We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sarah Schneiderman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sarah below.

Sarah, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I was raised by parents who were both passionate about making life better, not only for their children but for others as well. My father testified for the rights of Vietnam veterans and residents of places like Woburn and Love Canal, who were all poisoned by the negligent actions of corporations or the government. My mother worked with alcoholics and their spouses to improve their circumstances.

While my mother registered as an Independent, my father was a Democrat, and I believe they both voted for the Democratic party. My mother spent six years of her early childhood in an anarchist colony where she met Emma Goldman and other revolutionaries. Mom’s early experience has a profound influence on me.

I participated in civil rights and anti-Vietnam War marches from a young age. As an adult, I have continued to participate in various protests, including gay pride parades, anti-war demonstrations, and protests against George W. Bush and Donald J. Trump.

My background inspired me to create sociopolitical art in undergraduate school. I explored issues of gender identity, the false glamour of the military, and gender roles. Today, I continue to expand my focus to include topics such as racial, sexual, gender, and religious discrimination, plastic pollution and climate change, abortion access, and diverse representation in our legislative bodies.

Sarah, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

From a young age, I had a passion for Art and creativity. My parents were very supportive and even enrolled me in private painting lessons, where I learned to draw, paint, and explore my artistic abilities. My mother also taught me various other creative skills, such as knitting, sewing, and carving linoleum blocks,. She encouraged me to explore unconventional ideas and embrace my imagination.

Despite my desire to pursue a career as an artist, I opted to study other fields, eventually spending nearly four decades working for various organizations in administrative and information technology roles. However, upon retiring, I finally had the time and energy to devote to my art practice. My penchant for addressing social and political issues showed up in my Art: I started to make realistic fish out of non-recyclable and found and donated materials. My work is assemblages because of the textural elements: Buttons, beads, ribbons, plastic items, rubber gloves, etc. As part of my commitment to the environment, I refrain from adding color to the found materials. I am exploring alternative methods to attach the debris to the substrate without plastic-based adhesives. My goals are to generate less trash and to keep as much garbage as possible out of landfills.

My love for scuba diving heightened my awareness of the plastic pollution crisis. I incorporated this issue into my Art by creating portraits of political figures, American flags made from medical waste, abortion access maps, and botanicals made from trash during the early days of the pandemic.

Whether creating commissioned portraits or exploring political and social issues through my Art, I adhere to Banksy’s statement that “art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.” Through my work, I hope to bring joy and horror to the viewers, challenging them to think critically about the world around them.

Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

In my artistic journey, NFTs stand in stark contrast to the core message embedded in all my creations—an earnest concern for our environment. The energy-intensive nature of NFTs and CryptoArt contradicts my commitment to minimizing the human impact on the planet. Instead of contributing to the surge in carbon footprint associated with NFTs, I aim to diminish it, advocating for a more sustainable artistic expression that aligns with my eco-conscious ethos.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My ultimate goal is to curtail the volume of waste I generate to a point where the scarcity of my chosen art supplies becomes a barrier to my creative process. While my artistic endeavors don’t always directly delve into environmental themes, using trash as my medium subtly conveys a profound message about our collective impact on the planet. Observing the disconcerting trend since 1972, where the date of humanity surpassing the Earth’s resources keeps advancing, is one of the catalysts for my dedication. I consciously minimize the use of virgin materials in my creations, steering clear of contributing additional greenhouse gases while crafting pieces that eloquently address the urgent issue of climate change. My mission extends beyond my practice—I aim to awaken others to their consumption habits and their consequential impact on our precious planet.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sarahschneiderman.com
• Instagram: sarah.schneiderman
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SarahSchneidermanArtist/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-schneiderman-8742b4149/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX6UVkGA_vp5A-kqd0QDS8A
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/schneidermanstudio/

Image Credits
Photographs by Tom Kutz and Sarah Schneiderman