This is the first of a series of Bulletin profiles of and about artists who live, work or have roots in Bolton Hill. If you are an artist or want to recommend one, please send a note to bulletin@boltonhhillmd.org. Bolton Hill’s Francine Marchese, who is curating the series, is a visual artist who teaches young children in Montgomery County public schools.
There are moments we occasionally experience in our everyday lives that bring up memories of something familiar or known. When this happens, we feel a connection to ourselves, the past, our community. The photorealistic work of artist Lauren R. Lyde brings this phenomenon to us, as we, the viewers, are offered a glimpse into the magic of a moment. Lauren’s recent work, portrayals of children, invites the viewer to ponder the associations that the images elicit from our own memories of childhood and family life.
Lauren’s canvases are based on photographs shared with her from family and friends, and they were chosen because they resonated with her in a meaningful way. Every painting has a story, and the stories are poignant. Yet even without the artist’s narrative, the images themselves have much to tell us. Images of a baby at the beach in his daddy’s arms, a little girl sitting in a field of dandelions, young children peeking into a sewer drain, all of these images of everyday life are expertly rendered, and we notice, above all, that they are depicted with love and respect.
“My paintings and drawings evoke the wonder and exploration of childhood as a starting point to draw attention to the social and political realities of children today,” she said. “I seek to challenge the idea that some children are more deserving than others.”
Lauren grew up in Baltimore and studied both here and in New York. A former resident of Bolton Hill, Lauren earned her master’s degree in Community Arts at MICA. Throughout her schooling and journey as an art student and artist, teaching children has played an important and influential role.
Teaching predominantly in after-school programs for young children, including some time at Dorothy I. Height Elementary in Reservoir Hill, Lauren has integrated lessons in community, collaboration, responsibility and respect into art lessons and projects. She is thoughtful about her work with children, understanding that it’s not just artistic skills she is teaching, but also the way to be an artist, a community member and an empathetic person. Her students learn about taking care of art materials, taking care of the studio space and taking care of each other.
Making art with children has kept her attuned to the spirit of childhood, and that connection resonates in her solitary work as a painter. At the intersection of her work as a teacher and as an artist lies a painting entitled “Me Too Please.” This painting depicts three children in a school setting, helping each other tie-on aprons. As is the entirety of her body of work, “Me Too Please” is aesthetically pleasing in color and composition, and it offers an engaging story that emphasizes unity and teamwork.
Two of Lauren’s most recent solo exhibitions, The View from Here and The Collective Wonder of Being There, highlighted her body of work in this genre. You can view these works on https://www.laurenrlyde.art/ and contact her there, as well. You’ll also find other samples of her work on the BHCA Instagram page.
–Francine Marchese
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