Teaching

January 2018-present

Program Coordinator, Interdisciplinary Art and Design Studies (IADS)

Art Education and Art History Department

College of Visual Arts & Design

University o North Texas (Denton, TX)

·       advise, mentor and provide academic support for IADS majors.

·       review UNT student applications for IADS program and advise student degree plans.

·       propose new offerings and program support for IADS majors.

·       represent the IADS program at meetings and events.

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August 2018-Present

          Senior Lecturer, Interdisciplinary Art and Design Studies (IADS)

August 2016­–August 2018

            Lecturer, Interdisciplinary Art and Design Studies (IADS)

            University of North Texas (Denton, TX)

            Art Education + Art History Department

·       teach IADS courses, AEAH 4899 IADS Capstone/Special Topics in IADS, 4814 Art and

        Business and undergraduate advanced art history courses.

·       advising and mentoring IADS majors with degree plans, internships, and career development.

·       Develop course curriculum, assessments, and course materials based on institutional learning               objectives that use active, practice-based, and service learning projects.

·       develop innovative partnerships with university, industry, and community organizations to create           educational and career opportunities for IADS majors.

 

August 2015–August 2016

            Adjunct Professor

            University of North Texas (Denton, TX)

            Art Education + Art History Department

·       teach ART 1300 Art Appreciation for non-majors, ART 1301 Honors, and ART 4813                

        Postmodernism in the Visual Arts through face-to-face instruction according to institutional

        objectives and core assessment tools, as well as using online Blackboard integration assignments.

·       teach ART 1300 Online Art Appreciation for non-majors through Blackboard according to

         institutional objectives and core assessment tools.

·       develop course curriculum, assessments, and course materials based on institutional learning

        objectives, and that use active and practice-based learning strategies to meet diverse student

        needs.

        manage the educational support contributed by approximately three to five Teaching Assistants.

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August 2012-May 2014

August 2010-May 2011

            Adjunct Professor, Art Appreciation & Humanities

            Ranger College, Ranger, TX

            Fine Arts Department

• teach face-to-face, ITV, and online Art Appreciation courses, including units on Photography, Visual Literacy, New Media, and the elements and principles of design.

• Teach online Humanities courses including units on fine art, music, and philosophy.

• develop course curriculum, assessments, and course materials for courses.

• create special class experiences to engage directly with art or the humanities.

 

August 2010–Current

Graduate Teaching Assistant

Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX

Women’s Studies Department

• design course marketing posters for U.S. Women of Colors course and for departmentally-sponsored events.

• teach and assist both online and face-to-face WS courses, such as, Gender & Social Change: An Introduction into Multicultural Women’s Studies & U.S. Women of Colors.

• develop curriculum, assessments, and course materials for courses addressing specific issues on diversity and inclusion.

• invite guest lecturers and speakers to discuss special topics.

 

August 2008-May 2010

            Adjunct Professor, Digital Imaging/Graphic Design

Stonehill College, Easton, MA

• manage and create curriculum for digital-imaging/graphic design courses.

• teach one or two Introduction to Digital Imaging courses.

• provide insight and feedback for departmental course objectives.

• prepare professional development materials for students interested in the graphic design field.

 

January 2010- May 2010

            Adjunct Professor, Graphic Design

            Mount Ida College, Newton, MA

• create curriculum for sophomore-level graphic design course.

• prepare and manage students for sophomore portfolio review, which decides whether students can advance in the graphic design program.

• provide insight and feedback for departmental course objectives.

• organize guest lectures with noted graphic designers and media arts professionals in the Boston area.

• curated Fashion Design Illustration contest with the Fashion Design department.

 

 

Work Experience

 

November 2012-present

Founder/Curator

WoCA Projects, Fort Worth, Texas

• manage, direct, and develop artistic programming, such as art exhibitions, which promotes diversity through the visual arts and highlight women artists of color.

• oversee fundraising campaigns and fiscal budgets.

• oversee, edit, and proofread gallery press releases and promotional materials.

• coordinate marketing outlets for the gallery through social  and print media,

• oversee local art events, such as artist receptions, lectures, and panels.

