Speaker Spotlight - Liz Williams and Al Murray
Liz Williams (She/They) is the Southern Equality Studios Program Manager and Al Murray (They/Them) is the Director of Organizational Development and Engagement at the Campaign for Southern Equality.
Month: September | Theme: Spectrum
Together Al and Liz collaborate on creative community-building projects focused on positive change. In 2019 they produced an exhibit of Liz’s digital portraits and Al’s kinetic sculptures documenting and reflecting on the roots of LGBTQ creatives in the South. They host weekly virtual Queer Artist Meetups that include skill-shares, demos and group critiques.
Recently their collaboration has led to a series of public projections on the Asheville courthouse, the Vance monument and the Asheville Art Museum which called for racial justice and dismantling white supremacy.
They also share a deep love and appreciation for pizza.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your practice.
Al: Before working at CSE, I operated a metalworking studio that produced large-scale steel sculptures and architectural metalwork. I still play around in that studio, but my creativity is largely focused on my 8 month-old-twins and how to parent them during a pandemic. I feel lucky that at CSE, we get to devote time and energy to piloting ideas and asking generative questions. In either case, I like to start with the wildest, most fantastic thing I can think of and work backward to what is deliverable. I did the same thing with metalwork. Sometimes it isn’t a huge leap.
Liz: I grew up creating art in various mediums, but I really gravitated towards digital work especially through the intersection of photography and Photoshop and how to create new worlds through these two worlds. The work was more insulated with me being an outsider documenting others and not really interacting with the person on the other side of the camera or computer screen. Now in this new role at CSE, I work to build community by working to actively collaborate with people and build each other up. Be it through portraiture, graphic design projects or projections.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
Al: A ninja turtle or Bruce Springsteen. Growing up I never really answered that question with an occupation.
Liz: Initially when I grew up, I wanted to be a magician, but then after some accidents with personal property, I sought a different method to create magic. Luckily, visual art gave me a safer method to create illusions.
What is the best part and hardest part of your job?
Al: The best part: my co-workers. Every single one of them is brilliant and so unique. The hardest part: having to say no to project ideas or collaborations either due to time constraints or just general capacity.
Liz: The best part of my job is getting to dream up and collaborate with people for a positive impact. So many friendships have been created with co-workers and community members through my time at Campaign for Southern Equality. The worst part is so many ideas and so little time.
What on-the-job tools do you use every day?
Al: Zoom, Slack, soapstone and my drafting table (I still draw out diagrams to help me think)
Liz: Zoom, Zoom, Zoom, Slack, paper and pen, a camera, Photoshop, on a good day.
What about your community inspires you?
Al: So much, and right now I’m thinking about the ways we create relationships and families and systems of support. Queer people are really gifted architects of family and intimacy–re-imagining what relationships even look like for us–especially while the world is changing and when our identities are shifting. We dream our lives into being a lot of the time.
Liz: The infinite imagination, inspiration, and resources that we as a community can utilize. We don’t know our potential until we talk to each other and build bridges. The possibility of what comes from these bridges is incredibly exciting.
What is the best piece of business advice you’ve been given?
Al: Take time to play
Liz: Use a google calendar.
What books/resources would you recommend to someone interested in furthering their creative practice, or starting a creative business of their own?
Al: FIND A MENTOR. Even if they are not in the same field. Find someone who can be a thought partner–ideally someone who is somewhat removed from your business or practice, but who understands it and who is interested in your success.
Liz: I completely agree with Al about finding a mentor. Also, the internet is vast and amazing with resources for inspiration and tools. I recommend falling into the rabbit hole of this website https://www.freelanceartistresource.com/. There is a plethora of awesome resources and ideas.
If you were magically given three more hours per day, what would you do with them?
Al: Play with my kids.
Liz: Get caught up on reading.
