Reviewed by: Lisa Battles
Meet the creative mother-daughter duo with studios in Lowe Mill
Reading time: 5 minutes
Missy Richey and her daughter Liza Jane are Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment’s only mother-daughter studio neighbors, creating puppets and folk art side by side.
For the Richey family, art has always been a “way of life,” with generations of creative teachings influencing their work.
Read more about how this creative duo became studio neighbors after following a whim a few years ago.
Details on the duo
Before we dive in, here’s a bit of background on multi-generational Lowe Mill artist neighbors Liza Jane and Missy Richey:
Liza Jane
- Art style: Mixed media folk art, large-scale props + installations
- Career background:
- Teaches art at a local elementary school
- Studied acting at SUNY Purchase College in New York
- Produced visual art displays for Florence-based designer Billy Reid
- Where to find her: Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment Studio 114
- Full artist bio
Missy
- Art style: Jim Henson Muppet-style puppetry + textile mixed media
- Career background:
- Serves as Adjunct Faculty at Athens State University
- Taught kindergarten for 30+ years
- Where to find her: Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment Studio 109, “Something Special Art Studio”
- Full artist bio
Generations of creativity
Liza Jane attributes all her artistic knowledge to her mom, who encouraged her creativity from a young age from crafty family reunions to trips to art festivals.
“To me, art was just natural—it was what Mom did. Now that I’m teaching visual art, I look back and realize, ‘I actually never had a visual art class, ever.’
“We come from a creative family, and that’s really just who we are and how she raised me to be.”
Liza Jane
Liza Jane describes her style as “folk art,” which she defines as craft being passed down through people. The artistic influence traces back to her aunt and grandmother, who were also creatives and teachers.
“All the things I know are because mom taught me, my aunt taught me, my grandmother taught me. Now, I’m teaching the little ones the same crafts and giving them those skills. And it’s really sweet and beautiful.
“I think everyone has creativity inside them, but you have to nurture it. And you have to learn how to nurture it by watching other people do it for themselves.”
Liza Jane
Missy beamed with joy as her daughter recounted crafting at the kitchen table and learning about composition and complementary colors.
Missy explained her own artistic knowledge came from her mom and grandmother, who were also teachers.
“My mother and grandmother were very accepting of other folks. And you can see those values in my art and when somebody walks into my studio.”
Missy
Continuing the legacy through folk art + teaching
Liza Jane left the nest to study acting in New York, returning home during the pandemic. After being around Huntsville’s art scene again, she felt inspired to return to her roots.
She and her mom applied for a studio space at Lowe Mill, and set up shop together soon after. Once another studio opened up, Liza Jane moved down the hall to curate her own art environment.
“It’s fun to have a Mom who is also bouncing around a million ideas of her own, and she still has her own dreams that she wants to accomplish, like opening a puppet theater.
“She’s always telling me her ideas, and I’m telling her my ideas and asking for her input.”
Liza Jane
Missy never expected her daughter to follow in her footsteps to become an art teacher in North Alabama, let alone a studio neighbor in Lowe Mill. Now, she wouldn’t want it any other way.
“I’m thankful that Liza Jane enjoys art, too, because it brings me joy to see her enjoying her studio.”
Missy
Give these artists a visit
Want to meet this spunky duo? Check out Missy’s puppets or Liza Jane’s window displays on the first floor of Lowe Mill.
- Where: Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment, 2211 Seminole Dr SW, Huntsville, AL 35805
- Lowe Mill hours: Wednesday-Saturday 11AM-7PM
- Follow Liza Jane on IG
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