Residence

Greenbank, Wa, United States

Place of Birth

Nancy, , France

Personal Statement

Drawing, I have learned over time, is the foundation of my creative work. It reflects how I move, breath, see and communicate with the world around me. It is present in all my work, including all that I sew, bind and construct. I am interested in drawing forth something from nothing, from the empty space/place. This informs the way I choose materials and the way in which I work to transform surfaces. I am currently working with simple mediums, India ink or gouache applied with fine lined brush on paper and on white washed laminate board.
Line emphasizes my focused connection to breathing and the effect my heartbeat and pulse has on the quality of my mark making, I map time passing. Observing life’s pulsating energy inspires my work, I am fascinated by the magic that is revealed in my peripheral vision and my daily communion with nature is a necessary activity that nourishes my imagination. 

Biography

Born in Nancy, France in 1963, Lauren grew up in a military family. Her childhood was spent moving every two years between Europe and the United States. When it was time for Lauren to enter high school, her parents decided to retire from the military and settle in Steilacoom, Washington. Lauren’s passion for making art developed from her need to create a sense of permanence in a life that was nomadic and temporal. Early exposure to the cultures, religion, history and museums of Europe and the Middle East played a significant role shaping her creative work. Lauren graduated with her B.F.A in Textile Design, from California State University at Long Beach in 1989.

Following her graduation Lauren returned to the Northwest to begin establishing roots in the Seattle community with her husband, photographer Donald Green. During their residence in Seattle, she began showing her work in addition to developing collaborative photographic work with Donald. Lauren’s work has been exhibited in Seattle gallery’s that include Howard House, Gallery 110, and Lead. Mark Woolley in Portland, Oregon and Track 16 in Santa Monica, California.  In discovering her passion for collaboration, Lauren has worked with various dance and theater artist’s creating sculptural costumes and stage environments. These collaborations include work with dancer/choreographer’s Carla Barragan, Amelia Reeber, and Ronli Blau.  

Another extension of her passion for the collaborative process developed through Lauren’s commitment to working with young people. She is a founding member and veteran master teaching artist for the innovative and nationally recognized arts education program Arts Corps, established in 2000. She became Faculty Development Manager in the fall of 2005, in this role she works closely in support of teaching artists, classroom assistants. Lauren has taught for many arts education programs in the Northwest including; Centrum Arts in Port Townsend, the Seattle Center Academy, the Seattle Children’s Museum and Power of Hope.

Lauren now lives on Whidbey Island, where she and Donald designed and built their home in 2005. Her current work is inspired by natural environment that she lives with. This new work is being shown in addition to her collaborative work with Donald in Internal Guidance Systems: a national traveling group show of work by self-taught and visionary artists, curated by Anne Grgich and Colin Rhodes.

Awards and Honors

2008 Artist Trust Edge Program Recipient.

1987 Arts Affiliate Grant- California State University at Long Beach.

1981 Centrum Visual Arts High School Program, Port Townsend, WA. 

Contact Information

laurenjatkinson@gmail.com