JILL FRALEY
artist/photographer/writer
conservationist
professor of law
legal historian
consultant
I am a professor of law, legal historian, consultant, writer, artist, and photographer. My love of the mountains inspires all of my work and my environmental commitments. I was born and raised in Appalachia, in eastern Kentucky, and coal country, where perceptions of the place have long prevented conservation and national investment. No one holds pride and respect for what they think is simply damaged and disreputable. No one wants to save it.
I want to change that.
MEMOIR
I focus on telling stories that generate respect, concern and empathy. I focus on helping and healing through storytelling and photography, particularly in rural communities and those impacted by extractive industries. I have been a photographer and conservationist for more than twenty years, a law professor and a board member of an NGO that works on conservation in Appalachia. I understand the complexities of law and focus on storytelling as a route to legal change. I travel around the world, particularly in communities that share the impacts of decades or centuries of extraction: systemic poverty, a high level of work-related injuries, a lack of local land ownership, and a high risk of exposure to toxins risks from pollution.
PAINTING & PHOTOGRAPHY
I am a modern Appalachian self-taught artist and photographer. My work explores the connections between identity, spirituality, ownership and visibility.
“Without the support and encouragement of the group, I never would have thought of sharing my paintings with others. That's been very meaningful for me and a big part of my growth as an artist this year.”
— Jill