Laurie Pettigrew

Founder, Director The Art Ranch and The Art Ranch International

Laurie has owned and run three successful design companies, L. Pettigrew, Throws of Passion, and most recently her own clothing label Laurie Pettigrew, which she has set aside in order to dedicate herself fulltime to The Art Ranch. Whether as a model, actress, home furnishing designer, clothing designer, teacher and child and family mentor, Laurie’s life has always been informed by a creative pulse. While running her companies she developed herself as an actor, studying with the late George Shdanoff from 1990 to 1992. She continued studying her craft with Julie Ariola and performed plays from 1992 to 2002, and sites her years of training with Ariola as perhaps the most significant creative and personal explorations of her life.

Laurie has always had a special gift of working with children. She has mentored children for the past 18 years, encouraging those she mentors to embrace themselves and their individuality. Laurie uses creativity as a method of out reach and connection. She is acutely aware of how art empowers, creates self esteem, self reliance and motivation.

In 1992, she joined Gary Ross’s program, “Reach One Each One”, where she met Irene Rangel, whom she mentored for 12 years. In the process, Laurie took an active role in guiding and working closely with the whole family. She continues her deep friendship and connection with the Rangel’s to this day.

Through the culmination of her experiences over the last 20 years, and the profound effect of the arts on her self-awareness, the dream of The Art Ranch was born. So in 2002, Laurie began formulating the programs and carefully selecting its artist /teachers. Her dream of The Art Ranch was expanded on a trip to Australia in 2003, where she lived with an Aboriginal tribe and experienced first-hand the depth of their relationship with the earth and the value of their teachings. She knew then that The Art Ranch would have an indigenous component. But it wasn’t until she met Red Bird, a Native American elder, that the current Native American program took shape. Through their unique relationship built on trust, common vision, and numerous visits to New Mexico to attend feasts and ceremonies, Red Bird and Laurie have developed the Native American component with their handpicked Native American teachers and elders. Along with the excellent blend of professional artist/teachers and environmental educators, Laurie’s vision of The Art Ranch is becoming a reality and will be ready for a 2008 Summer launch.