Basic Information

• Artist Statement

  In Mississippi and Louisiana where I live, the vibrant gumbo of cultures has had a delicious influence on me. Life is short, so from joyful adventures to tragic events, we find many occasions for champagne cork popping celebrations. As a self-taught artist, I embrace these experiences to help strengthen and grow my creative practice. Inspired by the works of French symbolist and surrealists, painting offers a wonderful variety of mediums and flexibility for exploring and embracing art as a powerful natural therapy.
  
  Who knew that my art alter ego would be a bald male marionette? The Unstrung Marionette appeared on my canvas last summer insisting that he wanted to be painted foot loose and fancy free, no strings attached. In a case of "be careful what you ask for" we now follow his adventures as he tries to keep it all together. In paintings like “I Got This” we see him, chest held high with leg slung over his shoulder, leaving the colourful swirl of chaos behind, and we cheer for him. With the exception of one finger, a shoe, and his hat, he’s almost “got this!” Even though I did not understand at first why he needed to be painted, in oil at that, the message came through quite clearly in his name. The initials for Marion Etoile (whose last name means star in French) are M.E. The popularity of this series shows that many of us can appreciate and find the humour in how even our best efforts to keep it all together sometimes goes awry.
  

• Resume

  Lynn Laird - Lynn Laird Fine Arts, LLC
  
  Current
  
  •Bloom! Art Exhibition - R. W. Norton Art Gallery (upcoming March 2018)
  •Artists Friendships and Support - Featured Article - Shreveport Times - 2018
  •Collectible Artist - Culture Crush - Shreveport Regional Arts Council - 2017
  •Roster Artist - Shreveport Regional Arts Council -2017
  •#UncommonMural - 1 of 12 murals selected - SRAC - Shreveport, LA - 2017
  •Embrace - Therapeutic Art for Breast Cancer Patients - Featured Article in Shreveport Times by Tiana Kennel - 2017
  •Artist in Residence - Creativity Center - Bossier City, La - 2016 to 2017
  •HOSTS (Highland Open Studio Tours) - Shreveport, La - 2016 to present
  
  Solo Exhibitions & Features
  
  •Pleasure Pixies Beckon You to Highland Table - Shreveport, LA - 2016
  •In the Studio - Feature Article in Shreveport Times by Tiana Kennel - 2016
  •Blooms – Featured Artist for WAM (Wine-Art-Music) at 1800° Prime - 2015
  •Vauxdoux & Southern Folk Lore w/ Karen LaBeau - Norsworthy Gallery 2015
  •Southern Heritage - Feature article Shreveport Times by Tori Ladd July 2015
  •Improvisational Pastel Painting on stage to Tchaikovsky’s Romeo & Juliet performed by Shreveport Symphony 2015
  •ARTini - Featured Artist – Horseshoe Casino Riverdome
  •Artist Brings Solace - Feature Article in the Shreveport Times
  •Incognito Artist Demonstrates - Feature Article in the Marshall News Messenger
  •Follow That Octopus - Main Gallery Solo Exhibit - East Bank Gallery–Louisiana
  •Sightz & Soundz, Bistro Byronz – Featured Artist - Shreveport, Louisiana
  •Giftspace/Café@Artspace Artist of the Month – Shreveport, Louisiana
  •Local Artist Goes Green by Shelli Brieri KTAL 6 Ark-La-Tex News -Louisiana
  
  Awards
  
  •Behind The Mask (2nd place, 3rd Place) East Bank Gallery - Louisiana
  •Spring Arts Festival (Best in Category) Creative Arts Connection – Louisiana
  •Perspectives:NWLA Through the Lens (Honorable Mention) -East Bank Gallery
  •Spring Arts Festival: (1st Place) - Creative Arts Connection Louisiana
  •The Miniature Show (2nd Place & Honorable Mention) – CAC - Louisiana
  
  Art Installation
  
  •Pernod on Parade - Illustration transferred to Mardi Gras float for Krewe of Barkus and Meaux for guided painting by members - Shreveport, LA 2017
  •Installed an homage to mathematician and author, Aro, creating an artwork encompassing the entire Municipal Auditorium arena 255ft x 15ft in a binary coded message expressed through color - Shreveport Memorial Municipal Auditorium - Louisiana
  
  Gallery and Art Market Representation
  
  •The Agora Borealis - Shreveport, LA 2016 to present
  •Gingko Leaf Gallery - Marshall, Tx 2015 to 2018
  •Giftspace@Artspace - Shreveport, LA 2016 to present
  
