Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Black.
Hi Laura, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Recently, I accepted a position as the Gallery Director and Collections Curator for Golden West College (GWC) in Huntington Beach, CA. The gallery had been dark during COVID and, like many art spaces, had lost momentum. With the support of GWC faculty and administrators and through the efforts of my ‘Exhibition and Portfolio Design’ students, the Art Gallery at Golden West College reemerged this fall with an exhibition showcasing work from Coast Community College District art faculty.
This Spring, we will be hosting two exhibitions. The first, titled ‘One Becomes,’ is an exhibition that examines how our being is informed by the circumstances and influences of childhood. Inspired by Simone de Beauvoir’s famous quote, “one is not born, but rather becomes, a woman,” the show feels particularly relevant now as a new generation comes to age amidst global trauma, economic crisis, and a national conflict over the rights of girls and women. ‘One Becomes’ will feature recent works from Joy Fire, Carole Gelker, and Joanna Grasso. Our second exhibition will be GWC’s annual Student Art Show. The theme of this year’s student exhibition is ‘History Reconstructed.’ More information on these exhibits will be posted on our Instagram page @gwc.gallery.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Many years ago, I graduated from GWC’s sister campus, Orange Coast College (OCC). As a first-generation, full-time working student, the flexibility and resources provided by the community college system were incalculable. Today I hold an MFA and am working on a Ph.D., thanks partly to my community college experience. Considerable college students begin their advanced degrees at schools like GWC and OCC, yet community college remains undervalued by many. Moreover, these schools provide educational opportunities at a fraction of the price of other colleges, thus making knowledge far more accessible. I have found GWC to be particularly community-minded, and I intend to reflect those values with our gallery programming.
Additionally, I am working on developing the college’s permanent art collection, which will be on view throughout the campus. Los Angeles has often overshadowed the history of fine art in Orange County, yet there is a rich and exciting history to tell. We want to create an archive and collection dedicated to the history of art in Orange County at GWC that will reflect the true diversity of the region and showcase the practices of artists from or who have worked in Orange County. This is a challenging endeavor, as it will require support from and partnership with the community. However, I believe there is no better location for the project than the beautiful Golden West College campus.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Laura Black is a curator, educator, and writer based in Long Beach, CA. Her practice is dedicated to developing culturally significant projects and supporting emerging and mid-career artists. Black is the Founder and Executive Director of Universal Voice, a non-profit dedicated to providing exhibition, publication, and professional development opportunities for artists from historically under-recognized backgrounds. Additionally, Black serves as Gallery Director and Curator at Golden West College.
Black has developed and led courses in Art History, Exhibition Design, and Writing for the Arts at several local colleges including Laguna College of Art and Design and California State University, Fullerton.
Black holds an MFA in Exhibition Design from California State University, Fullerton and is currently working towards a PhD in Cultural Studies at Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, CA. Her scholarly interests focus on the history and theory of Minimal and Post-Minimal Art (late 1960s to present) and contemporary museological ethics.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
My greatest joy is my daughter Olive. She is brilliant and creative–as demonstrated by her packing material Dadaist-inspired outfit (pictured)–and she’s serves as my ongoing motivation to make the art world a little more equitable.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: instagram.com/never__neutral
