Newsroom

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Artist and author Sharon Louden will speak at Oregon State University to discuss her recent book, “The Artist as Culture Producer,” at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13, in the Construction & Engineering Auditorium at the LaSells Stewart Center, 875 S.W. 26^th Street.

The talk and Louden’s visit are part of the School of Arts & Communication’s Visiting Artist and Scholars Lecture Series. A reception with the artist will be held before the lecture at 6 p.m. in the Myrtle Tree Alcove at the LaSells Stewart Center. The event is free and open to the public.

“The Artist as Culture Producer: Living and Sustaining a Creative Life,” is a collection of essays by 40 visual artists, edited by Louden and published by Intellect Books.

The book describes how artists extend their practices outside of their studios. The first-hand stories show how contemporary artists of the 21^st century add to creative economies through their out-of-the-box thinking, while also generously contributing to the well-being of others. Louden explores the misconception that artists are invisible and hidden, showing the measurable and innovative outcomes they serve at the front lines of education, the non-profit sector and the corporate environment.

In a town-hall style forum, Louden will take questions, discuss what it means to be a contemporary artist and explore what “successful” means to different artists, including information from her book series about living and sustaining a creative life.

Topics that often come up in her presentations include: the roles artists play as change agents in the creative economy, models of sustaining creative lives in the public realm and redefining who a contemporary artist is today.

Louden's work is held in major public and private collections in the U.S. and abroad. She graduated with a bachelor of fine arts degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a master of fine arts degree from Yale University School of Art. Since graduating from Yale in 1991, Louden has worked as an artist, teacher and author. 

Her work has been exhibited in numerous venues around the country and has been written about in the New York Times, Art in America, Washington Post, Sculpture Magazine, ARTnews, Philadelphia Inquirer and other publications. She has participated in residencies at Tamarind Institute, Urban Glass, Franconia Sculpture Park, Society of the Four Arts and Art Omi.

Louden’s books will be available for sale at the event and she will be signing books following her presentation.

The Visiting Artists and Scholars Lecture series brings world-renowned artists and scholars to the OSU campus to interact with students in the art department so they can learn what is required of a professional artist or scholar. For more information, visit http://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/school-arts-and-communication/art/visiting-artists-and-scholars-vas-lecture-series and http://www.sharonlouden.com/.