Troy University News

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Contact:
Tom Davis
Troy Office of University Relations
334/670-3196
tomdavis@troy.edu

Office of University Relations
253 Adams Administration
Troy, AL 36082
(334) 670-3196
(334) 670-3274 (fax)

TSU students to study art in France with NALL Foundation

   Four Troy State University students will spend three months in France this summer studying art thanks to a special scholarship provided by TSU artist-in-residence Nall Hollis.
   The students, Leigh Hillabrand of Dothan, Cagatay Icden of Instanbul, Turkey, Casey Smith of Sandy Ridge and Andrea Wimbely of Enterprise, were chosen by the N.A.L.L. Foundation for the honor.
   Hollis, known in the art world as Nall, is serving his second term as TSU’s artist-in-residence. A Troy native, Nall established the scholarships to allow deserving TSU students to broaden their horizons through study in Europe.
   "This award will be an investment in the future of Alabama’s art, and will help promote cultural exchange between the United States and France," Nall said in 2001 when announcing the scholarship.
   The students will receive academic credit for their work at Nall’s studio in Vence, France. They will also attend lectures on art and art history, and will visit some major art capitals of Europe, including those in Italy and Spain. The students will also take classes in conversational French to help remove any language barriers.
   "This program gives us the opportunity to see other parts of the world," said Wimbely, a senior graphic design major.
   Icden, who already broadened his horizons by leaving his native Turkey to study in Troy, said the Nall Scholarship is a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
   Nall studied at the prestigious L ’Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris and later worked with famed artists Salvador Dali and Lucien Coutaud. He is known in the United States and Europe for his paintings that combine vivid realism and intricate details to convey psychological themes. His works include collage paintings, black-and-white portraits and watercolor landscapes.
   Nall’s subjects have included Prince Albert of Monaco, musician Ringo Starr and actress Barbara Bach. His work has been exhibited at museums and galleries in Paris, Nice and Cannes, France; Cologne, Germany; Venice, Italy; Mexico City; and at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.