Lauren Francis
UIW Arts Professor
Do you have any projects on which you’re currently working? If so, what are they?
In my free time, I’ve always been active in the fine arts. I practice ballet, write creatively, and dabble in travel photography. My biggest professional project involves planning for the second summer of a study abroad program in Strasbourg, France. I’m also beginning a collection of short essays about my adventures in travel.
What is the inspiration/influence behind this project?
For the Summer in France study abroad program, the biggest inspiration was my own experience studying in China and France as an undergraduate. I was profoundly changed by learning in other countries, and I eagerly want to share the wonder of travel with my students.
What does this project mean to you?
My Summer in France program has become a passion project because I adore traveling so much myself. While going abroad certainly comes with challenges and inconveniences, it has become the biggest muse and motivation for my work as an educator. I strive to design a program in France that not only offers customized art historical content, but also many occasions to engage with European people, languages, cultures and food. I believe ALL students should have access to international learning. Studying in another country is deeply fulfilling and helps to make UIW students into citizens of the world.
What got you into Art History?
In college, I was firmly committed to my path as a pre-medical student. But, then as a sophomore, I sat in my first art history course. The room was dark. The projector illuminated artworks on the screen. The instructor shared Indiana Jones-like historical anecdotes. I quickly became fascinated not only with the images, but also the historical framework behind their genesis. My professors showed me that art history is a time machine. I adore the ability to pop around to different places and spaces in history to witness how art reflects its time and place of creation.
What are your methods for getting into a creative headspace?
I’ve discovered with age that I need to schedule my creative pursuits rather than expecting them to happen spontaneously. While some think of creativity as fleeting and unpredictable, I believe having a set plan holds me accountable and prioritizes a timetable for my imagination. Early quiet mornings are golden for me as a working mom.
What are some challenges that you have faced in your career?
Because art history is a somewhat niche field in academia, there are not many positions available. I currently teach at three colleges and instruct eight courses a semester. My teaching load is often so heavy that I don’t have much time for my personal creative endeavors. Fortunately, I genuinely enjoy teaching and developing innovative approaches to my pedagogy.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with your audience?
Art history deserves your attention. Regardless of your career path or creative pursuits, art history communicates the past in a visual way. All of us can grow intellectually and culturally by taking the time to look more carefully at the world. You don’t have to travel far to see great art. Just be curious. Make the time to stop and scrutinize what you see. Whether at the McNay down the road or the Louvre in Paris, art breathes life into history. By viewing art, you’ll gain empathy for creators who are different from you, you’ll connect to your own life story, and you’ll hone your visual acuity.
