Posted Sunday January 07 2018 at 5:06 pm
Hello, I'm Laura Evonne Steinman, Community Artist/Educator/Activist. I have been making a creative mess since I was a little kid building forts. I didn't like the color pink until I was almost 40 years old, go figure.
I believe that our lives are nurtured and transformed by creating art together! I create Art in and with community members. I love working on collaborative projects that are for rituals, social justice rallies, environmental actions, and just because we need more creative outlets in our lives! My main mediums of creating are with materials that have been discarded or passed along -- already used. From textiles to containers to stuff on the clearance rack. I'm a big trash picker and thrift store shopper. You probably would not find me collecting materials at a traditional art store, but instead at a yard sale!
My artistic experiences come from a web of many places and people. From growing up and traveling, to hanging out with my Aunt Brenda volunteering on a community farm, to always moving furniture around to create sacred spaces. The suitcase that I travel with comes from me having a learning disability when I was growing up in the early 80’s -- when folks didn't know what to do with me. I didn't like school and found my joys in creating art and exploring in nature. I got through the K-12 education system with a bunch of support and thrived in art school. In undergrad I studied Sculpture at Rhode Island School of Design and then went on to receive my Master of Art in Art Education with a concentration in Community Art at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Read More →
Posted Saturday December 16 2017 at 8:53 pm
I am an artist-educator. As an artist, I use anthropomorphic animals in illustrations, comics, and animations as a vehicle for self-expression, as these characters veil reality in a way I find more comfortable to make, as well as for viewers to consume. I believe that by engaging in artmaking about one's many faces, people can explore uniquely personal realms of feeling and social understanding.
I use my art practice as an opportunity to test my morality. I ask myself, "What would I really do in this situation?" and often make my character choose something uncharacteristic of me, in order to ponder the potential results and repercussions. I also work to illustrate the world around me in a way that fosters a convincing sensation of place, concerning both private and public spaces. I explore the idea of the persona, as well as the nature of intimate spaces.
Read More →
Posted Monday December 04 2017 at 3:55 pm
I am a visual artist, dancer and educator. As a Teaching Artist, I use interactive community building activities, structured self-reflection and thematic exploration to create spaces for learners to explore and express who they are, connect with each other, and build socio-emotional skills. After studying art, dance, and gender studies at Wesleyan University, I worked at REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, where I engaged young people in conversations about dating violence and supported them in building socio-emotional skills necessary for healthy relationships.
My work as an art educator centers around creating spaces for people of all ages to connect, learn, and grow through art. I believe that everyone deserves to be heard and seen for who they are. Art has the capacity to help us access and share the parts of ourselves we might not otherwise and therefore connect on a deeper level. As an artist, I utilize various media including painting, drawing and collage to explore trans identity and the interplay of nature and the internal emotional environment. I also bring interactive arts and movement based workshops to youth programs and other organizations across the Boston area (including Somerville Arts at the Armory and The Democracy Center) through my freelance art education business, Building Connection through Creative Exploration.
Read More →
