We had the good fortune of connecting with Nichole Ferguson and Allison Lauricella and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nichole Ferguson, what do you attribute your success to?
At the Brenau University Galleries, we endeavor to be an educational resource for our students and University community, as well as the wider North Georgia community! We value feedback from our patrons about what we do well and what could be improved. We consider a Galleries season to be a success if we have presented a diverse group of exhibitions on display; have created fun, informational, and free programming accessible to all; have served students of the University through educational opportunities and curriculum integration; have created a safe and unique space for all visitors; AND have done it all with a smile!

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.
The Brenau University Galleries is all about being an accessible cultural resource for Brenau students and the wider community. We (Nichole and Allison) call ourselves the “Gallery Dream Team” and have been working together for over 6 years now. Allison Lauricella is a Brenau graduate, and Nichole Rawlings Ferguson attended a fine arts camp there when she was just a kid – it was fate that these two would end up as a Brenau Galleries team! We are challenged with providing services for vast demographics – from our young adult students to the vibrant retirement community in Gainesville, GA. We strive to provide an atmosphere of inclusion, diverse exhibition offerings, a range of free programs, and academic support. As an art gallery within a university setting, we are uniquely positioned to be an educational resource for Northeast Georgia and strive to do that in a fun and creative way! Some examples of our past programs include artists talks and opening receptions, yoga in the galleries, art making workshops, lectures and more. We do free community tours for all ages, and offer exhibition-specific coloring sheets and scavenger hunts for kids. Due to COVID-19 precautions, the Galleries are not currently open to the public. BUT we are very active on social media and keep our website up-to-date – you can view our current exhibitions online!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
We are dedicating this shoutout to all of the other amazing people, departments, and services at Brenau University! We are part of a family, and that family has come together especially well in the face of challenges brought on by COVID-19.

Website: galleries.brenau.edu
Instagram: @brenaugalleries
Facebook: @brenauuniversitygalleries

Image Credits
Brenau University/AJ Reynolds and Nick Dentamaro

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlana is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.