Spring Arts Series blooms into effect

This semester, the Troy University Department of Art and Design will hold the Spring Arts Series, a unique program bringing six Alabama-based artists to Troy for artist residencies. This event was made possible by the grant awarded to the university by the Alabama State Council on the Arts. 

“During their time on campus, each artist will be working in the studio on their own creative research, as well as teaching publicly available workshops, working with students, giving artist talks and hosting open studio visits,” said Professor of Art & Design and Co-Director Sara Dismukes.  

“This program is rooted in research—creative, academic, and community-based,” said Assistant Professor of Photography, Art & Design, and Co-Director Will Jacks. “We’re exploring how artists can help us reimagine underutilized spaces, spark dialogue and contribute to long-term economic and cultural development.  

“The support from the Alabama State Council on the Arts helps us expand that vision.” 

According to Dismukes, she and Jacks work together to secure grant funding, market the program, collect artist applications and work with incoming artists.  

Dismukes said the artists featured are professionals, some of whom are professors at various universities in Alabama, and the media will vary, including painting, printmaking, sculpture and curatorial practice.  

“Because this program focuses on Alabama artists, our students benefit from being able to network and learn from the top working artists from around the state,” Dismukes said. “With these artists returning to campus for an exhibition, we are able to build on these relationships over time.” 

Due to the time needed to create their art, artists in residency (AiR) are creating work now to be exhibited in the following years.  

“With that context, there will be an exhibition of our first two Artists in Residence in the Huo Bao Zhu Gallery at the IAC,” Dismukes said.  

The show will open with a reception on Thursday, Feb. 5, and feature work by Jennifer McCohnell (AiR 2024) and Douglas Pierre Baulos (AiR 2025), who were our first two artists in residence.  

“It's exciting to have the opportunity to welcome them back to campus and see their completed work,” Dismukes said. 

“I’m proud to see Professor Dismukes and Jacks offering such a creative and important educational opportunity to our students,” said Assistant Chair of Art & Design Chris Stagl. “Visiting artists like this bring a rich and genuine sense of community to our students and faculty.  

“I highly encourage all students, not just Art and Design, to take advantage of having these folks on campus.” 

Sarah Odens will be the first Visiting Artist on campus from Jan. 26 to Jan. 30, and Lauren Frances Evans will be the Artist in Residence beginning Feb. 9. 

“This residency is focused on process and research rather than the presentation of a finished body of work,” said Professor of Art & Design at Samford University and Artist in Residence Lauren Frances Evans.  

According to Evans, she is taking a sabbatical this semester and branching outside of her routines to pursue the artist residency and have space for experimentation in her creative process.  

“During the residency, I’ll be developing an emerging body of work that explores neurodivergent ways of being through material, movement, and sensory attention,” said Evans. “Grounded in my own lived experience, this research looks at perception as layered and kaleidoscopic—something that can be felt, observed, and shared rather than simply explained.” 

Her work will include digital collage and stop motion animation in addition to one-on-one conversations with students to create dialogue around both neurodivergence and the creative process. 

“Rather than producing fixed outcomes, the residency is about listening, observing, and allowing new forms and ideas to emerge,” said Evans.  

The Spring Arts Series will feature Alisa Beck, Alexandra Weaver, Shaun Forester and Jason Tanner Young in addition to Oden and Evans throughout the semester.  

For more information, visit the Troy Art and Design Instagram account @troy_art_and_design or stop by the Visiting Artist Studio, Malone 209.