  
  Juried/Invitation Events
  
  •Stripped Away, Exploring the Human Form - East Bank Gallery - 2016
  •Painted Violins – Shreveport Symphony Orchestra – Shreveport, Louisiana
  •Unscene – Rich Table Event – 8 x 16’ Mural of Poppies on an Italian Hillside
  •Art Exposition – Norsworthy Gallery, Shreveport, Louisiana
  •Central Art Station Grand Opening Exhibit - NOLA Entrepreneurial participants
  •Central Art Station – Photography from Uncommon Safari exhibited
  •Shreveport Uncommon Safari - Photography Exhibit – Artspace – Louisiana
  •Look But Don’t Touch - East Bank Gallery - Louisiana
  •ARTini – Bossier Arts Council - Bossier City, Louisiana
  •Annual Winter Juried Show - Creative Arts Connection - Louisiana
  •Fleur de Artiste – Karpeles Manuscript Library, Louisiana
  •POP! Exhibit – Artspace – Shreveport, Louisiana
  •LPB Arts & Travel - Baton Rouge, Louisiana
  •ARTini – Bossier Arts Council Bossier City, Louisiana
  •The Money Show– West Edge Artist Co-op - Artspace, - Louisiana
  
  Juried Markets/Festivals
  
  • Artwalk - Shreveport Downtown Development Auth - 2017
  •HOSTS (Highland Open Studio Tours) - Shreveport, LA - 2016 to present
  •Heart the Art Street Party/Open Studios - Bossier City, LA - 2016, 2017
  •Downtown TNT Trolley Tour & Street Faire - Shreveport, LA
  •WEAco Fine Arts Market - West Edge Artist Co-op - Boardwalk, Louisiana
  •Giftspace at Artspace
  •Deck the Halls Market – Artspace - Shreveport, Louisiana
  •Jackson Hole Fine Arts Festival (collaboration) - Jackson , Wyoming
  •Red Earth (collaboration)– Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
  •Red River Revel (collaboration) – Shreveport, Louisiana
  
  Group Exhibits
  
  •Critical Mass V! - Artspace - Shreveport, Louisiana
  •Critical Mass V - Artspace - Shreveport, Louisiana
  •Critical Mass IV - Artspace - Shreveport, Louisiana
  •Critical Mass III – Artspace – Shreveport, Louisiana
  •Critical Mass II – Artspace – Shreveport, Louisiana
  •Critical Mass I – Artspace – Shreveport, Louisiana
  •Impromptu - Artspace – Shreveport, Louisiana
  •The Love Show -East Bank Gallery & Theater – Bossier City, Louisiana
  •12x12 - East Bank Gallery & Theater – Bossier City, Louisiana
  •City Wide Gallery -West Edge Artists Co-op – Louisiana
  •The Spirit of Elvis Has Not Left the Building – Shreveport Municipal Auditorium
  •Perspectives: The Holy Cross Church – Heritage Manor Gallery – Louisiana
  
  Demonstrations & Workshops
  
  •Scrimshaw Demonstrations for regional shooting clubs and events in LA-Ark-Tx-MS
  •Artists at Play: Gyotaku Inspired Printing Textures/mixed media -
  •Artists at Play: Stretching Our Drawing Muscles -
  •Art Affair in the Garden: Scrimshaw – Barnwell Garden and Art Center -
  •Spring Arts Festival: Scrimshaw - Creative Arts Connection - Louisiana
  •September Presentation: Scrimshaw - Creative Arts Connection - Louisiana
  •Mindenhall Peacemaker SASS Shooters: Scrimshaw – Jackson, Mississippi
  •Ark-La-Tex Gun and Knife Show: Scrimshaw – Shreveport, Louisiana
  •Dallas Market Hall Gun Show: Scrimshaw – Dallas, Texas
  •Jackson Hole Native American Fine Arts Festival-Scrimshaw-Jackson Hole, WY
  •Red Earth: Scimshaw – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
  
  Scrimshaw Limited Editions/Series
  
  •50th Anniv Clark .45 Limited Edition , Clark Custom Guns – Louisiana
  •The Knife Maker - Dan Graves- Dixie Gardens, Louisiana
  •Growling Grizzly Lmt Edition, Paul Hacker Flutes and Knives – Wyoming
  •Custer and Sitting Bull Lmt Edition, Paul Hacker Flutes and Knives – Oklahoma
  •Whispering Wolves Limited Edition, Paul Hacker Flutes and Knives - Oklahoma
  
  Community Involvement
  
  Freelance Writer/Columnist - The Forum News 2010 to present
  Columnist - City Life Magazine - 2010 to 2017
  DAF Grant Panelist 2015, 2017
  ARTini Committee - Bossier Arts Council - 2016 to present
  Friends of the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium - Board/Fund Raising Chair 2003-2013
  West Edge Artist Co-op - Board
  
  Meet me at fb.me/LynnLairdFineArts and Instagram @LynnLairdFineArts