Lauren Miralles-Snow is a visual creator & Temple University graduate based in Philadelphia. She is a multimedia artist who enjoys being involved with the creative process top to bottom. Whether it’s producing campaigns, directing visuals, editing photos or projection mapping archival footage onto classic workwear, Lauren’s dedicated to sharpening her skillset on her path to becoming a creative director one day.
Can you introduce yourself — tell us more about who you are, where you’re from, and what you do creatively?
My name is Lauren Miralles-Snow, I grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia, and I consider myself a multimedia creator. I like shooting photos, editing video, and I have developed a love for projection mapping. I want to incorporate all these mediums and more into my projects.
Can you walk us through a typical day in the life? (As a visual artist/working as an intro to media tech TA/anything you feel)
When I was a grad student at Temple a typical day was working on my thesis, working at the Equipment Office at Klein College, and doing my best to develop my own practice. Being back in school was so refreshing, I was exposed to people of all ages all with their own specialties in media and arts. That exposure was very special, and I think my experience going back to school has led me down a unique path. Now I am a lab instructor at Temple, I teach undergrads media software and basic production. I actually teach in the same program I graduated from!
Working in media/visual arts is both taxing & freeing. How do you balance maintaining creative freedom while staying focused on your personal growth/career goals?
In grad school I was always balancing writing papers, working on production projects, and trying to find my way as an independent creator outside of academia. I felt a bit isolated, but I had this amazing media arts professor who taught me a lot about developing “my own practice”. Whenever I feel like I need to fit in and do what everyone else is doing, I remind myself of two things. To focus on my own practice and that however unconventional or wavy my path may be, it has and it will inform the way I produce work and develop a unique perspective, AKA my practice! I think as long as I trust myself I will blossom personally and professionally.
What are some current projects you’re working on?
Currently, I am revisiting an archival footage project that I started last year. I cut together archival footage and used audio from archived consumer research films to communicate an interesting message, its a bit subversive and funky. I love old footage, and connecting it to current contexts. I want to make this project a little series.
In an ideal world where do you see your career in 5 years?
In 5 years I hope to have had gained a multitude of experiences in the media industry. I want to become a sort of jack of all trades and I want to have contributed to some really cool stuff, which I hope will give me a unique and well-rounded experience to hopefully become a creative director one day.
How has the closing of Universities impacted you creatively?
Like most, I am not made of money, and being connected to a university really helped me access good equipment. Now there are many restrictions and many students with the same needs so it isn’t as accessible as it used to be. The exposure to lots of people and ideas is also something I have sorely missed.
How have you or how do you plan on taking advantage of having access to REC’s space?
The studio space at REC is awesome, I want to continue to take advantage of it. Now that I can’t go on campus to access equipment, I also want to take advantage of the inventory REC has so that I can still create projects with all the up to date stuff. I also know at REC that I can connect with some really nice and creative people.
If you’re a student looking for a place to create while access to University resources are limited, apply for a chance to be selected for a FREE yearly membership at recphilly.com/backtoschool
