After an injury during graduate school, Ashley Hope Carlisle was told she couldn’t be a sculptor anymore.
“While interviewing for teaching positions, I was sent a rejection letter from a school back east that had handwriting on it saying I should not tell possible employers about my injury,” Carlisle said.
After an ice storm in Georgia where Carlisle was going to graduate school, she slipped and fell. One of her sculptures fell on her and herniated two of her discs in her lower back. Carlisle said after a lot of physical therapy and swimming she was able to work her way back but was told at the time that she could not be a sculptor anymore.
After that rejection letter she was offered the position of a sculpture professor at the University of Wyoming. Carlisle teaches sculpture classes, Foundations of Three-Dimensional Design, and Professional Practices in art.
“I have overcome this fall and continue to get strong and work on the physical expectations that come along with being the sculpture professor,” she said.
She originally started her art education as a graphic design major which changed after taking a 3-D course. Carlisle said her passion for teaching 3-D design came from graduate school where she taught all levels of sculpture, along with other art classes.
“So many of our students focus on two-dimensional areas within the art department and so if I can demystify or take the anxiety away from what is sometimes perceived as a difficult way of art making, it is quite rewarding and a lot of fun,” Carlisle said.
With classes resuming she is excited to connect with students in person and show all of the equipment. She said it has been harder with Zoom classes to help students improve how they work with materials and now learning how to photograph their own work.
“We have such a beautiful space and amazing equipment here in the Visual Arts Building, but it is also important to learn how to make it at home,” said Carlisle. “We speak about how to set up a studio space and how to continue creating even after graduation. I think we spoke about these things prior to COVID lockdown, but it is really happening now and this is a good thing.”
Zoom hasn’t been all bad Carlisle said.
“A definite pro would include seeing the students in their space, meeting the animals that comfort them, and seeing their faces regardless of if it is in a computer screen,” she said. “Art is a connection and so I am not fond of seeing a name on Zoom versus a moving image of my students.”
Her least favorite aspect about teaching involves the Wyoming weather Carlisle said. Working with large sculptures outside or pouring iron is difficult with the wind and cold temperatures.
“I would love to work with engineering students one day,” she said, “to see if we couldn’t find a solution to weather and wind proof our sculpture yard.”
Carlisle is currently working on a new piece with her partner David Jones who is an art instructional technician at the University of Wyoming. The sculpture will be for the Engineering Education and Research Building on Lewis Street.
