



Perceive Me
by Kristine Schomaker, September 2019
I hate pictures of myself. I have always felt fat. I am not alone.
In my 46 years of life, I have only been asked out on a date a couple times. That equated with my belief that I was unattractive and unworthy. I made an assumption and lived my life from that self-perception, as truth. The concept of Perceive Me originated from these ideas. The premise is that we value ourselves and our self-worth based on how we imagine others perceive us. The action of creating the work is allowing me to challenge these notions and begin the process of self-healing. Perceive Me as a political and social act involves performance, installation, conversation and community organizing.
Perceive Me is a contribution to self-growth. Through it I ask, Who are we in the eyes of other people? Does it matter? Should it matter? Why do we take other people's opinions of ourselves so seriously? Do we even know what other people perceive when they look at us? Why should we care? Baring my body, I’m forcing people to confront their own biases, prejudices and stereotypes and overcome my own. This project has made me cry and laugh, yell and hide, cringe and boast, and ultimately persist because I have faith in myself, the artists I have worked with and the audience who will look at my work and share the experience.
Engaging the art community to create this installation is a giant step forward in the trajectory of my ongoing personal exploration through performance. 60 artists gave their time and talent to create artworks that reflect their vision of me as I posed for them as a performative action. Not only is the art outstanding but the love they have for me is reflected in the works. Their vision of me heals me on levels beyond the body.
Every photo shoot, every meeting, every performance session, I came away with excitement. I loved being in front of the camera. As I modeled in many different poses, I felt glamorous, classy, beautiful and seen. The poses came naturally, and I was having fun. I soon realized my inner feelings are much different than the physicality of the body. While I still had a hard time correlating the performative aspect of modeling with the image of the fat woman in the artwork, I began a journey of self-acceptance and even appreciation for the woman I am. Over time, the gap became smaller.
The process of working on Perceive Me never had an end goal. It is a part of my creative healing journey. There are days when I feel like I have changed, maybe become a little less self-conscious, a little more considerate of my body and freer in letting go of ideas of how others see me. Working through an eating disorder and challenging the way people think and talk about our bodies will be an ongoing process, so I can’t see Perceive Me ending anytime soon.
Today, I am awake, aware and I have persevered. Today I take these issues and confront, challenge, deconstruct and share them so others will be empowered and inspired. Today I share with you my plus size, curvy, imperfect body as a symbol for the change we need.
Featured Artists
Susan Amorde, Debe Arlook, Nurit Avesar, Donna Bates, Chris Blevins-Morrison, Holly Boruck, Jorin Bossen, Karen Hochman Brown, Ashley Bravin, Jorandy Chavez, Diane Cockerill, Geneva Costa, Martin Cox, Rakeem Cunningham, Baha H. Danesh, Bibi Davidson, L. Aviva Diamond, Dani Dodge, Ellen Friedlander, Carson Grubaugh, K Ryan Henisey, Phung Huynh, Kate Kelton, Kim Kimbro, Debby and Larry Kline, Debbie Korbel, Anna Kostanian, Susan T Kurland, Leslie Lanxinger, Amanda Mears, Janet Milhomme, Tony Pinto, Serena Potter, Caron G Rand, Tanya Ragir, Catherine Ruane, Kerri Sabine-Wolf, Bradford J Salamon, Marjorie Salvaterra, Monica Sandoval, Sheli Silverio, Jeffrey Sklan, Jesse Standlea, Betzi Stein, Anna Stump, Jane Szabo, Daena Title, Elizabeth Tobias, Nancy Kay Turner, Cynda Valle, John Waiblinger, J Michael Walker, Daggi Wallace, Vicki Walsh, Sydney Walters, Emily Wiseman, Austin Young, Mara Zaslove

Chris Blevins-Morrison “I Am Beautiful” print on luster (gold fiber 310gsm) heavy weight archival paper @vintage_rollei

J Michael Walker “La Grande Odalisque” Inkjet print on mould made Arches 350gm paper @jmichaelwalker1 www.jmichaelwalker.com

Amanda Mears “Kristine” Conte on stonehenge cotton paper @amandamears.studio

Martin Cox “Woman with laptop” (after Artemisia Gentileschi) Archival pigment print, edition 1/7 @martincoxphotos www.martincox.com

Bradford J Salamon “Where Does the Truth Lie?” oil on canvas @bradfordjsalamon www.bradfordjsalamon.com

Bradford J Salamon Study for ‘Where Does the Truth Lie?’ charcoal & graphite on watercolor paper @bradfordjsalamon www.bradfordjsalamon.com

