Regional artist Lauren Medford was lately promoted to the artwork and gallery supervisor at the Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) in downtown Waynesville.
A indigenous of Haywood County, Medford holds an Associate of Used Science degree in marketing and graphic design and style from Southwestern Community School, and a Master of Fine Arts from Western Carolina College.
Medford is a functioning artist. When describing her do the job, she claimed, “My mediums of preference are printmaking, collage and fibrous sculpture. I do the job in themes of camp, fandom, style, and diva sensibilities.”
Prior to starting to be complete-time with HCAC, Medford labored to develop courses at the gallery, strengthen branding and raise their achieve. The Smoky Mountain News recently sat down with Medford to find out much more about her tale.
Smoky Mountain Information: What is your very first memory of producing a piece of artwork?
Lauren Medford: I try to remember becoming in an art course at Junaluska Elementary College [in Waynesville] in the initially quality. Our assignment was to make a wintertime scene in gentle pastels. The instructor entered my piece into the student art show. My parents and I went to the exhibit. I remember how happy I was to see my artwork on a wall among the other students’ function.
SMN: What about the fashion and “vibe” of your operate.
LM: My get the job done addresses the aesthetics of flamboyance, glamour, and frame of mind to specific the “camp” sensibilities in well known lifestyle. These ideas are explored through the range of matter make a difference that underscores the campiness in well-known tradition and day-to-day daily life. Reoccurring themes in my do the job incorporate camp, coloration, surplus, flamboyance, and mock-glamour.
- A recent do the job by Lauren Medford. (File picture)
SMN: Tell us about your new complete-time role with the Haywood County Arts Council.
LM: I started off at HCAC in November of 2020 part-time as a gallery attendant. As soon as [HCAC Executive Director] Morgan Beryl became our new director in the summertime of 2021, she moved me into a promoting and graphic layout posture. I was keen to produce new branding for HCAC and its new plans and occasions. I’m also the coordinator for the artist member plan.
At the conclusion of 2022, our volunteer gallery coordinator, Pamela Tiffany, introduced she was all set to acquire a step back again and devote additional time with spouse and children. Consequently, I was promoted to HCAC’s 1st-ever artwork and gallery manager.
I manage the Haywood Handmade gallery on 86 North Most important Street in Waynesville. This involves receiving new inventory for retail and displays, staging get the job done in retail, and working with our gallery volunteers and artist associates. I however generate all our marketing resources, oversee our social media platforms, web-site and coordinate the artist memberships. Each working day is various and I completely really like it that way.
SMN: What’s a little something you would notify individuals about HCAC they may not currently know?
LM: We present lots of prospects to our artist customers. HCAC also has numerous plans and gatherings for the group at-substantial from artwork workshops to the annual Smoky Mountains Bluegrass Festival. For much more information about our artist member chances, as effectively as the applications and occasions we provide, visit HCAC on line.
SMN: What is a person (or two or a few) parts of information you would give other feminine artists?
LM: Often hear to your intestine, not just in your art apply, but in lifetime. Listen to what individuals say, but be selective to whom you pay attention to. In no way permit everyone out-operate you — always be the toughest worker in the room.
Want to go?
The find out extra about upcoming functions, exhibits, and showcases at the Haywood County Arts Council, click on haywoodarts.org. For more on Lauren Medford and Showgirl Push, click on facebook.com/showgirlpress or go to her Instagram (@showgirlpress).
