Lauren McDowell
/ photography / theatre / visual art / acting / playwriting / multimedia art / writing / performance art / video art /
lauren378@gmail.com
Goodyear Arts Residency Proposal
In 50 to 150 words, please describe the work you would undertake during your residency and how it relates to your previous work.
In the dawn of image-generating technologies and amidst voluntary self-surveilling virtual realities, how does a camera function as an object in the physical world? How does its invasive gaze document the physical mechanisms of control, the visuality of the anthropocene, and hegemonic imperial structures as those forces lose their physicality? And how do we react and respond as referents in reality, the feeling of being “seen” by unseen technologies, and imbue those forces with meaning?
In my time at Goodyear, I hope to explore these themes through my combined interests in performance and photography: by creating an immersive installation that invites participants to look at structures of control and be looked at, both through the showcase of a photographic project and by showcasing images in sculptural ways that challenge viewers' willingness to engage with imagery and experience seeing and being seen.
ABOUT
Lauren McDowell (b. 1997, NC) is is a multimedia artist based in Charlotte whose work explores ecological relationships within the anthropocene, particularly the invisibility and hyper-visibility of the natural and unnatural world. (Art CV)
She is a graduate of the University of Southern California.
Lauren was a ‘23 a/perture cinema Picture Card Series artist for her work in video art and photography, a ‘22 Bechtler Museum Annemarie Schwarzenbach Photography Resident, and is a member of the Light Factory Center for Photographic Arts. Her photography has been shown at The Light Factory, The Bechtler Museum, Bakhita Arts, Petra’s Art Lounge, Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts, Lyndhurst Gallery, and the McDowell Arts Center.
Lauren was the ‘22 MTA award winner for best actress in a non-musical for her role in Proof at Fort Mill Community Playhouse dir. by Polly Adkins. She’s also worked most recently with XOXO Theatrical Productions in a staged reading and with Union County Playmakers last month, as well as with Main St. Theater Rock Hill, and Huntersville Arts & Cultural Center in the last year. She’s also a budding playwright and has written one act plays performed in Newberry and Rock Hill prod. by Main St. Theater. This is her first time joining the Union County Playmakers.
RELEVANT WORK SAMPLES:
‘RAT PIECE’
installation, video art, sculpture (2019)
Collaborative piece by artists Lauren McDowell and Lily Hader
Description: Visitors are asked to descend a subterranean staircase and peer into the small hole carved into the base of the small wooden dresser. Inside, they will find a small screen displaying an amalgamation of found footage depicting rats. While they watch the video, a camera within the dresser films them and projects a live feed of them onto the rear wall of the chamber, so that those at the top of the stairs can watch them watch the rats.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Shot on 35mm film & 120mm film ( 2021 - Present )
Description: structures of control / physicality of the camera / object oriented ontology / documentation of physical structures imperialism, anthropocene, violence of photographic gaze etc.
CLICK PHOTOS TO VIEW
‘WRITTEN ALL OVER US’
video art (2019)
Description: Artist directed video comprising of a compilation of stills, interview, scripted audio revolving around the ways the visuality of natural history informs the anthropocentric hierarchy of evolution. Object Oriented Ontology as conceptual framework. Theatrical screening at a/perture cinemas, Winston Salem, NC. April, 2023. Completed for Bachelor of Arts in Narrative Studies Capstone project while studying at the University of Southern California.
‘RUNNING WITH CAMCORDER IN MOUTH’
video/performance piece (2018)
Description: Artist runs through rocky terrain with a camcorder lodged in mouth. Video quality distorted due to camera inability to capture rapid movement and fixed zoom length. Audio is distorted, blowing out the mic with each rhythmic constrained breathing.
‘PHOTOGRAPHY PLAY’
One act play, unfinished (2023)
Description: When a notoriously ruthless photographer returns to their alma mater to guest curate a student show, a confrontation with a pair of image-makers throws the role and responsibilities of wielding a camera into question.
‘WATER PIECE’
performance 1 (2019)
Description: Performance art piece. Artist consumes the water within 8 sealed jars, each containing a stone gathered in a number of geographic and geological regions which have now produced a quantity of sediment within the container.
performance 2 (2019)
Description: Performance art piece. Artist absorbs a volume of spilled water using their own red tshirt, pants, socks, hair.