Christina Ramos "Bathed in light" Acrylic on canvas @christinaramosart www.christinaramosart.com

Christina Ramos "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" Acrylic on canvas @christinaramosart www.christinaramosart.com

Kate Savage “The Baroness” Acrylic and India Ink on Birch Panel @therealkatesavage www.katesavageart.com

Debe Arlook “Perceive This” Archival Pigment Print, Edition 1 of 3 @debearlook www.debeArlookphotography.com

Nancy Kay Turner Rokeby Venus I: After Velazquez https://nancyturnerstudio.com/

Nancy Kay Turner Sleeping Venus: After Giorgione https://nancyturnerstudio.com/

Nancy Kay Turner Rokeby Venus II: After Velazquez https://nancyturnerstudio.com/

Sheli Silverio “Kristine, Perceive Me Selfie” Watercolor & Gouache on Arches Watercolor Paper @shelisilverio www.shelisilverio.com

Diane Cockerill "Veni, Vidi, Vici" digital photograph FB: @dianecockerill

Betzi Stein “Lustful Daydreaming” Acrylic on Canvas @betzisteinartist www.betzistein.com

Anna Stump “Small Kristine #1” Acrylic and resin on panel @amstump www.annastump.com

Anna Stump “Small Kristine #2” Acrylic and resin on panel @amstump www.annastump.com

Janet Milhomme “Naissance d’une Femme” Photography/Digital Collage: Archival pigment print on fine art paper www.janetmilhommephoto.com

Susan T Kurland "We are Venus" @susantkurland www.susantkurland.com

Kim Kimbro “Pink Hair Don't Care” Oil on Canvas @KimKimbroArt www.kimkimbro.com

Susan Amorde “Ta-Dah!” Cast Resin with marble powder, cast iron, brass, hydrocal, acrylic paint Edition 1/3 @susanamordeart www.susanamorde.com

Caron G Rand “Yin & Yang” Graphite & acrylic spray on scroll @carongrand www.carongrandportraits.com

Geneva Costa “Cybele” Oil on Canvas @geneva_costa www.genevacosta.com

Mara Zaslove “Flower Child” Photography/Archival Print @marazaslove4 www.marazaslove.com

Jane Szabo “AsK David” Digital pigment print, Edition 1/7 @janeszabophoto www.janeszabophotography.com

Kerri Sabine-Wolf “Never Felt So Loved” Oil and Charcoal on Canvas @ksabinewolf

Emily Wiseman All the Goods... Custom printed rolls of gift wrap, shrink wrap, wood stands, acrylic @emilywisemanart www.emilywiseman.com

Emily Wiseman All the Goods... Custom printed rolls of gift wrap, shrink wrap, wood stands, acrylic @emilywisemanart www.emilywiseman.com

Emily Wiseman All the Goods... Custom printed rolls of gift wrap, shrink wrap, wood stands, acrylic @emilywisemanart www.emilywiseman.com

Emily Wiseman All the Goods... Custom printed rolls of gift wrap, shrink wrap, wood stands, acrylic @emilywisemanart www.emilywiseman.com

Emily Wiseman All the Goods... Custom printed rolls of gift wrap, shrink wrap, wood stands, acrylic @emilywisemanart www.emilywiseman.com

Emily Wiseman All the Goods... Custom printed rolls of gift wrap, shrink wrap, wood stands, acrylic @emilywisemanart www.emilywiseman.com

Cynda Valle "Odalisque Mashup" medium; spray enamel, leaves and oil on linen @cyndavalleartist www.cyndavalle.com In the collection of Paul Houson and Nelson Miranda

Daggi Wallace “Abundance” Pastel @daggistudio www.daggistudio.com

K Ryan Henisey “Urbem Angelorum Bracino Venus” (or The City of Angels' Brewery Venus) Mixed media collage: acrylic, ink, marker, paper, and metal foil on canvas @kryanhenisey www.kryanhenisey.com

Carson Grubaugh “Kristine at a Mirror” acrylic/oil on board @carsongrubaugh www.hodtech.net

Debbie Korbel "Good as Hell" Mixed Media- sculpture @debbiekorbel www.debbiekorbel.com

Phung Huynh “Kristine” Acrylic and oil paint on canvas @phungxion www.phunghuynh.com

Vicki Walsh "The Lamentation of Kristine" Oil on panel @vickijwalsh www.vickiwalsh.com

Tanya Ragir “Divine Inner Being” Ceramic, underglaze, acrylic @tanyawolfragir tanyaragir.com