 

January 2003-present

            Fine Artist

            Lauren Cross Studio, Dallas/Fort Worth, TX & Boston, MA

• create conceptual-based art using interdisciplinary mediums such as, photography, print media, time-based media, and mixed-media installations.

• address themes that relate to race and gender identity, popular culture, media representations, historic events & narratives, and the “collective” experience.

• curate group and solo exhibitions.

 

August 2009-present

Film Director & Producer

Maes House Productions, Dallas/Fort Worth, TX

• research and develop new film projects.

• develop production schedules and appointments for film projects.

• develop videography and editing for film projects.

• hire assistants and contract artists for film projects.

• promote and market film projects to publications, film festivals, programmers, and institutions.

• strategize and organize film distribution into diverse markets.

 

May 2006-present

            Principal Designer & Photographer

            Shalom Images Enterprises, Dallas/Fort Worth, TX

• produce art-inspired event and portrait photography.

• create in-print marketing products (i.e., advertisements, flyers, posters) for art non-profit organizations, artists, and musicians.

• produce layouts for independent publishing projects and strategically design brand identity products, such as logos, web designs, and other marketing materials.

• design music packaging and authoring products for indie musicians and filmmakers, such CDs & DVDs.

 

January 2009-December 2009

Editorial Research & Marketing Associate

Glimpse Journal, Cambridge, MA

• research, manage, and recruit potential contributing writers and artists to the publication.

• write articles, interviews, and reviews for publishing.

• develop ideas and direction on editorial and image content for each issue at

editorial team meetings.

• contribute feedback and direction on the overall design and image of the publication.

• provide marketing and promotional consultation to increase publication visibility and influence of the brand identity.

 

February 2008-September 2009

Director of Gallery & Museum Advertising

Art New England magazine, Boston, MA

• manage, design, edit, proofread, and copyedit gallery and museum advertising for publication.

• develop relationships with local arts institutions as the community liaison for the publication.

• manage and sell advertising accounts to regional art galleries and museums.

• research and recruit new clients for gallery and museum advertising.

• organize and manage media sponsorships and partnerships with local arts galleries and museums for the publication through events and media sponsorships.

 

January 2009- May 2009

            Curatorial/Exhibitions Intern

            Axiom Center for New and Experimental Media, Boston, MA

• assist with installation and de-installation of season exhibitions.

• offer gallery tours of exhibitions.

• manage all artist materials for exhibitions (i.e., CVs, images, statements).

• maintain gallery space pre and post exhibition.

• assist with curatorial process in the creation of exhibitions, and exhibition space design.

 

June 2003- August 2003

         Photographer & Graphic Design Intern, Recreation Division

         U.S. Department of Interior

         Bureau of Land Management

         Boise, ID

• photographed regional recreation sites featuring the grounds and recreationists.

• located recreational landmarks using geographical mapping.

• designed brochures and promotional materials for regional recreation sites.

 

Documentaries

 

Directed/Produced

2010 Mae’s House Productions, director/producer, “The Skin Quilt Project.”

 

Featured

2007 Harvard Graduate School of Education, featured artist in ”Young Artists-As-Activists.”

 

Bibliography

 

Mariani, Anthony, “Third Annual Visionary Awards.” Fort Worth Weekly. 2013 March 20.

Women’s Caucus for Art. “Bound.” exhibition catalog. New York, NY, February 2013.

Stephens, Andrea. “TWU doctoral student tackles colorism, quilting, forgotten black traditions. TWU Lasso. 2010 October 21.

Stiman, Meaghan. “Lauren Cross.” Intersexions,” exhibition catalog, Cushing Martin Gallery at Stonehill College. November 9-December 11,2009.

Tseng, Hsiang-Ching. “Junko Revival shows trash can be turned into beautiful art.” Allston-Brighton Tab. 2009 July 20.

