April 8, 2021

FLORENCE, AL - In a ceremony Thursday morning on the University of North Alabama campus, the Art Galley was named for Florence artist and Master Pastelist Elaine Bailey Augustine.

"Why do I think that a gallery - this gallery - is important? I truly feel that it is a teaching opportunity," Augustine said. "Besides giving students something to aspire to, to eventually have their work hanging in this gallery, there is also the opportunity to teach by showing them a variety of other artists' work - their choice of subject matter, use of color, variety of mediums, and techniques - and also the presentation of their work. This gallery is an important asset here in UNA's Art Department, and I am honored to have my name associated with it."

Augustine has a long history of supporting the arts community, having begun her artistic journey as a child growing up in Oak Ridge, Tenn. Throughout high school and then college, she honed her skill with color, strength of composition, and variety of subject matter. Augustine's paintings have earned her national recognition and are held in corporate and private collections worldwide.

She is a Master Pastelist with the Pastel Society of America, a signature member of the Degas Pastel Society, a Distinguished Pastelist in the Pastel Society of the West Coast, and a Member of Excellence in the Southeastern Pastel Society. Augustine is also a UNA alumna, having graduated in May 2020 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Art. She also attended Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Ga., and the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

"Today is a celebration of many things: the success of our art programs at UNA, the importance of philanthropy in the growth of our University, and it's a celebration of our commitment to provide facilities that showcase the work of our faculty, staff, and students," said UNA President Dr. Ken Kitts. "(Elaine's) love of her alma mater is noted and appreciated, as is her desire to enhance the platform for the visual arts at UNA in a way that will benefit our students for years to come."

Housed on the second floor of the Visual Arts Building, the art gallery is a space that is often the site of exhibits from seniors in the Department of Visual Arts and Design. It is also the site of exhibits from alumni and departmental faculty.

"It is an honor for an artist of Elaine's caliber to provide this extraordinary naming gift to the art gallery," said. Dr. Sara Lynn Baird, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences under which the Department of Visual Arts and Design falls. "We look forward to using the space in her name and to showcasing the work of our talented students, faculty, and alumni for years to come."

The naming of the Elaine B. Augustine Art Galley was made possible through the efforts of the Office of University Advancement, led by Vice President for Advancement and Executive Director of the UNA Foundation Kevin Haslam.

"The impact this gift will have on students in the Visual Arts and Design program is enormous," he said. "This is a lasting legacy that will be a showcase for their work as well as an honor to the legacy of Elaine and her extraordinary career as an artist."

About The University of North Alabama

The University of North Alabama is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs through the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Human Sciences, and the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions. Occupying a 130-acre campus in a residential section of Florence, Alabama, UNA is located within a four-city area that also includes Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. UNA Athletics, a renowned collegiate athletics program with seven (7) Division II National Championships, is now a proud member of the NCAA Division I's ASUN Big South Conference. The University of North Alabama is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age, or national origin. For more: www.una.edu and www.una.edu/unaworks/