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By Senators Elliott, Albritton, Allen, Barfoot, Beasley, Bell,
Butler, Carnley, Chambliss, Chesteen, Coleman, Figures,
Givhan, Gudger, Hatcher, Hovey, Jones, Kelley, Kitchens,
Livingston, Melson, Orr, Price, Reed, Roberts, Sessions,
Shelnutt, Singleton, Smitherman, Stewart, Stutts, Waggoner,
Weaver, Williams
RFD: RULES
First Read: 05-Feb-25
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First Read: 05-Feb-25
Enrolled, An Act,
SJR___ CELEBRATING AND REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF FRED NALL
HOLLIS.
WHEREAS, it is with heavy hearts that we recognize
the passing of Fred Nall Hollis, who departed this world on
September 14, 2024, at the age of 76, leaving behind an
internationally adored collection of surrealist artwork that
has inspired and awed admirers around the globe; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Hollis, known the world over as Nall,
was born in the Wiregrass town of Troy, Alabama, on April
21, 1948, the only son of Joe Frost Hollis and Mary Winfred
Nall Hollis; from an early age, Nall demonstrated an unusual
talent in the arts and seemed destined to a creative
calling; and
WHEREAS, Nall graduated from The University of
Alabama in 1970 with a degree in fine arts and headed for
New York City; after a short time, he became convinced that
Europe would give him the exposure he needed to move
forward, and in 1971, he was accepted into the famous École
des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France, from which he graduated
first in his class; he then launched into what would become
the years that molded and shaped his creative vision; and
WHEREAS, during his years in Europe, Nall was under
the tutelage of surrealist painter Salvador Dali, whom he
claimed validated his audacity, formed a close friendship
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claimed validated his audacity, formed a close friendship
with African American writer James Baldwin, and fostered
relationships with important patrons; he refined a style
highly influenced by French artist Gustav-Adolph Mossa, and
his extensive travels throughout the Middle East, North
Africa, India, and Mexico in the mid-1970s gave him varied
perspectives and experiences and shaped the direction of his
paintings and drawings; and
WHEREAS, by the end of the 1970s, Nall had earned
critical acclaim in Europe in large part because of two
challenging and important works: The Last Supper and his
32-piece "Alice in Wonderland" series which brought
attention to not only Nall's unique style but the emergence
of an important new artist on the European cultural
landscape; and
WHEREAS, as he gained access to significant centers
of the art world and elite European social circles, he
attracted more high-profile patrons, and related portraiture
of celebrities became an important extension of his work;
Nall's portrait work moved his notoriety in Europe to a much
higher level; and
WHEREAS, Nall's success allowed him to purchase and
renovate the twelfth-century former studio of Jean Dubuffet,
founder of the Art Brut movement, in Vence, France, just
northwest of Nice; this became Nall's home, studio, gallery,
gathering spot for other artists, and an educational center
for young interns; the compound came to be known as the Nall
Art Association; and
WHEREAS, he began inviting numerous students and
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WHEREAS, he began inviting numerous students and
artists from Alabama to his French studio to work, learn,
and broaden their cultural awareness, a tie to his home
state that continued to grow through the 1990s as Nall made
more frequent trips to Alabama to strengthen ties with a
broader range of Alabama artists; and
WHEREAS, Nall was inspired to create the exhibition
Alabama Art 2000 with help from the Alabama State Council on
the Arts which opened at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts
to critical acclaim and opened the door to cultural
exchanges between Alabama and Europe; and
WHEREAS, Nall's fame both at home and abroad
continued to grow when he was hired to design the sets and
costumes for two productions of the world-renowned Puccini
Opera Festival and create the design for two new tableware
lines for Haviland China; and
WHEREAS, one of the more ambitious and challenging
projects of his career came in 2006 with the launch of the
exhibition Violata Pax, or Stations of the Cross of
Humanity, a collaboration with the Catholic Church, Pope
Benedict XVI, and the Franciscan Order in Assisi; the
multilocation, multimedia works included paintings,
sculpture, weaving, and decorative furniture that all
contributed to the theme of addressing the historical
conflicts that plague humanity; the main site of the
exhibition was the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, one of
the most sacred sites in all of Europe; other components of
the exhibition were also shown in Pietrasanta, Italy;
Menton, France; the Principality of Monaco; and in Alabama
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Menton, France; the Principality of Monaco; and in Alabama
at the Mobile Museum of Art; and
WHEREAS, in 2016, Nall returned to Alabama and
established a permanent residence, studio, gallery, and
warehouse in Fairhope; during his time in Baldwin County,
Nall made friendships and connections with the communities
across the county by donating his time and talent to inspire
artists of all ages and abilities; and
WHEREAS, with thoughts of leaving his artistic legacy
to an appropriate location in Alabama, he helped imagine
into life the new International Arts Center at Troy
University which includes the Nall Museum, dedicated on
November 6, 2016, on the Troy campus; this tribute to Fred
Nall Hollis is open to the public and successfully captures
the magnitude, significance, and excellence of a truly
outstanding Alabama artist; and
WHEREAS, his friendly demeanor and genuine kindness
endeared him to many, and Fred Nall Hollis leaves behind a
legacy which will long endure the passage of time and will
remain as a comforting memory to all who were privileged to
have known such an amazing and unique man; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH
HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That we honor the memory of Fred
Nall Hollis, and this resolution is offered by
Representative Jennifer Fidler and Senator Chris Elliott in
tribute to an extraordinary individual whose life
exemplified dedication, integrity, and kindness, and we
extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends as
they grieve the loss of a truly remarkable man.
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they grieve the loss of a truly remarkable man.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be
appropriately presented to the family of Fred Nall Hollis as
a token of our sympathy and a symbol of our deep respect for
his memory.
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his memory.
________________________________________________
President and Presiding Officer of the Senate
________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Representatives
SJR8
Senate 12-Feb-25
I hereby certify that the within Act originated in and
passed the Senate.
Patrick Harris,
Secretary.
House of Representatives
Passed: 18-Feb-25
By: Senator Elliott
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