We are excited to extend a warm welcome to Francis Marion Moseley Wilson, who will be joining us as a Visiting Assistant Professor in the TIMARA (Technology in Music and Related Arts) department for the upcoming academic year 2023-2024. As an esteemed TIMARA alumna from the class of 2012, Francis is no stranger to our community, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to have her back in the TIMARA basement!
Francis’s journey in the world of interdisciplinary art has been impressive. Her interest in pushing boundaries and exploring the intersections of live/body art, taxidermy, and digital media has taken her to various festivals and institutions around the world. From engaging audiences at Chicago’s Rapid Pulse International Performance Art Festival to making her mark at London’s Guerilla Zoo presents: Modern Panic X, her performances have garnered attention on an international scale.
Francis earned her Bachelor of Music in Technology in Music and Related Arts from Oberlin Conservatory in 2012, laying the groundwork for her future explorations. Subsequently, she pursued her Master of Arts in Contemporary Performance Making at Brunel University in 2014, where she expanded her creative horizons. In 2021, she successfully completed her Doctorate in Theatre Studies at the University of Glasgow, delving deep into the fascinating realm of Performing Taxidermy.
Francis’s doctoral research, “Bodies and Boundaries in Performing Taxidermy,” exemplifies her unique approach to blending theory and practice. Her exploration of taxidermic bodies and processes in a live art, body-based performance practice pushes the boundaries of what art can be, and her work grapples with themes of risk, intimacy, vulnerability, and grief in the context of current geopolitical issues, particularly focusing on interspecies and material bodies.
Her connection with Oberlin and the TIMARA department runs deep. Throughout her time as a student here, Francis discovered her passion for taxidermy and performance art, sparking the flame for her future artistic endeavors. As an integral part of TIMARA’s Sonic Arts Workshop since 2009, and now co-directing alongside Tom Lopez, she has been instrumental in shaping the experiences of current students, bringing her expertise and unique insights to guide the next generation of artists. Francis is “thrilled to be spending the year back in the TIMARA basement and looking forward to getting to know current students and their work!”
Before joining us as Visiting Assistant Professor, Francis served as Arts Technical Coordinator & Lecturer in Oberlin’s Studio Art department. Her diverse background and experiences make her a valuable addition to our TIMARA family, and we eagerly anticipate the knowledge and perspectives she will bring to our students. Francis is no stranger to hauling gear — asked for a fun fact about herself, Francis shared: “I placed 3rd in an amateur bodybuilding competition this year!”
Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Francis Wilson as she embarks on this exciting new chapter as Visiting Assistant Professor in the TIMARA department. Welcome back, Francis!
