ALYSE LUCAS CORCORAN
PERSONAL:
Alyse was born on Christmas day in Washington D.C., She grew up in South Carolina on her grandfather’s Spring Island Plantation, where her family were the only residents, also in Charleston, South Carolina and in Asheville, North Carolina. In Charleston, where the family first settled and where Alyse still calls home and maintains a residence. Alyse was the fifth generation of her mother’s Lucas family to be presented at the Saint Cecelia Ball. Alyse’s primary residence now is in Atlanta, and her sculpturing is done at Boxwood Plantation, Penfield, Georgia. Her work can be seen at Boxwood Plantation or at the Penthouse at The Ponce in Atlanta by appointment. She also maintains a home in Georgetown, Washington, D.C., where her daughters live. She is part owner of a home on Botany Bay, a South Carolina barrier island, assessable only by boat. Alyse is now married to John Morrison an Atlanta businessman. She has three children of her own and three step children.
EDUCATION:
STANFORD UNIVERSITY: Post Doctorate Fellowship, School of International Studies, where she studied long range planning for emerging nations.
DUKE UNIVERSITY: Doctorate work in Administration and Supervision; Master’s Degree in English and in Education.
ROLLINS COLLEGE: B.A. Major in English and Theatre, with a Minor in Philosophy, Psychology and Sculpture.
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND HIGHLIGHTS:
THE WHITE HOUSE: Carter Administration Staff specialist for Urban Policy, Downtown Revitalizations and Public/Private Partnerships.
ATLANTA: Founder and Director of Economic and Industrial Development for the City. Commissioner of Community Relations, on the Board of Directors of eleven major organizations and the Honorary French Consul for the United States Southeast area from New Orleans to Washington, D.C.
ARTISTIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Began sculpting seriously in 1997 after a series of cancers forced her to change her career. Her work in sculpture received instant acclaim. She has been in numerous shows and galleries. Highlights include having the nine-foot artist proof of her sculpture, “The Spirit of September Eleventh” placed in the permanent collection of the National Arts Club, Gramercy Park, New York City. The full bronze of “Spirit” awaits its permanent home in the area of ground zero.
The sculpture, “The Turtle Lady” was the guest of honor at a South Carolina Nature Conservancy annual meeting. Her sculpture “The Night Before” the first piece of her series “The Faces Of Cancer… the chronicle of a women and her family living with cancer” sculpture was the focal point for The National Cancer Society’s Vince Lombardi benefit auction. “The Night Before” sculpture has been exhibited at numerous large events to raise money for cancer research and is also featured on a “Cancer card” used to raise money for cancer research. Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs sponsored the life size sculpture of the “Night Before” during a Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston. Her work as been exhibited a number of times at Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, At Sculpture in the South Festival in Summerville, SC, and at one man shows throughout the United States.
Member of The National Sculpture Society.
One of the first women in Leadership Atlanta and its first women president.
Founding member of Leadership Washington.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution had several feature articles about her sculpting. Her work has been reviewed in other national and local newspapers and mentioned in the prestigious “Arts and Antiques” magazine.
Alyse’s “Icons of Charleston and the Low Country” series of sculptures, based on her childhood experiences while growing up in coastal South Carolina, is currently on display at the Addison Hatfield Gallery of fine art in Charleston. Additional pieces in bronze are planned for that series and a second series is in the making.
Through her organization “Causes in Clay,” a non-profit organization committed to sculpturing humanitarian issues and living memorials, she has completed a series of six pieces “The Faces of Cancer, Chronicles of a women and her family living with cancer;” her personal experiences brings powerful emotions to the “Faces of Cancer” series. Alyse has completed a number of works on adversity issues, child abuse, homeless and other difficult issues like divorce, teenage pregnancy, HIV-AIDES and others.
She is currently working on the “Hunter” a sculpture of her only brother to whom she was very close. He passed away a short time ago. Alyse is also starting a life size sculpture of former Senator Max Cleland. In the works also is an unusual interpretation of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter.