LAUREN BOOTH

Happy begins in the Wilson Museum Galleries and spills out into SVAC’s landscape and Stroup Family Sculpture Park. Booth’s work takes viewers into a whimsical world of sunshine, rainbows, and natural forms as she creates work in light, neon and resin. 

Inspired by the real and fantastical animals associated with Waddesdon Manor and the Rothschild family, Electric Menagerie was a series of light-based artworks which were placed playfully through the gardens, from the Aviary to the Stables.

Great Hollow is an 825-acre land preserve on the borders of Sherman and New Fairfield, Connecticut, containing 6 miles of hiking trails, wetlands, streams and forest, open to the public from dawn until dusk.

Words have the power to illuminate the imagination. From 2004 to 2008 Booth reached out to leaders in politics, the arts and entertainment, asking each to write an inspiring word or phrase that she would then transform into neon.

Booth began working on the idea of a series of totems in 2008. Several of her favourite sculptures have created their own interpretations of totems. Reflecting on these works along side memories of powerful totem poles she has seen in Alaska and Canada spurred her on to make some of her own.

This body of work was in response to this gallery space being situated in a park. Booth created an environment that bridged fine art, play, and community. For example, her giant interactive tree incorporates white hair collected from a local salon, felted with wool from her sheep. The tree sends out chimes when a ball is successfully tossed into its hole.