Arctic Circle for Expedition Residency
UofM’s Lisa Williamson sets sail for Arctic Circle to merge art and environmental research
For as long as she can remember, Dr. Lisa Williamson has been passionate about two things: water and art. Throughout her personal and
professional journey — and most recently at the University of Memphis — she has found
meaningful ways to blend the two.
After earning her Master of Fine Arts from the Memphis College of Art in 2015, Williamson
pursued artist residencies in tropical locations like Puerto Rico, where she combined
open-water swimming with sketching coral reefs and marine life.
Since joining the University of Memphis in 2017, Williamson has served as an assistant
professor of practice in foundations within the Department of Art and Design in the
College of Communication and Fine Arts (CCFA). Now, she is embarking on a more research-driven
chapter of her dual passions—setting sail on the Arctic Circle Expedition Residency
near Svalbard, Norway, no snorkel required.
Williamson will join 28 other scientists, architects, educators, and artists from
around the world for a two-week voyage aboard an Arctic-class schooner, sailing in
24/7 daylight under the Midnight Sun—halfway between the northern coast of Norway
and the North Pole.
Since being selected for the residency, Williamson has immersed herself in research,
documentaries, and podcasts to prepare for the region’s extreme climate and to better
understand how Arctic changes impact environments as far south as the Mid-South.
With no internet or cell service during the expedition, Williamson is looking forward
to a rare opportunity: uninterrupted time to reflect, create, and explore. She plans
to share her experiences and artwork with the community upon her return.
Established in 2009, the Arctic Circle Expedition Residency brings together international
scholars and creatives for collaborative exploration of one of the planet’s most vulnerable
regions. Williamson’s journey, from April 16 to May 2, will be much more than an adventure
— it will be a powerful opportunity to translate scientific urgency into artistic
expression, inspiring others to see and feel the rapidly changing world around them.
In 2022, Williamson earned her PhD from the Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts. For more information,
contact Williamson at lmwllm20@memphis.edu.
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