Meet Alison Fullerton | Visual artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alison Fullerton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alison, let’s talk legacy – what do you want yours to be?
I like to tell stories about strong women in my art. Women’s contributions and accomplishments have been overlooked, omitted, or censured from mainstream culture.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As an artist, I like to tell stories about strong women. I recently complete a 10-portrait series “FLY GIRLS” about the WWII WASP, the Women Air Force Service Pilots who flew for the US military, but were disbanded and left out of the history books.

I became interested in women in the military in 2016, when I married into the military, and we were stationed overseas. I had the opportunity to meet female soldiers and talk to them about their struggles to have meaningful careers serving their country. This was the same year that the Department of Defense lifted the ban on women in combat, the last barrier to women for career advancement.

I began researching the history of women in military. I learned about the WWII WASP, the Women Air Force Service Pilots who left their homes and jobs to become the first women to fly for the US military from 1942-1944. Over 1000 WASPs flew ferrying missions in the US, and thirty-eight pilots did not survive. They were promised military status, but they were disbanded without benefits in 1944, and their records were sealed. They were left out of the history books– because they were women.

The FLY GIRLS portraits celebrate the WASP who defied gender stereotypes during WWII, and then spent decades fighting to gain recognition and secure their place in history. It was not until 1977 that the WASP were granted veterans’ benefits. Cornelia Fort, a former debutante from Nashville, Tennessee, was the second woman to join the WASP. She died at age 24 from a plane crash while on active duty.

I contacted Texas Women’s University’s WASP archives August 2022 and was honored to be entrusted with the WASPs’ diaries, journals, and artifacts. The TWU archivists spent countless hours helping me comb the archives, and telling me the stories they’ve come to know by working with the remaining WASP and their families over the years. It’s my hope these portraits will help secure the WASPs place in history and inspire women for careers in the military and in aviation.

Each of the ten portraits combines vintage photographs, artifacts, news clippings, digital art, and encaustic wax paint. They are 30×40, larger-than-life, and are designed to draw the viewer up close to read the artifacts and learn the WASP stories. FLY GIRLS is a tribute to the WASPs and to all women who serve.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love Nashville, but the most beautiful areas are the surrounding countryside. A day trip to Leiper’s Fork is always fun, especially if you can catch some local music and art. I like cycling the hills around Leipers and then visiting the shops and art galleries.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
It can be a struggle to be an artist entrepreneur. Finding ways to both train and learn our craft, as well as monetize our art, can be a challenge. In Tennessee, one of the most helpful arts organizations for supporting artists in Tennessee Craft. Scholarships, grants, networking, art fairs, and education; Tennessee Craft has been wonderfully supportive, and I am grateful to have them in Tennessee.

Website: https://www.alisonfullertonart.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alison_fullerton/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlisonFullertonArt

Image Credits
“FLY GIRLS” The WWII WASP •10-portrait series •Each portrait is 30×40 on wood panel and is made using vintage photos, artifacts, digital art and encaustic wax paint Photo is used with permission from Texas Women’s University WASP archives.