Yay! Interview at pdxart with Richard Schemmerer

Here is a link to my interview with Richard Schemmerer of pdxart.  Very fun process. Thanks so much Richard!

I’m Calling it a Retreat

Artist's Statement

There are no gimmicks in this show. I created the work with extremely limited resources. In 2008 I spent 9 weeks in a Native American based rehab for alcohol abuse and this work is my process of trying to navigate my identity and my efforts to find a connected form of treatment. I’m a gay atheist who was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness, so I am immediately distrusting of groupthink and lack of questioning that sometimes happens in rehab. Going to the 17 acres near St. Helens was my white flag. It hasn’t been the easiest path since leaving residential treatment, but I think I’ve found a rhythm that works well for me.

At this point in an artist’s statement my normal song and dance would be to show how I am an oppressor and how there is no winning the label game, but this is a different type of show. In this show there is no winning because it’s not a label game, it’s my life and it’s futile to point out that I’m an oppressor because in this context I think I’ve been hard enough on myself already. Sometimes I need to just allow myself to win, even if it’s just for the months of October and November of ‘09.

Mug

I was looking for a coffee mug to take to my new favorite place Cartola, which is at 7th and Knott down the street from my house. This is going to be the mug that I use for my usual prepaid drip coffee with a double add shot. I am going to be living with this mug and it will be attached to me as part of my identity and this what I’m struggling with. Do I go with the ironic mug, the sleek design mug, the “virgo” mug, or the basic mug; they all say something and there is no simply choosing without me wondering what that says about myself. Even if I were to go with a selection of mugs I would still have to select which mug most represents me on which day. I’ve looked all over and will be on Etsy later tonight trying to locate something that speaks to me. I’m sure I will choose something that has a touch of irony, a dash of sleekness, and whim of I don’t give a shit, which is of course a lie because I really do