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Alumni Profile: Anna King '14

Rabun Gap alumna Anna King '14 is making an impact in the Atlanta art community!
Rabun Gap alumna Anna King '14 is making an impact in the Atlanta art community! During her years at Rabun Gap, Anna was heavily involved in our outstanding arts program through Cirque, visual arts, and theater. After graduation, she attended Drew University and worked with world-class artists and galleries in New York City. 
Anna and her business partner recently opened Wolfgang Gallery- a contemporary art gallery showcasing works by leading artists from art hubs all over the globe such as New York, LA, and London. The gallery's mission is to introduce a new foundation for discovering and supporting contemporary art by focusing on inclusivity and diversity within the framework of contemporary culture. 


Tell us what you have been up to since leaving Rabun Gap.
I don't think I've slowed down once since graduation. I went off to college in the northeast, at Drew University. Drew is a small liberal arts college in New Jersey, with a very close proximity to New York City. This gave me the fantastic opportunity to intern at museums and galleries in the city during the school year. I would go from class, catch the train, and have the privilege of working with world-class artists and galleries that ultimately helped me get where I am now.

After graduation, I moved back to Atlanta and found myself back in the art world at an established Atlanta art gallery. I met my business partner- and we decided to take advantage of the Atlanta market by opening Wolfgang Gallery- a contemporary art gallery showcasing works by leading contemporary artists from art hubs all over the globe such as New York, LA, and London. Wolfgang Gallery is a contemporary art space located in Atlanta, GA that features mid-career and established artists. Our mission is to introduce a new foundation for discovering and supporting contemporary art by focusing on inclusivity and diversity within the framework of contemporary culture. We are centered on creating a community that connects exceptional emerging artists and collectors that extends beyond the confines of gallery walls. 
 
We really want to cater to our clients, and show them how addicting collecting art can be! It may seem trivial to call it “fun”, but it genuinely is. Every day we connect with curators, collectors, artists, you name it. Everyone in our network is passionate and excited about the work, and you feel like you’ve stepped into a new world. Some days it’s luxury parties, and other days it’s laborious work, but it is never boring. We also aim to offer a highly supportive experience for our artists. We want to not only represent their work- but their careers as well. We want you to know that we are interested in the longevity of your market and that we aren’t aiming for a quick flip. It’s all about taking care of those who make us who we are. Ultimately we would not be here without the trust and support of our artists, and we want to make sure their success is our top priority. 

How did Rabun Gap help prepare you or influence your future goals?
Rabun Gap instills some of the best values a young entrepreneur can have- independence and effective time management. When you’re working for yourself, there is no one to hold you accountable or manage your schedule, you have to wake up every day and decide how you will make today as rewarding as it can be. I still use an agenda today- albeit a virtual one. Rabun Gap continuously pushes students to be their best selves, and step outside of their comfort zone. While it may seem intimidating, it is that confidence that sets RGNS students apart. Running a business requires that independence, and you can’t let your fears get in the way of success. 

Rabun Gap would not be the institution it is without its fantastic arts programs as well. During my time I participated in theater productions, Cirque, and the visual arts. One day you can be working with your hands on a delicate clay pot, and the next spinning on a Lyra in front of over 200 people- that variety is hard to find, but Rabun Gap has fostered an environment that encourages exploration. Running a gallery is different than painting, but Rabun Gap’s arts programming gave me the foundation to pursue art in college, and then go into gallery work. 


Is there a specific faculty member, coach, or dorm parent who had an important impact on you?
Oh gosh- that will be a long list, but there are a few that really stand out. First would be Doc Truslow, who really fostered my love for history, and knew how to be tough when necessary, and kind when needed. I don’t think there is another person in his field as passionate as him, and his teachings must have influenced me deeply, as I was an art history major in college. I still cheer for Georgia Tech- just for Doc. 
 
Next would be William Patti. Mr. Patti looked after his students like they were his own children, and that kind of support is really needed in boarding school. His creativity also stood out, every show directed by Mr. Patti had a signature style, and anyone who can wrangle a group of rowdy high schoolers into talented actors delivering a moving dramatic monologue deserves praise. 
 
Andrea Null, Mark and Kathy Henning, David Landis, Todd Wass, Kadidia Doumbia…. the list go on and on. I don’t think I could ever choose just one, but I do think about my favorite teachers frequently. I hope they all know the impact they have had.

Rabun Gap is home to many aspiring artists.  What advice do you have for them?
Make as much work as you can, and photograph everything! I promise your future self will thank you. You can be the most talented artist in the world, but if you aren’t documenting the work you’re making, no one will ever know. If you are serious about a career in the arts- create a website for your work as well. It can be basic, but that’s what collectors and gallerists want to see. The more work you make, the more you will grow as an artist as well, not every piece has to be a knockout (or even “good”). Art is a place to learn from your mistakes, you have to be patient and forgive yourself when you feel like you’re stuck. The best works come with constant practice, and a  relentless desire to improve. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and the Mona Lisa wasn’t painted overnight. 
 
Don’t make work based on trends- trends will always come and go; I promise your best work will be your most authentic and true-to-self. Find what drives your work, and write about. Write as much as you can. Write about evert detail in your process, how it makes you feel, how you want others to feel, ect. You can never write enough about your own work, and it will help you understand your process better than ever. Also- get weird. Push your work to its limits, and then push it even further. 

What would you like to see happen at Rabun Gap in the next 10-20 years?
I hope that Rabun Gap continues to value diversity, and uphold its motto of Work, Study, Worship. Rabun Gap is special because it’s not like every other private school. Rabun Gap sent 10th graders into the woods to hike for 5 days, it lets you hang on a trapeze, it is surrounded by some of the most unique ecologies in the nation, it is an absolute treasure because of how rare it really is, and I hope that lasts forever. 
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Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School is a private, coeducational day and boarding school for grades Pre-K through 12. Centrally located between Atlanta, GA, Greenville, SC, and Asheville, NC, we prepare young people for college, career, and a lifetime of leadership and service.