Why? ("artist statement")
I am a visual artist who creates whimsical drawings that play with a child-like brightness and curiosity, yet have subtexts of connection, loneliness, anxiety, and purpose.
I have created artwork since childhood, and was formally trained in painting, sculpture, and engineering. Formative experiences such as graduating into the 2008 Recession, unexpected family deaths, and postpartum anxiety pushed Laura’s work from figurative realism to subconscious, surrealistic creatures that explore what it means to be alive. Although the work addresses dark themes, it is designed to present optimism and hope for all paths in life.
Whimsical drawings
Remember that day you couldn't stop laughing with a close friend? Or the time a stranger said something that you always remember?
The creatures that are in this body of work explore the relationships we have with friends, ourselves, strangers, and the world. They are uniquely shaped and colored to help make them identifiable based on the emotions they invoke; viewers identify with them not because they are man or woman, child or adult, ethnicity or patronage. They are designed to help us access subsurface emotions and difficult questions.
These creatures want to know their purpose, and at times they are discouraged and resentful; however ultimately they are optimistic and hopeful. They too want to be safe and loved.
As the maker of these creatures, I hope the viewer connects with them and identifies with feelings of joy, awkwardness, or vulnerability, and remember what they learned from those experiences (positive or negative). I enjoy balancing bright child-like colors with heavy emotive content to draw the viewer in through playfulness, and encourage them to stay and sit with the emotional interactions each piece explores.
Memoirs
A very dear friend died suddenly. My husband's mom died rapidly after being diagnosed with cancer. People pass quickly, and we have probably less time than we all realize.
I've taken on creating artful books to remember people. The focus is on celebrating them now and after they have passed; create a book to share with your friends, grandchildren, whomever.
Obituaries can be sad and feel like an achievement list- these artful books are to craft the story of you; the story you want to share with others.
Selected exhibitions & publications
Ongoing
Group exhibition. PaLatte Gallery and Coffee Shop, Grand Rapids MI. I rotate new work with this venue.
2021
Group Exhibition. Artprize, Grand Rapids MI. 1 drawing shown.
Group Exhibition. Festival of the Arts, Grand Rapids MI. 1 drawing shown.
2020
Group Exhibition.Festival of the Arts, Grand Rapids MI. 1 drawing shown via the electronic streaming option.
2019
Artist-In-Residence. Forest Hills Fine Arts Center, Grand Rapids, MI. Solo show of 30+ pieces, included teaching requirement.
Group Exhibition. Festival of the Arts, Grand Rapids MI. 2 drawings shown.
2018
Solo & Group Exhibition. Palatte Gallery and Coffee shop, Grand Rapids, MI. Over 35 pieces exhibited
2017
Tri-Art for Giving; 1st place Juried Award winner; screen-printed ceramic sculpture (won) and illustration accepted. Work shown in Caterpillar Cafe. Richland, WA.
Solo Exhibition. Paintings and mixed media. Adventures Underground Bookstore. Richland, WA.
Your Novel as Visual Art; using illustration to capture your readers. Created and presented presentation for writer's conference.
Custom Art Lessons. Day of art custom lessons for children's group.
2016
Unleash your Creativity. Created and presented to women's professional development group.
Washington State University’s Juried Chancellor Exhibition. Two large format illustrations accepted. Richland
Solo exhibition. Series of illustrative paintings. You & I Gallery and Framing.
Allied Arts Gallery Juried show. Ceramic teapot accepted. Richland WA.
Use your subconscious to make visual stories. Application for presentation; April 2016.
Tri-Art for Giving; Illustration and drawing accepted. Work shown in Allied Arts Gallery and Mid-Columbia Library. Tri-Cities WA.
Solo Exhibition; Series of illustrative paintings. Richland Public Library. Richland WA.
Group exhibitions. 509 Cyber Art group. Various locations. Richland WA.
2015
Washington State University Chancellor’s Juried Exhibition. Drawing, painting, and ceramic sculpture accepted. Richland WA.
2012-2014
Washington State University Women's Art Exhibition. Teapot and cup accepted. Richland, WA.
Contributing co-author and researcher on following scientific publications:
- Radiation stability test on multiphase glass ceramic and crystalline ceramic waste forms — Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms. February 2014.
- The effect of concentration on the structure and crystallinity of a cementitious waste form for caustic wastes — Journal of Nuclear Materials. June 2013.
- Multi-Phase Glass-Ceramics as a Waste Form for Combined Fission Products: Alkalis, Alkaline Earths, Lanthanides, and Transition Metals — Journal of the American Ceramic Society. February 2012.
2008
Bachelor of Fine Art Thesis Exhibition. Ceramic sculpture. NYS College of Ceramics at Alfred University. Alfred NY.
Copyright 2015