Wulff, June. “Piece by piece.” Boston Globe. 2010 October 26

 

Arts-Based Lectures & Presentations

 

2018

 

2018 National African American Studies & Affiliates Conference (Dallas, TX)

“ African American Women Artists and the Texas Experience”

Paper Presentation

 

2018 Design Principles and Practice Conference (Barcelona, Spain)

“ In Search of ‘Design Without Designers’: African American womanism and ‘everyday’ designs”

Paper Presentation

 

2018 Art and Society Conference (Vancouver, Canada)

“The Community Speaks: Visitor Responses to WoCA Projects”

Paper Presentation

 

Art with a Voice, Center for Creative Connections at the Dallas Museum of Art (Dallas, TX), Panelist

 

Women Artists Shows. Salons. Societies/AWARE Symposum (Location: TBA)

“In Search of Four Women, Four Cultures: Baxter Art Gallery and the Cross-Cultural Women Exhibition”

Paper Presentation

 

2017

         College of Visual Arts & Design at the University of North Texas (Denton, TX)

         North Texas Digital Fabrication Symposium

         “Digital Fabrication, Digital Pedagogy & the Digital Humanities”

         Panelist

        

         Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth & Art Tooth (Fort Worth, TX)

         “Mind the Gap: On Race & Cultural Equity Panel”

         Moderator

 

         Gallery 76102 at the University of Texas at Arlington (Arlington, TX)

         “Making Waves/Moving Minds” Mini Symposium”

          Moderator

 

         Beats and Deats! Pecha Kucha (Fort Worth, TX)

“Blackberry Molasses: The Black Body as Sugar & Spice in the Work of African American Artists”

Pecha Kucha Presentation

 

North Texas Digital Fabrication Symposium (Denton, TX)

“Digital Fabrication, Digital Pedagogy & the Digital Humanities”

Paper Presentation

 

2016

         Transcultural Exchange

         International Conference on Opportunities in the Arts (Boston, MA)

“Envisioning Opportunities for Change:  Socially-Engaged Art at International Residencies”

         Round Table Discussion Presenter

 

2015

Minding the Field: Exploring and Expanding Women’s and Gender Studies in North Texas Symposium at the University of Texas at Arlington Central Library (Arlington, TX)

“Transdisciplinary in Public: Art Exhibitions and Curating as Women’s Studies Distribution in North Texas”

         Paper Presentation

        

         Tarrant County College North West Campus Library (Fort Worth, TX)

         Visual & Performing Arts Department

         “Educational Landscape Series”

         Artist Talk

        

         CVAD Preview Day at the University of North Texas (Denton, TX)

Art History Faculty: “Living Art History: Making and Creating Art Historical Narratives”

         Presentation

 

         Texas Woman’s University (Denton, TX)

         Research Briefings, Department of Women’s Studies

          “Curating Opportunity: The Politics of Art and Social Change”

         Paper Presentation

2014

         National Women’s Studies Association

         Annual Conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico

“Women’s and Gender Studies as Womanist Curatorial Practice: On Being a Artist-Curator-WS scholar and Using Non-profit Artspaces for Social Justice”

         Paper presentation

 

2013

         Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX

         Global Connections Event

         “Global Art, Activism & Social Justice” documentary screening & panel

         Panelist

 

         Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX

         WS 2013 Course Panel Discussion on ‘Women Creating Culture”

         Panelist

 

         University of North Texas, Denton, TX & WoCA Projects, Fort Worth, TX

         Graduate Museum Education Program

         Speaker

 

         University of North Texas, Denton, TX

         Art Education Secondary Methods course

         Lecturer

 

2011

         Museum of African Diaspora, San Francisco, CA

         The Skin Quilt Project: Film Screening and Discussion

         “Documenting The Skin Quilt Project” presentation

 

2010

         Wheelock College, Boston, MA

         The Skin Quilt Project: Uplifting Our Culture, Celebrating Tradition.

         Film Screening & Panel Discussion

         “Documenting The Skin Quilt Project” presentation

        

         Rice University, Houston, TX

         Hearts, Hands, and Heritage: The Patchwork Soul of Women

         Panel Discussion: Panelist

         “The Story Behind The Skin Quilt Project” presentation

        

         Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX

         The Skin Quilt Project: Film Screening and Discussion

         “Documenting The Skin Quilt Project” presentation

 

         Michigan State University, Lansing, MI

   Unpacking Collections: The Legacy of African American Quilt Scholar Cuesta Benberry Symposium

         Film Screening and Discussion

         “Documenting The Skin Quilt Project” presentation

          Stonehill College, Easton, MA        

         Film Screening & Discussion

        

