Special to the Gazette

The Eliot School of Fine and Applied Arts that is located on Eliot Street in Jamaica Plain,  is excited to share that our Associate Director, Alison Croney Moses, will be exhibiting her first solo show, Alison Croney Moses: The Habits of Reframing, at the Abigail Ogilvy Gallery, in Boston, through October 22.  

While Alison has been on leave this summer to prepare for her first solo gallery show, she will return to the Eliot School the week of September 11. Upon her return, she will support Abigail Norman, Executive Director, with special projects through the end of the year. (As announced earlier, Abigail will be leaving the Eliot School in December after 17 years managing its extraordinary growth and change.) Due to increasing artistic opportunity as a result of the recognition for Alison’s own artistic talent and vision, she has made the decision to step down as the School’s Associate Director at the end of 2023 so she can devote more time to her art and craft.  

Alison says, “This is a truly special organization and I look forward to continuing to support the Eliot School in different capacities. I am grateful to have spent ten years working alongside such dedicated and creative colleagues and am proud that we have created spaces for thousands of young people and adults to engage with their creativity and craft throughout Boston.” 

Alison joined the Eliot School a decade ago, first as a teacher, then as School Partnership Program Director, eventually becoming Associate Director, collaborating on organizational strategy and vision. During her time here, she founded the Teen Bridge and Artist in Residence programs to help cultivate the current and next generation of artists and leaders in art and craft. She also started our newest program, Career Pathways in Carpentry and Craft, which is entering its second year this fall. Alison has also co-led the national Racial Equity in Craft Working Group, which was launched in 2020 by the Society of Arts + Crafts. 

Alison’s sculpture is in the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston and the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. She is a recipient of the 2022 US Artists Fellowship in Craft and has been featured in American Craft Magazine, Yankee Magazine, The Boston Globe, and elsewhere.  

With all of her accomplishments and commitment to her art, it is no wonder that Alison is being recognized far and wide. The Eliot School has been fortunate to have this talented artist and administrator on staff. Alison has consistently nurtured art and craft in herself and others and has created pathways for other artists to expand and achieve their goals. Perhaps even more importantly, she has opened opportunities for people who may never have thought about pursuing the arts and craft as a career. Both at the Eliot School and elsewhere, she has furthered important conversations supporting racial equity initiatives in the field of craft education. The ongoing success of our School Partnerships, Teen Bridge, and Artist in Residence programs, in particular, are a testament to her vision.  

Abigail Norman says, “The Eliot School and Boston are forever changed by Alison’s work here over the years, the relationships she has nurtured, and the students and artists she has encouraged and supported. She has been core to shaping the School’s strategy, scope, and vision. I have loved working together with her side by side. Now I am thrilled to see her gain well-deserved recognition for her art and be able to move forward as an artist on a national stage.”     

In her artist’s statement for the Abigail Ogilvy Gallery show, Alison says, “I strive to create situations and objects where people are compelled to interact, to express, and therefore challenge themselves to heal, to stand taller, to build community, and to work toward a more just future.” 

We are proud that Alison’s artistic vision and skill are being recognized and shared with a wider audience. We encourage you to visit her show and attend one of the special events to thank her in person:  

• Artist Talk: Oct. 5, 6 pm at Abigail Ogilvy Gallery, 450 Harrison Avenue #29, Boston.