“Perceive Me is a performance artwork which focuses on notions of self-worth, validation, and the idea that we value our identity based on how we imagine others perceive us.”
“Who are we in the eyes of other people? Does it matter? Should it matter? What do you look like? Are you beautiful, ugly, weird, crazy, sad, frumpy, glamorous, fabulous, dirty, depressed? Why do we take other people’s opinions of ourselves so seriously? Why should we care? Does it change our opinion of ourselves? Does it affect our daily lives?”
– Kristine Schomaker
To answer these questions, Schomaker asked 60 artists to create nude portraits of her. The artists responded with paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures, videos, and 3D prints.
The artists included in this exhibition are Amanda Mears, Anna Kostanian, Anna Stump, Ashley Bravin, Austin Young, Baha Danesh, Betzi Stein, Bibi Davidson, Bradford J. Salamon, Caron Rand, Carson Grubaugh, Catherine Ruane, Chris Blevins-Morrison, Christina Ramos, Cynda Valle, Daena Title, Daggi Wallace, Dani Dodge, Debbie Korbel, Debby/Larry Kline, Debe Arlook, Diane Cockerill, Donna Bates, Elizabeth Tobias, Ellen Friedlander, Emily Wiseman, Geneva Costa, J. Michael Walker, Jane Szabo, Janet Milhomme, Jeffrey Sklan, Jesse Standlea, John Waiblinger, Jorin Bossen, K. Ryan Henisey, Karen Hochman Brown, Kate Kelton, Kate Savage, Kerri Sabine-Wolf, Kim Kimbro, L Aviva Diamond, Leslie Lanxinger, Mara Zaslove, Marjorie Salvaterra, Martin Cox, Monica Sandoval, Nancy Kay Turner, Nurit Avesar, Phung Huynh, Rakeem Cunningham, Serena Potter, Sheli Silverio, Susan Amorde, Susan T. Kurland, Sydney Walters, Tanya Ragir, Tony Pinto, and Vicki Walsh.
The artist’s intention for Perceive Me is not just an exhibition or a catalog or Instagram posts. It is a performance, a platform for empowerment, for owning oneself, for being unique and authentic, for taking back one’s body in the #metoo movement, for being true, powerful, and strong no matter what body shape, size, color, or gender. Perceive Me is for everyone.