at Pioneer Museum of Alabama

By AMY S. LANSDON

News Editor

In a snap the Alabama Art Collection was displayed at the Pioneer Museum of Alabama Friday afternoon.

"You have to have a beginning and this is the beginning," said Nall. "This is the exciting part."

Part of Nall’s vision became a reality when he and other members of the community met at the Pioneer Museum to display pieces of the Alabama Art Collection. Nall donated a half million dollars worth of art from his personal collection to be displayed at the museum. Troy Mayor Jimmy Lunsford donated his person Jean Lake piece to the collection.

But what is displayed at the Pioneer Museum of Alabama is not the entire Alabama Art museum, but Nall said he wanted to establish a home base for the Alabama Art Exhibit before it goes on tour.

"I wanted to get the project started before the exhibit left for Paris, Monte Carlo, Tokyo and Rio," Nall said.

The Alabama Art Collection is the "seed" from the marriage that was held last weekend of the NALL Foundation, Troy State University, the Pike Pioneer Museum, the Pike County Chamber of Commerce and the City of Troy.

"Today we met and concluded the marriage was a success," Nall said. "Today we planted the first real seed and we hope this will be the home of the Alabama Art Museum."

Soon the exhibit, which contains 60 pieces from Nall’s personal collection, will begin its tour in Destin, Fla. During the tour the exhibit will be displayed in 35 museums including the University of Alabama during homecoming, Tuscumbia, the Troy State University Dothan Campus, in Birmingham and in Huntsville.

CNN did a 20-minute film on Alabama Art and five minutes of the film aired at least 20 times all over the world, Nall said. Nall also quoted American Art Magazine saying "Alabama Art is an international movement."

Works in the Alabama Art Collection at the Pioneer Museum of Alabama from Nall’s provisional donation include pieces by Jean Lake, Jimmy Lee Suddith, Nall, Chip Cooper, Moze Tolliver, Annie Tolliver, Judy Thornton, Po, Charles Lucas, Zander Booker, Rob Johnston, Yvonne Wells, Betty Sue Matthews, Dave Wilmarth and Guadelupe. Pieces still to come include works by Kathryn Tucker Windham, Chris Clark, Frank Flemming, Annie Lucas, Steve Skidmore, Larry Shillabeer, Larry Godwin, Holman Johnson, Alice Thornton, Pugh Windham and Pearl Peacock.

Alabama artists are welcomed to submitted photos of their work and résumés to be considered for the Alabama Art Museum. Photos and résumés should be sent to Jean Laliberte c/o Troy State University, 256 Adams Administration Building, TSU, Troy, AL 36082. A panel will choose accepted artwork.

"We want to keep an ongoing collection of all accomplished artists in the state of Alabama," Nall said.

Nall said no purchases of art will be made. Only donations of work by the artists or their survivors will be accepted.

Future plans are being made for the Alabama Art Collection including increasing exhibition space and eventually construction of a building to house the Alabama Art Collection. Funding for the Alabama Art Museum will be made possible from donations and matching grants.

The Alabama Art Collection is now open for viewing at the Pioneer Museum of Alabama.