Lauren Lortie wants people to know art is making a comeback at Cape Symphony. An accomplished practicing artist with a focus on painting, she took her first art classes here at age five, “so this is my home, in a way.”
The education branch of Cape Symphony was known as Cape Conservatory then, and with the pandemic following the name change, its art program experienced a bit of a lull. Lauren is passionate about bringing it back. “Art is here at Cape Symphony,” she says. “It is valued, and it’s making a resurgence. Art and music belong together.”
Since those early days, Lauren has studied at The School of The Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University (Studio Diploma), Massachusetts College of Art and Design (BFA), and earned her Master’s in Fine Arts at the LeRoy E. Hoffberger School of Painting at Maryland Institute College of Art. She’s “done it all… realism, portraits, technical work, printmaking.” Her current project is a series of 5’ x 6’ paintings she calls “10 UFOs,” inspired in part by classic 20th century sci-fi. “I’m thinking of things we build and the control I have over them, while also tapping into that human desire for escapism,” reads the statement on her website, in part.
Lauren works with the Cape Symphony Preschool as an Assistant Teacher and Art Specialist, and will teach several art classes for children and young adults at Cape Symphony this summer. Teaching young people is important to her. “When a young student has a good teacher, they’ll keep trying things as they grow,” she says. “Sometimes an older student will say ‘I can’t,’ and that’s because someone, sometime, told them that. If they had good teachers and encouragement when they were young, they’ll keep trying new things.”
Even her youngest students inspire her daily. Recently, she looked on as a preschooler was working hard on a project. “You’re a very good painter,” she observed. “Artist,” he corrected, without pause. Indeed!
A typical day will find Lauren working in her home studio well into the evening. She’d like her students to know “that I make art every day, that I’m one of them. Some students don’t see their teachers as makers as well. It raises the bar a little when they do.”
Lauren teaches in a way that’s tailored to her students’ strengths and interests, using multiple media. Having worked in art school admissions, she can provide guidance with portfolios.
Beyond artistic skill, Lauren says her students build self-confidence, self-image and self-esteem. “To see yourself as capable works wonders. Especially for teenagers, to find their niche in art… it changes people. If you have the art bug, you never lose it. It is always with you. You can’t not make art.”
***
Lauren Lortie will teach Painting, Drawing, and Art Studio at Cape Symphony’s West Barnstable campus this summer, beginning July 12. Browse all our summer art offerings here.
