yourself. Enjoy school while you are here. It is a time to learn, explore, experiment, and make mistakes safely. Most importantly, ‘be curious’!

Anything else you would like us to include? 

Be kind. People should be treated with compassion. Our world can be stressful and you never know what other people are going through.