Artist Lecture: Jeffrey W. Allison & Kevin Morley

VMFA Paul Mellon Collection Educator
Jeffrey W. Allison, a VCU MFA Graduate, works for the VMFA as the Paul Mellon Collection Educator. The Paul Mellon Collection was funded by Paul Mellon-philanthropist/millionaire/art collector- who built and funded the new wing opening in 2010. Allison does lectures, workshops, events, juries shows, curates shows, teaches studio school, and has traveled 25,000 miles for work last year. Allison is the "worst writer in the world" yet is in charge of writing the labels for the artworks. The artist statements are required to be written at a 9th grade reading level and cannot be no more than 250 words.

Allison was contributing expert for Photobook: "Show Me America-Dorothea Lange". Organized the "Poverty In Virginia" Exhibition at the Scott House in Richmond. Allison had a solo show at Nesbit, a hair salon here in Richmond and was in a show at Mary Washington University, "Artists that Still Make Art though they Work in a Museum" Next year at the VMFA will be the year of the Woman Artist, "Minds Wide Open" and will be showing the work of photographer Sally Mann, who is from Lexington, VA.

Kevin Morley: Richmond-Times Dispatch

Kevin Morley is one of 6 Staff Photographers for the Richmond-Times Dispatch and has been for 25 years. According to Morley a photojournalist takes pictures that tell a story and his goal everyday at work is to take at least one strong photograph. A photojournalists job needs flexible creativity, always prepared for the unexpected, and needs to be able to write. Photojournalism has its perks such as a company car, paid for equipment, 401K, get in free and get to sit up close, tuition assisstance, and a decent salary, however it can be dangerous. Morley's assignments range from everything good, bad, happy, sad, and requires lots of travel. Morley also gives himself personal projects to accomplish in his free time, such as photographing his kids everyday for the first year of their life and creating a personal work of art.

A photojournalist's dream is to be invisible and to capture a wide emotional spectrum.