Tommye Scanlin

What is Your Background with UNG?

I began working at North Georgia College (NGC) in the Fine Arts Department in 1972. I knew Bob Owens, who was the founding head of the department, from my earlier college days at North Georgia College.

At that time, mid-1960s, he was teaching art education classes for the Education Department and adding a few studio classes when he could. In 1971 he was able to gain approval from the school for the Department of Fine Arts that include visual art and music. Theatre classes, although not a degree program, were also part of the department. Win Crannell was hired at that time to join Bob as the two visual art faculty members.

I began as an instructor in the department the following year and the three of us were the entire visual art faculty. There were two music faculty members then and one theatre/speech instructor.

When I began working at NGC I was finishing my Master of Art Education at the University of Georgia. I began pursuing an MFA at East Tennessee State University in 1976 with summer classes and then was granted a leave-of-absence from NGC in 1979-1980 to complete the degree.

Through the years, the department grew in number of course offerings and students. Eventually by the 1980s we were able to have a few part-time instructors. In 1988 we were able to hire another full-time faculty member in visual arts, Hank Margeson.

Over the years the department was housed in many locations on campus--usually in buildings that were no longer in use for other purposes--so not ideally suited for studio or classrooms! When I began work there in 1972 visual art classes were in the lower floor of what's now Hansford Hall (at the time was known as the Academic Building). We were in the space that had held the canteen and the campus post office. Nothing was done to the space for us except counters and PO boxes ripped out to leave big, open spaces with very poor lighting. In about 1973 when the building was being renovated for the first time, some of the visual art classes were moved to what was then known as the Southwell House (no longer standing--is in the location where the new Cottrell Center is being built) and others to what was formerly used as a maintenance garage (located where the lower part of Dunlap Hall is now). Music classes were moved into building that had been a dorm (the dining hall now sits in that location).

Visual arts moved back into lower level of renovated building (then called the Education Building) in about 1975.

Bob Owens was very actively promoting better facilities for both visual art and music to the administration and in the late 1980s was able to get approval for use of the former dining hall as a Fine Arts Center when a new dining hall (that is no longer standing--it was in the green space between the current library and the dill field). The Fine Arts Department moved into the renovated building in 1988. It was called at the time the Nix Mountain Cultural Center.

I was with the Fine Arts Department from 1972 until I retired from full-time teaching in 2000. I continued to teach the weaving classes as a part-time faculty member until 2009. I was appointed Professor Emerita after my retirement.

In 1997 when Bob Owens retired as the first head of the department I was appointed as head and served in that capacity until 2000.

What is a Memorable Story About the Department You Would like to Share?

One of the most rewarding things for many of us in the department were the annual "Art Field Day" events in which we invited high school students from the surrounding counties to NGC for a day of art activities. These were held every year for at least a decade in the 1980s and 1990s.

Another community wide event that the department promoted was several years of the Very Special Arts Festivals. Those were for special needs students from the surrounding counties. Community members helped the department faculty and students by providing individual art/craft making experiences for the 100+ students who came each time.

We've had remarkable students pass through the department over the past fifty years. Many made outstanding contributions to the department during their years there and have gone on to notable careers as art teachers and/or working studio artists--too many to name, in fact.

I think it's very significant that our department, small as it was, was made up of faculty members in both visual art and music, dedicated to doing their best to ensure a quality education for students. Each of us was committed to our students and also to making artwork of our own. I believe that each of us in some ways served as role models for students as working artist/teachers.

For instance, Bob Owens maintained an active pottery studio at home, was active in the Southern Highland Handicraft Guild, including as President of the Board of the Guild; helped develop a couple of state-wide craft organizations in the 1980s-90s; and encouraged each of us to be actively engaged with a broader community to promote the arts.

Win Crannell exhibited his work widely throughout the Southeast at multiple art festivals, usually winning awards for his drawings. Hank Margeson was also actively exhibiting his photograph work. As well, I participated in many juried exhibitions throughout the country, was selected as a juried member of Southern Highland Craft Guild, and began to teach summer workshops at Penland School of Craft and John C. Campbell Folk School.

Why Should UNG’s Department of Visual Arts be Supported?

The Visual Arts at UNG deserves support because it is a vital, growing department that serves hundreds of students who will become active in the creative economy of the region and the nation. At UNG the departmental offering in traditional art/craft media remains strong and innovations in new media give students additional options. Students who seek life/career paths in creative fields can find wonderful options at DoVA. Support from the institution and potential donors will add to those offerings in significant ways.

I am exceptionally grateful to have been part of the foundation of the visual art program and deeply involved in the first three decades of growth--even with the challenges and struggles we went through. It's been rewarding to see the development of the department, particularly with the leadership of Dr. Pam Sachant. I know that Bob Owens would be amazed and so very proud of what his dream has become.