Lauren Rouatt is an artist and educator in New Orleans, LA. Inspired by the patterns, textures, colors, and cycles of nature, her teaching practice and art practice weave together and inform one another. Rooted in the belief that working with our hands brings us presence, joy, and learning, Lauren approaches her work with a focus on process.

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Lauren's teaching practice integrates science education with a hands-on learning through artistic inquiry. Whether investigating color mixing, healthy ecosystems, or the magical diversity of plants and animals, Lauren integrates literacy into the classroom through reading stories to inspire and inform students' artmaking. As children explore clay, papermaking, printmaking, painting with natural inks, or textiles, she approaches teaching holistically, building on each child's strengths and interests.

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Lauren's art practice has taken many forms, primarily printmaking, collage, and ceramics. Inspired by plants, animals, geometry, lifecycles, and intuitive expression, Lauren's work explores ideas in connection with science, philosophy, and mental health.

EDUCATION

Virginia Commonwealth University

Master of Art Education

& K-12 Teaching Licensure

Richmond, VA

Graduated December 2015

 

Tulane University

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art

Major: Printmaking

Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy

New Orleans, LA

Graduated May 2012, Cum Laude
 

EXPERIENCE

NOLA Nature School

New Orleans, LA

K/1st Grade Teacher
August 2020 - Present

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Byrdie's Pottery Studio

New Orleans, LA 

Wheelthrowing Teacher

May 2018 - present

Managing Board Member

November 2017 - present

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Louisiana Children's Museum

New Orleans, LA

Studio in the Park Manager

August 2019 - August 2020

Planned, organized, and implemented process-based visual art programming for museum visitors ages birth-8 and their caregivers, inspired by the Reggio Emilia teaching philosophy. 

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Longue Vue House and Gardens

New Orleans, LA

Director of Youth Education & Programming

September 2018 - Present

Planned and facilitated garden education programming for schools, children, and families in Longue Vue's educational garden.

Previously: Education Manager, Summer Camp Director, Camp Educator

2015-2018

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Mini Art Center

Teaching Artist

New Orleans, LA  /  2016-2019

Facilitated open studio hours, toddler "flubber friday," summer and day camps, and afterschool classes. 

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Community Works

Teaching Artist - Printmaking

New Orleans, LA  /  January - May 2016

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The Contemporary Arts Center

Teaching Artist (Visual Arts, Culinary Arts, Field Trips)

New Orleans, LA  /  2015 - 2017

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Bellevue Elementary School &

Douglas Freeman High School

Student Teacher

Richmond, VA  / Fall 2015

Developed and implemented curricula to grades K-5, and high school Art 2, Art 4, and Art 5 students.

 

Clover Hill High School & Binford Middle School

Secondary Practicum

Midlothian & Richmond, VA  / Spring 2015

Developed and implemented a unit for a multi-level video class. Developed and implemented an arts integrated curriculum in a middle-school Spanish classroom.

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Discovery Camp

Co-Instructor - Recycled Papermaking

Richmond, VA / Summer 2014

EXHIBITIONS / PRESENTATIONS

Workshop Educator - Plastic Bag Rope

The Green Project

Ogden Museum of Southern Art

New Orleans, LA  /  2018-2019

Taught several workshops in collaboration with "Trashtronaut" Brett Gardner to teach participants how to make rope out of plastic bags using a handmade rope-twisting device. Rope has been used to make jump ropes, plant hangers, Mardi Gras throw necklaces, and more.

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Hand-Pulled; Hand-Thrown

5 Press Gallery / New Orleans, LA / May-June 2017

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Antheia

Annunciation Hall Gallery / New Orleans, LA / May-June 2017

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HER: Exploring the Talents of Women in the Arts

Magazine St Art Market / New Orleans, LA / February 2017

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Vessels of Resistance

Potence Collective Gallery / New Orleans, LA / January 2017

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Rebirth Arts Festival / Exhibiting Artist

as a part of GrassRoots Artists NOLA / August 2016

Exhibited an interactive installation and hosted a "Listen, Y'all."

storytelling event at Rebirth Arts Festival in Easton, CT.

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Krewe of King James / Float & Throw Design Leader

2016-2018

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National Art Education Association Convention

Presented Research / New Orleans, LA / 2015

"How did we get here? Personal journeys into art education." (with Buffington, M., Kahari, M., Ogier, E., & Williams, A.)

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We Are Creatures / Puppeteer

Richmond, VA / Spring 2015

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Disability Advocacy Day

Presenter / VCU / Richmond, VA / Spring 2014

 

Undergraduate Juried Exhibition

Selected / New Orleans, LA / Tulane University 2010, 2012

 

AWARDS

VCU Graduate Student Travel Grant Award

Awarded funds to travel and present research at NAEA convention

in New Orleans, LA

Spring 2015

 

RELATED EXPERIENCE

Virginia Commonwealth University

Graduate Assistant

Richmond, VA

Fall 2013 - Spring 2015

Assisted VCU Art Education professors with research, curriculum development, and teaching needs.  Aided in the implementation of and data collection for CurrentLab, a research initiative devoted to

the development of digital arts education.

 

Visual Arts Center

Volunteer

Richmond, VA

Summer 2014 - Spring 2015

 

Art180

Volunteer

Richmond, VA

Spring 2014 - Spring 2015

 

Carver Elementary School

Volunteer Mentor

Richmond, VA

Spring 2014 - Spring 2015

 

The Museum of Modern Art

Intern

Education Department / Teen Programs

New York, NY

Summer 2010

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CERTIFICATION

Post-Graduate Professional License, VA

Completed December 2015

 

PRAXIS II (Art: Content Knowledge)

 

Adult/Pediatric CPR & AED Certified