- Born: Nashville (Davidson County)
- Active: Nashville (Davidson County)
- Region: Middle
- Medium: Photography
Gail Clemons
Gail Clemons is a rare native Nashvillian. Being reared in the community of Hopewell near grandparents and cousins influenced her perspective. Family and friends were her first subjects, when she was a child. Throughout her life, Gail has always been fascinated by artbooks and how the world is represented through the eyes of all types of visual media. Naturally, she was drawn to photography even more as she grew and matured. Her skill was cultivated by taking classes and learning from professional photographers like, Carlton Wilkinson and Frances Dorris.
Gail has shared her photographs in a variety of venues such as galleries and institutions of higher education.
She is a busy retired elementary school teacher who likes to camp and kayak, and travel as well as photograph. As a life-long advocate for public education and civil rights, she believes the political climate is affecting how and what children are taught in the basics as well the arts. The arts are threatened because many legislators are fearful of how we express ourselves.
Gail makes her home in the culturally diverse South Nashville area with her daughter and two very spoiled Siamese cats.
Being a native Nashvillian, I’m devoted to connecting viewers to the world. Drawing on the acquired wisdom of artists and teachers throughout my career, I try to capture this instinctive sense in my photographs. Beauty, perseverance, and strength are carefully interwoven into each piece highlighting the defining moments that have been found or even found me.
These images feature two boys whose family is originally from Honduras. They excitedly told me about their favorite Honduran foods their mom makes. I encourage them to hold on to their Spanish as it is a part of their identities, and it can be a marketable skill as they grow up. It’s interesting that they take their education seriously in a time that public schools are under attack.
The other image features a lady of Puerto Rican descent. Miss Gracie works as a bookkeeper for a public school. She lends a hand wherever needed and helps Spanish speaking students negotiate their days. Miss Gracie is a fashionista. You know it’s her in the halls, because her heels clicking in the halls announce her presence.
CRAFTING BLACKNESS 
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