"🔼" (as in the symbol for CHANGE). Galloway School Mathematics-based Mural.
Location: Atlanta, GA.
Thank you to the Galloway School community for welcoming me onto your campus, to Integrated Learning Specialist Peggy Benkeser, and the following teachers: 3rd Grade Team: Anne Kostensky, Dori Handel, Suzanne Szilagyi, Elizabeth Rathore; 6th Grade Math Teacher: Amanda Edwards; Middle Learning Art Teacher: Erin Ray
***
Just in time for “Back to School.” This was an interesting project for me as part of my social practice and the opportunity to get back in the classroom teaching math.
For those of you who don’t know me that well, before living in Atlanta, I lived abroad, with much of that time spent in the Marshall Islands working in various capacities for the Ministry of Education - teacher, teacher trainer, language specialist, nonprofit administrator. While in the Marshall Islands, we leaned into “Rethinking Education,” which essentially prioritized utilizing the cultural practices of the island as frameworks from which to teach concepts in a relatable context.
One of the practices that inspired me as an artist while there was the traditional tattooing. It took the natural world and abstracted it down to its core shapes: hexagonal patterns were turtlebacks; dots were seashells; stacked parallelograms were feathers, to name a few.
In this way, Marshallese geometric forms became integrated into my artistic practice, forms I got to revisit as I spoke with teachers at Galloway and learned about the concepts they were hoping to translate visually in this connection of art and math.
They had been looking at the work of Sol LeWitt, and together we coaxed out different forms and patterns to arrange as the composition and also within it.
It all kept coming back to the TRIANGLE as the basis of all angular shapes, so I wanted to have that organically connecting the various forms and spaces.
And then COVID-19 happened. Fortunately, the mural conceptualization classroom work ended just before school shut down, but unfortunately, the mural installation logistics were unknown.
Students were not able to participate in the painting itself, but I’m hoping they will still enjoy using it as a tool for hands-on geometry and art: measuring angles; identifying shapes, forms and patterns; evaluating color, value and depth; inspiration in general.
I call it "🔼" (as in the symbol of change) because 1- I’m a nerd, 2- its all about the triangle, and 3 - this has been a year of nonstop change, especially for students and teachers. Thank you Galloway students and teachers. My heart goes out to you all as you navigate this next school year and the changes you continue to face this school year.
8 x 12 ft Artwork for Facebook Community Boost event
Monroe and Montgomery Ferry in Piedmont Heights.
This project was with the Piedmont Heights Civic Association and funded by the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs Neighborhood Arts Grant.
Monroe and Armour in Piedmont Heights
This project was with the Piedmont Heights Civic Association and funded by the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs.
Corner of Edgewood and Randolph in Old Fourth Ward
This project was by the Fourth Ward Alliance neighborhood association and funded by the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs Neighborhood Arts Grant.
In Progress. Community mural project in Old Fourth Ward Atlanta inspired by the Dr. King quote, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
This project was a collaboration with Fourth Ward Neighbors Association. Funding for this project provided by Fulton County Board of Commissioners, the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs, Georgia Council for the Arts.
In Progress. Community mural project in Old Fourth Ward Atlanta inspired by the Dr. King quote, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
In Progress. Community mural project in Old Fourth Ward Atlanta inspired by the Dr. King quote, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
Collaboration with artist Saleam Bey. Funded by Peoplestown Community Safety Partnership.
Commissioned by City of Atlanta Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs.
Stained Glass Window Installation. Inspired by the oral history, "The Days of Wine and Roses," speaking of Hapeville's ongoing growth and economic development.
Commissioned by the City of Hapeville, GA.
Participating Artist
Participating artists were asked to create black outlines of artwork that members of the community could color with chalk provided as part of Art on the Beltline. Detail of contribution.
Commissioned by the Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs.
In Progress.... Nearly Complete!
Designed by Fourth graders at Hope Hill Elementary School.
Facilitated by me.
Painted by community.
Funded by the City of Atlanta Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs Neighborhood Arts Grant.
Email me: lauren@thinkgreatly.com to do a similar project in your neighborhood!
Community mural for Old Fourth Ward Neighborhood in Atlanta, GA. I am leading the project and worked with fourth graders from Hope Hill Elementary School to brainstorm ideas around COMMUNITY. I took something from each of their drawings to create a "wallpaper" design to be painted by the community in a "paint by number" method.
Funding for this project provided by the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs Neighborhood Arts Grant.
Community volunteers.
Community volunteers.
Community volunteers.
The City of Decatur let artists liven up its electrical boxes around town thanks to an initiative led by artist Larry Holland. This is my contribution. Located near Decatur High School on the corner of W Howard Avenue and Commerce Drive.
As a resident artist with Little Five Arts Alive I worked with community members and passersby in Little Five Points to create spontaneous sculpture from upcycled materials. This was an attempt to make a canopy for some shade from old blinds, records and mesh screens.
Spontaneous Sculpture from upcycled objects in Little Five Points, Atlanta.
Spontaneously sculpted tree ornaments.
Fred had fun painting a chandelier.
Taking a break from shopping to make some art and make new friends.
Sculptures and signage for one of the planter spaces.
She walked up and declared, "I want to make a peace sign!" So we made one with painted plastic blinds, garden hose and zip ties.
Art programming at the Women's Transitional Center at the First Presbyterian Church in Midtown.
A day in the work at City of Refuge, through Georgia Lawyers for the Arts' "Artists Making a Difference" program.