Most people bristle when the word “mold” comes up in conversation. Images of walls covered in black spots or inedible bread are often the first to come to mind.
For papermaker and Associate Professor of Art Sue Carrie Drummond, mold is the catalyst for her latest project.
Drummond, who is the chair of the art department at Millsaps College and a Millsaps alumna, was inspired to use mold as a part of her paper-making process after witnessing a friend experience grief and loss while also dealing with a mold growth in their home.
“I’m using mold as a metaphor for grief and how it kind of overtakes, but it also makes space for new things to grow after,” Drummond said.
As the child of missionaries, Drummond grew up all over before her family settled in Clinton, Mississippi. After she graduated from Clinton High School, she stayed close to home and attended Millsaps. Her experience inspired her to pursue her dream job of working in academia.
Drummond graduated from Millsaps in 2012 and pursued a Master of Fine Arts at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. When she graduated with her master’s degree in 2015, she returned home to Millsaps as a faculty member.
“I did the Ford Fellowship when I was here and was mentored by faculty,” Drummond said.
“In my mind, this was kind of the dream job. I just love Millsaps, and I believe in the liberal arts. We pull from a lot of different disciplines, which is useful, particularly for artists.”
Since returning to Millsaps, Drummond has found that her students inspire her as much as she works to inspire them. She is also pushed to be more interdisciplinary as she teaches courses beyond paper and print making.
“At another school, I would probably be teaching one type of discipline, technique or media, but at Millsaps, I teach kind of all over the place,” Drummond said.
“Because of that, I get to collaborate with students from all disciplines. They bring me their ideas, and I try to help them bring them to life by teaching them techniques and content. But it’s hands-on all the time. It feels like we’re working together to make something happen—like it’s a magic trick of some kind.”
Drummond’s students are inspired by her creativity and enjoy collaborating with her. Millsaps senior Mary Noble Howard finds each experience with Drummond has made her stronger in her art, more confident in professional settings and a better person overall.
“Sue Carrie Drummond has influenced me in more ways than I can count,” Howard said.
“Sue Carrie holds a very special gift as a professor and teacher. She helps students thrive inside and outside the classroom with genuine and authentic love and support, encouraging them along the way!”
Drummond has also received national attention for her prints. Recently, one of her pieces was included in Hand Papermaking, Inc.’s “The Language of Color.” The portfolio was purchased by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and is housed in the museum’s Thomas J. Watson Library.
This fall, Drummond’s work will be featured alongside two other artists in a show at the Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center in Hyattsville, Maryland. She will also be presenting about her recent work with mold and paper at SECAC (formerly the Southeastern College Art Conference) in spring 2024.