By Kathleen Reid
“We are planting seeds and watching them grow,” says Jeffrey Allison, Director of Statewide Programs and Exhibitions. “I wouldn’t be here without the VMFA Fellowship I received as an undergraduate in 1978 and as a graduate student in 1981. This experience changed my life and I try to bring that sense to everything we do.” These awards ignited Jeffrey’s career as a photographer as well as the work of VMFA’s Bev Perdue Jennings Assistant Curator of American Art, Chris Oliver (2010) whose impact is especially visible right now with the recent opening of his exhibition Ansel Adams: Compositions in Nature. Jeffrey adds, “These fellowships literally pay off in dividends by enriching lives and feeding the souls of every artist in Virginia.”
Founded in 1940, the VMFA Visual Arts Fellowship Program has been an important source of funding for art and art history students as well as professional artists. The program was created through a gift from John Lee Pratt, a director at General Motors and past Vice President, who donated 250 shares of GM stock to “foster the personal, creative efforts of Virginia’s best artists and most promising art students who are in need of financial assistance.” There were three scholarships given out the first year, and since then more than 1,400 fellowships totaling $5.8 million have been awarded to Virginia’s artistic community.
Cold Day, NYC, 2019, Jeffrey Allison, color pigment print. © Courtesy of Jeffrey Allison
“I got a telegram when I won the fellowship,” says Jeffrey. “I’ll never forget the process when I made it to the final round and visited VMFA for an interview with a panel and then a private interview with the Director.” He explains how the funds allowed him to purchase much needed supplies for a proper portfolio. “I was in the first photography program at VCU. The paper and supplies were expensive. I ended up completing my degree and participating in several traveling shows.” He describes his early work in which he used flash to capture a sense of motion, creating street photography with color. Currently, two of Jeffrey’s works are in the Capital One collection. He describes his latest work as more formal with a nod to tradition. His street photography boasts color and a symphony of angles and lines.
For Dr. Christopher C. Oliver, Bev Perdue Jennings Assistant Curator of American Art, receiving a VMFA Fellowship as a graduate student was critical to his scholarly research. He says, “The VMFA Fellowship was directly responsible for me being able to travel and conduct research for my dissertation at special collections and museums across the country. Primary research and access to rare works of art and documents is expensive, and sometimes prohibitive for young, graduate students. Yet it is critically necessary for the groundwork of scholarly publications like the ones we produce at the museum. The VMFA Fellowship program has allowed generations of budding art historians to pursue their work, finish their degree, and take positions at museums and universities across the country.”
On Tuesday, October 12th, Jeffrey Allison will lead a panel discussion with VMFA fellows including Veronica Jackson, (2021-22 Professional Fellowship, Mixed Media, Bedford), Claire Stankus, (2020 Emergency Relief Fellowship, Painting, Monroe), and Sally Bowring (2003-04 Professional Fellowship, Painting, Richmond). We are looking forward to welcoming back Canvas members to VMFA for this exciting evening!
Kathleen Reid is the Communications Co-Chairman of the Canvas Advisory Committee.