         New England Quilt Museum, Lowell, MA

         Lowell Film Commission

         Film Screening & Discussion

 

         Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University

         MFA in Visual Arts

         Artist Talk: “ Lauren Cross: The Representation of Colorism Narratives in Art”

 

2009

         Auburn University, Auburn, AL

         Gender Studies Department

         “The Making of The Skin Quilt Project” lecture & discussion

 

         Stonehill College, Easton, MA

         Intersexions: Artist Panel

 

Publications

 

Refereed

 

Books

Cross, Lauren. African American Women Artists and the Fiber Tradition: A Social Impact in History and Practice. University Press of Mississippi (In Progress).

​

Book Chapter

Cross, Lauren. “Mothers-for-natural-hair: The Afro-cyberella’s Social Media Guide to

Afrocentric Hair,” Mothering and Literacies. Ed(s). Linda Shuford Evans and Amanda Richey. Bradford: Demeter Press, 2013.

Cross, Lauren. “WoCA Projects, An Artist Intervention Building Community,” Feminism and Museums:  Intervention, Disruption and Change. Ed. Jenna Ashton. Cambridge: MuseumsEtc, 2017

 

Non-Refereed

Book Manuscript

Cross, Lauren. #teamnatural: art, social media and african american hair. McFarland Publishing (In Progress).

 

Op-ed Articles

Cross, Lauren, “Color-Struck: Quilting and Colorism in the African-American Community.” Glimpse Journal 2.3 (2009).

Cross, Lauren, “Interview: Hewlett-Packard Color Scientist, Nathan Maroney.” Glimpse Journal 2.3 (2009)

Cross, Lauren, “(Re)view: Mahjong at the Peabody Essex Museum.” Glimpse Journal 2.2 (2009)

 

Blogs/Social Media

Cross, Lauren, editor & writer, CVAAD Projects, www.cvaadprojects.com 2009-current

Cross, Lauren, editor & writer, Lauren Cross Art, www.laurenecross.com 2008-

current.

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Arts-Related Research

August 2014-December 2014

WoCA Projects, Building Communities Through Exhibitioning: Curating and Creating Spaces for Women Artists of Color

Principal Researcher, Women’s Studies (advised by Dr. Claire Sahlin)

Texas Woman’s University (Denton, TX)

·       recruited and conducted visitor studies using on-site surveys and internet surveys for non-profit art gallery, WoCA Projects, which helped to identify the institution’s diverse “observing communities” and to understand nuanced visitor experiences with exhibitions.

·       recruited and conducted open-ended interviews with curators in museums, non-profit artspaces, alternative spaces, commercial galleries, and cultural centers about their curatorial strategies, and how they see their exhibitions impact visitors.

 

June 2014-August 2014

Lend Us Your Voice

Graduate Research Assistant, Health Studies (assisting Dr. Kimberly Parker)

Texas Woman’s University (Denton, TX)

·       assist Health Studies faculty member with research on women of African descent, risk-taking in sexual practices, and HIV.

·       transcribe participant interviews for analysis and development into arts-based approaches to community health education.

·       code transcriptions using data coding manual and assist with qualitative data analysis.

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June 2012-August 2012

Graduate Research Assistant, Health Studies (assisting Dr. Kimberly Parker)

Texas Woman’s University

• assist Health Studies faculty member with research on African American women, risk-taking in sexual practices, and HIV/AIDS.

• researching funding opportunities for HIV/AIDS research.

• Research and assist in the development of creative interventions for the rise in HIV/AIDS in African American women through spoken word and photo-voice exhibitions.

 

August 2009-May 2010

            Graduate Research Assistant, Visual Research & Graphic Design

            Lesley University, Cambridge, MA

• manage and document student experiences in the Visual Research Graphic Design course, using photography and writing on the course blog.

• interview students about their experiences in the course.

• collect survey data for the Design Instinct research project, which looks at the importance of graphic design for student learning.

• document the Design Instinct research presentations.

 

Professional Affliations

           

            College Art Association

            Independent Curators International

            Texas Women’s Caucus for Art

            

2010 - present

2010 - present