Artists Interview Artists: Heather Schmaedeke

Heather Schmaedeke, a Greenbelt, MD based artist, participates in the Artists Interview Artists Project. Below Heather responds to another artist's five questions (Patricia Hartnett). In order to participate, Heather had to provide me with five questions for some other artist to answer. The assigning of questions to artists is completely random. If you're an artist and interested in participating, let me know.

Senses
Mixed media
17" x 20"

1. In art, what is the difference between nudity and pornography?

I believe there are several differences between nudity and pornography. To me, one of the largest differences is the total objectification of the person (male or female) as an object that exists solely for sexual gratification. Pornography only appeals to our basest aspects as human beings, whereas a nude aspires to communicate more than that. A nude can convey an appreciation of form, sexuality, sensuousness as well as be a study of proportion, light and form.

2. Do you censor the ideas or images in your own art to make it more palatable to the viewers? If so why?

No, I don’t censor the ideas or images in my artwork. I wouldn’t do that because I believe that censorship is contrary to art. I feel that the only way I can truly express myself is visually and I couldn’t censor that.

3. Why do create these images?

I create these images for several different reasons. I have been creating images since before I was in kindergarten. It’s more important as a mode of expression and communication for me than speaking or writing. The only time I really feel that I can express myself completely and lucidly is in images. It’s something that I am compelled to do.

4. Do you suffer for your art? If yes, how so?

Yes, I do. The internal struggle of questioning myself and the value of what I do and why I do it.

5. Other than yourself, who is your favorite living artist and why?

My favorite living artist up until 2004 was Ed Paschke. I love his choice of subject matter and his palette. The colors vibrate and glow.

I really like the work of the following artists because of their ability to create a reality of such intensity within the picture plane: Rob Gonsalves, Thomas Barbey, Alex Grey

Sleeve
Mixed media
17" x 20"

Previous Interviews:
Juno Doran (questions by James W. Bailey)
Josh Feldman (questions by Joseph Barbaccia)
Lisa Stephenson (questions by Whitney Lynn)
Joseph Barbaccia (questions by Josh Feldman)
James W. Bailey (questions by Matt Hollis)
Matt Hollis (questions by Juno Doran)
Carol Es (questions by James Leonard)
Alexandra Silverthorne (questions by Ami Lahoff)
Christine Buckton Tillman (questions by Carol Es)
Douglas Witmer (questions by Alexandra Silverthorne)
Sky Pape (questions by Douglas Witmer)
Whitney Lynn (questions by Lisa Stephenson)
Heather Levy (questions by Joanne Greenbaum)
Heather Lowe (questions by Samantha Wolov)
Samantha Wolov (questions by Heather Levy)
Timothy McClellan (questions by Heather Lowe)
James Leonard (questions by Sky Pape)
Joanne Greenbaum (questions by Timothy McClellan)
Richard Kooyman (questions by Robert Walton)
Candy Keegan (questions by Warren Craghead)
Robert Walton (questions by Candy Keegan)
John M. Adams (questions by Richard Kooyman)
Prescott Moore Lassman (questions by Mary Addison Hackett)
Mary Addison Hackett (questions by Prescott Moore Lassman)
Andrew Wodzianski (questions by Nathan Manuel & D.Billy)
Nathan Manuel & D.Billy (questions by Andrew Wodzianski)
Michael Janis (questions by Scott Listfield)
Scott Listfield (questions by Michael Janis)
F. Lennox Campello (questions by Sean Hennessy)
Matt Andrade (questions by Adrian Parsons)
Sean Hennessy (questions by F. Lennox Campello)
George Wayne (questions by Michelle McAuliffe)
Eridanus Sellen (questions by Anabela Jevtovic)
Anabela Jevtovic (questions by Eridanus Sellen)
Marianela de la Hoz (questions by A.B. Miner)
Martin Henry (questions by Barbara Johnson-Gresser)
A.B. Miner (questions by George Wayne)
Barbara Johnson-Gresser (questions by Martin Henry)
Adrian Parsons (questions by Matt Andrade)