Janessa Mobley Barrios, BFA ‘12, worked for University Relations after graduation before marrying fellow UM alum, Jordan Barrios in September 2012. She is currently living in Orlando, Florida, and working as a graphic designer at Jeunesse Global, a multi-level marketing company. In recent correspondence Janessa said, “I feel so fortunate to have been a part of such an amazing school with an Art Department I wouldn’t trade for anything!”

Jennifer Restauri, BFA ’08, graduated from Baylor University with a M.A. in Museum Studies in 2012. She is currently the Education Outreach Coordinator at the Old Jail Art Center in Albany, Texas, and is currently developing a distance learning collegiate resource to promote teaching art history with objects in their collection.

Daniel White, BFA ’00, was recently appointed the Museum Director at the Mason-Scharfenstein Museum Art Museum at Piedmont College in Demorest, Georgia. Read more here.

Stephanie Liles-Ray, BFA ’09, is graduating in May 2013 with an M.F.A. in Printmaking from Georgia State University in Atlanta where she also works as an Instructor of Art.

Tracy Shell, BFA ’97, earned her MFA in Ceramics from Rochester Institute of Technology and was invited to Echizen, Japan where she apprenticed for two years in the studio of Japanese national living treasure Mr. Fujita. She writes, “I a full time teaching job at Midland University, a small liberal arts college outside of Omaha, Nebraska. In addition to teaching and chairing the art department my husband and I have just launched an on line ceramic retail company. Our company is named after our 5 year old daughter Clementine. We are http://clementineporcelain.com/ check us out if you get a chance! Keep in touch! Tracy.”.

Kristie Carlisle Duncan, BFA '03, Ceramics and Painting, moved to Savannah, GA with her husband (David Duncan class of 2002) about 6 years ago and started working in the unconventional medium of fibers along with my ceramics and painting. Duncan have spent the last few years working toward MFA in Fibers at Savannah College of Art and Design and will be recieving degree this fall. Duncan's is having MFA THesis Exhbition at the Savannah College of Art and Design Fibers on September 14-28, 2011 at Fahm Hall Gallery. Reception: September 23, 2011 6:00 pm-7:30pm.

Corinna Nicole Brewer, BA '08, art history minor, is in her final semester of the MFA Program in Art Practice with a concentration in painting at the University of California, Berkeley where she has received a full scholarship. Corinna's MFA thesis exhibition is scheduled for May 2010.

Megan Gulland, BFA '08 with concentrations in ceramics and painting (who still holds the record for most anagama firings at UM by a student) was accepted into the School for American Crafts MFA program at the Rochester Institute of Technology. She was awarded her MFA in spring 2010 and according to her colleagues and professors at the school, she had one of the best exit exhibitions there in recent years. In the fall she began teaching as an instructor of ceramics at the University of South Alabama, Mobile. Her figural work in ceramics is of increasing interest in the field as she actively pursues a busy exhibition schedule.

Davis McNeal, BFA '09 with a concentration in ceramics, specializing in wood and salt firing, had a goal to fire with legendary anagama firing expert Peter Callas. He won a job as Peter's assistant and recently completed a year as general studio and firing assistant at the Callas studios in New Jersey.

Jessie Moore, MEd '10 and Nicholas Tisdale, BFA '09 were married in Montevallo in June 2010 and are living in Madison, Wisconsin where Nic is beginning his graduate work for the MFA degree in Printmaking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, one of the top graphics programs in the nation.

Stephanie Liles, BFA '09 is beginning her graduate work for the MFA degree in Painting, Drawing, and Printmaking fall 2010 at Georgia State University in Atlanta; Stephanie has been awarded a full scholarship and stipend.

Dirk Staschke, BFA '95, writes: "On January 1st of this year, I began creating the most ambitious and difficult piece to date for a biennial at the Bellevue Arts Museum in Seattle, WA. After many excruciatingly long nights of work, missed special occasions, using of personal finances, and a four-hour US border incarceration, the work was installed at the Museum .The piece, 'My Beautiful Nothing' measures 10.5 x 8 feet and is composed of ceramic, wood, resin, and taxidermy birds.

Friday, August 27, 2010 marked the opening of the first Bellevue Arts Museum (BAM) biennial, which culminates in a cash prize and a solo show at the museum. I am pleased to say that my piece was chosen as the winner of the Biennial."

    Scott Stephens
      Chair, Department of Art
      stephens@montevallo.edu
      (205) 665-6396

    Nita Terrell
      Secretary, Department of Art
      terrell@montevallo.edu
      (205) 665-6400