ARTIST STATEMENT
When I created my “War Brides,” I had no idea they would still be relevant forty-two years later. Derived from my studies of drag queens, gender equality, and the so-called glamour of the military, I explored gender identity and what reality is. When I made the “War Brides,” I used all new materials. Unfortunately, I hadn’t begun to investigate reuse. The three Rs weren’t a thing back then.
These works harken to my current practice in sociopolitical art. Since 1995, I’ve focused on creative reuse while examining aspects of our society, particularly the environment, politics, and social issues.
I was raised outside Washington, D.C., and participated in many demonstrations, from the Poor People’s Campaign to Anti-Vietnam War Marches and Gay Pride Celebrations. My work endeavors to continue this activism by exposing plastic pollution problems, a corrupt presidential administration, gender expression, recognizing the strides made by marginalized people, and women’s rights.
Currently, I use non-recyclable trash and repurposed materials to create art. I’m currently working on two projects. The first project is portraits of political firsts — people who are underrepresented at all levels of government. My second focus is maps of states where abortion has become illegal after 49 years due to the recent Dobbs decision.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Sarah Schneiderman, MFA, is an assemblage artist working in Glastonbury, CT. Recent solo exhibitions include Windsor Public Library, Portland Library, Avon Free Public Library, Kellogg Environmental Center, Clinton Avenue Elementary School, ARTWALK at Hartford Public Library, Underground Gallery in Collinsville, and Art Corridor at Yale-New Haven Hospital, Saint Raphael Campus. In the past few years, Sarah participated numerous group exhibitions: Ely Center of Contemporary Art, Stola Contemporary Art in Chicago, IL, Georgia State University Perimeter Campus, Tufts University, Gallery 378 in Atlanta, GA, Woman Made Gallery in Chicago, Ice Box Project Space in Philadelphia, North Dakota Museum of Art, The Urban Collective in New Haven and the Mattatuck Museum.
Her latest awards include the Alternative Medium Award from Connecticut Women Artists, Gallery Sponsor Award from Stockman Gallery in New Britain, and the First Prize from the Art League of New Britain.
Sarah has given artist talks for the Women’s Caucus for Art – Washington, D.C. Chapter, Ely Center of Contemporary Art, Kellogg Environmental Center, Cheshire Art League, and Hamden Art League.
She led workshops for Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts, Beauty Beyond Borders, Hartford Public Library, and Camp Stomping Ground.
Sarah is a member of Arts Center East (Signature Member (Invitational)), Arts Council of Greater New Haven, ecoartspace.org, and Women’s Caucus for Arts, Greater Washington, D.C., and Georgia Chapters.
Sarah received formal training at the Corcoran School of Art, Washington, D.C., and California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, California.
© Sarah Schneiderman