Laura W. McClanahan
Photo/Video Abstractions
Hunterdon County New Jersey

Laura McClanahan practices art through an exploration of photographic media. Her process-oriented work includes photo abstractions, photograms, photo cut outs and video. Each new generative series redefines the meaning behind her work that focuses on change, altered perceptions and life source.



A recent MFA gradutae from Maryland Institute College of Art, her thesis show, "Chaos Patterns" was presented during the summer of 2007. Chaos Patterns is a study of water forms as a metapor for thought patterns. In the book Sensitive Chaos, by Theodore Swenk, he states, “Constant repetition is characteristic of water...so also of thinking. The activity of thinking is essentially an expression of flowing movement.” Laura states, "I am concerned with living only on the surface and I am trying to bring about awareness of this and move beyond surface thought into a deeper space".



Laura’s prior education in art includes studies at Bank Street College of Education, Parsons School of Design, and The School of Visual Arts in New York City. She also holds a BA from Lehigh University.


Laura is an art instructor at Rutgers Preparatory School, grades 9-12, in Somerset, NJ. She teaches courses in Computer Art, Architecture, Graphic Design, Web Design and Multimedia. Laura and her husband live in Hunterdon County, NJ where they are restoring a historic stone house.

EXHIBITIONS

2008                  Gallery 31 North, Glen Gardner, NJ

NARRATIVE EDGES, five-person exhibition

2008                          Gallery Imperato, Baltimore, MD

SUB-MERGE, two-person exhibition, gallery representation

2001- 2008          Winslow Bronson Exhibition Space, Rutgers Prep, Somerset, NJ

FACULTY EXHIBITION, Visual Art Department group exhibition

2007                          Fox 3 Gallery, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD

CHAOS PATTERNS, MFA thesis solo exhibition

2007                          Innovators Combating Substance Abuse, Quebec, Canada

ART & ADDICTION, juried art exhibition

2007                          Innovators Combating Substance Abuse, Washington, DC

ART & ADDICTION, juried art exhibition

2007                          The Center for Emerging Visual Artists, Philadelphia, PA

MICA 9 IN PHILLY, MFA in Studio Art –Class of ‘07

2006                          Fox 3 Gallery, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD

                                                      2^nd/3^rd YEAR MFA exhibition

2006                          Rabbet Gallery, New Brunswick, NJ  

                                                      DRIVING LANDSCAPES, CAR WASH, prints on consignment        

2006                          Phillips’ Mill, New Hope, PA

PHOTOGRAPHY AS ART AND PHOTOGRAPHER AS ARTIST

14^th Annual Juried photography exhibition

Juror: Sheryl Conkelton (director of Exhibitions at Tyler School of Art)

2006                          Artist’s Gallery, Lambertville, NJ

REMAINS & RECONSIDERATIONS, Two-person exhibition

2005–2006              Artist’s Gallery, Lambertville, NJ

                                                      Artist member, monthly group exhibitions

2005                          Dani and Johnny’s Exhibition Space, High Bridge, NJ

                                                      INSIDE LOOKING OUT/OUTSIDE LOOKING IN, solo exhibition

2005                          Buck's Exhibition Space, Lambertvillle, NJ

                                                      INSIDE LOOKING OUT/OUTSIDE LOOKING IN, solo exhibition

2005                          Delaware Center for Contemporary Arts, Wilmington, DE

                                                      MFA BIENNIAL Exhibition

2005                          Prailsville Mill, Stockton, NJ

Juried exhibition

2005                          Gallery 125, Trenton, NJ

A WINTERY MIX, juried exhibition, all media,

2004                          Los Angeles Center for Digital Arts, Los Angeles, CA

                                                      SNAP TO GRID, group exhibition

2004                          Prailsville Mill, Stockton, NJ

Juried exhibition

2003                          Saraswati River Yoga School, New Hope, PA

Fine art sale

2003                          Phillips’ Mill, New Hope, PA

PHOTOGRAPHY AS ART AND PHOTOGRAPHER AS ARTIST

11^th Annual Juried photography exhibition

2002-2003               Artsbridge Gallery, Lambertville, NJ Artist Member, group exhibitions