Auburn University senior and Darlington alumna Sierra Shamblin (‘11) has been chosen as a featured artist for a special art exhibition commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Selma marches for civil rights.
The student exhibition, titled "Confronting the Issues," will be on display at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Art in Montgomery, Ala., and will tackle the concepts of equality, homelessness, poverty and social justice.
Shamblin’s original oil painting, “Unsung Heroes,” will be featured in the exhibition through May. Her artwork shows the faint image of a Tuskegee diner, with the overlay of a quote from Dr. Roscoe Brown, one of the famed African-American Tuskegee Airmen.
“[This diner] was described as a place where race didn’t matter, remembered as a safe-haven from the laws of segregation," said Shamblin. "It was a place where all races could come and enjoy normal life together."
The alumna became interested in the topic after taking a class on art and race and subsequently visiting the Tuskegee Airmen National Museum, the location of the diner. She found out about the Selma exhibition through an art professor, and decided to submit her work to the competition.
"At Darlington, I was taught that putting yourself out there is always the route to take, even if you are rejected, because you will gain experiences and learn from your mistakes," said Shamblin.
The alumna began taking private art lessons at age six from Rome portrait artist Diana Smithson, and continued into her teenage years.
Shamblin excelled in the fine arts at Darlington, participating in Concert Choir, Ladies' Chorale, the Darlingtones, chorus and band. She also served as a day prefect in the Thornwood House, served on House Senate, played lacrosse and was a member of the cheerleading squad.
"Attending Darlington challenged me to go to new places, try new things, and never settle," said Shamblin. "My alma mater has given me the skills and confidence to find success in all areas of my life, from actions as small as submitting my art to museums and shows, to applying for jobs across the country."
Shamblin will graduate from Auburn in May with a Bachelor of Arts in Art, and will then begin her career as the new arts coordinator at the Downtown Management District of Corpus Christi, Texas.
At Auburn, the Darlington alumna serves on the University Programs Council for the Committee of Fine Arts and holds membership in the Association of Visual Artists, the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, and the Alpha Delta Pi sorority.
Sierra Shamblin is the daughter of Mark (‘80) and Robin Shamblin of Rome, and is the sister of Hamilton (‘23).
Click here for more information about the exhibition.