L. Aviva Diamond “Kristine, Naked” @avivaartphotography https://avivaartphotography.com Archival Pigment Print

L. Aviva Diamond “Kristine, Perceive Me” Archival pigment print @avivaartphotography https://avivaartphotography.com

Nurit Avesar “Private and Public” Oil on canvas @nuritavesar www.nuritavesar.com

Kate Kelton “The Celestial Orbit of Kristine Schomaker” Acrylics, Graphite and Ink on Wood. @k8kelton www.katekelton.com

Kate Kelton “Animal Magnetism” Canon EOS Rebel T4i, EF 75mm, f/5.6, ISO 100 @k8kelton www.katekelton.com

Holly Boruck “Bride of Thy Self” Oil on Canvas @hboruck www.hollyboruck.com

Monica Sandoval "Devotion 1" Collage @themonicaprojects www.monicasandoval.com

Monica Sandoval "Devotion 2" Collage @themonicaprojects www.monicasandoval.com

Anna Kostanian “Untitled, Nightmare Series” Photography/painting @annakostanian

Ashley Bravin "Kristine the Riveter" Oil on canvas @ashleybravin www.ashleybravin.net

Donna Bates “Making Her Point” Mixed Media on Canson Toned Paper @donnabatesart www.donnabates3d.com

Jesse Standlea “Stretch, Weight, Relaxed, Proud, Twisted” Plastic @jstandlea www.standlea.com

Jesse Standlea “Stretch, Weight, Relaxed, Proud, Twisted” Plastic @jstandlea www.standlea.com

Jesse Standlea “Stretch, Weight, Relaxed, Proud, Twisted” Plastic @jstandlea www.standlea.com

Jorin Bossen “Portrait of an Artist as Muse in Her Finery” Oil, and acrylic on canvas @jorinbossenart www.jorinbossen.com

Catherine Ruane “Kristine in Wonderland” Graphite/Charcoal @catherineruaneart www.catherineruane.com

Ellen Friedlander “Perceive Me, Portrait of Kristine Schomaker” Printed with Archival Ink on Canson Platine Fibre Rag, Edition: 1/1 @emfphoto59 www.Ellenfriedlanderphotography.com

Leslie Lanxinger "Courage" Charcoal on Paper @leslielanxinger www.leslielanxinger.com

Serena Potter “Are You There?” Oil on canvas @Serena_Muse www.serenapotter.com

Tony Pinto “Kristine Superstar” Acrylic on cut birch plywood panel @thetonypinto www.tonypinto.net

Dani Dodge “Force of Nature No. 1” Photography @dani_dodge www.DaniDodge.com

Dani Dodge “Force of Nature No. 2” Photography @dani_dodge www.DaniDodge.com

Dani Dodge “Force of Nature No. 3” Photography @dani_dodge www.DaniDodge.com

Debby and Larry Kline “Into the Blue” Hand-etched plexiglass www.jugglingklines.com

Austin Young “Kristine” Digital print on Matte Paper, Edition of 3 with 2 AP @austinyoungforever www.austinyoungforever.com

Bibi Davidson 'What About Me?' Acrylics and 3D elements on wood @bibidavidson www.bibidavidson.com

John Waiblinger “Kristine in My Garden, #1” Photograph printed on archival RedRiver Polar Gloss Metallic 255 paper Edition ⅓ @johnwaiblingerart www.johnwaiblinger.com

John Waiblinger “Kristine in My Garden, #2” Photograph printed on archival RedRiver Polar Gloss Metallic 255 paper Edition ⅓ @johnwaiblingerart www.johnwaiblinger.com

John Waiblinger “Kristine in My Garden, #3” Photograph printed on archival RedRiver Polar Gloss Metallic 255 paper Edition ⅓ @johnwaiblingerart www.johnwaiblinger.com

Daena Title "Avatar" Photograph @daena_title www.daenatitle.com

Elizabeth Tobias Jorandy Chavez “Self-Obliteration” @elizabethtobias www.elizabethtobiasarts.com

Jeffrey Sklan “Kristine/Limes” Fine art archival print @jeffreysklan www.jeffreysklanphotography.com

Sydney Walters “Folds” Latex, Acrylic Paint @sydneywaltersstudio www.sydney-walters.com

Karen Hochman Brown “Presenting Kristine” Digital animation on LED display, Edition 1/25 @hochmanbrown www.hochmanbrown.com

Rakeem Cunningham “Kristine” Archival Pigment Print @rakeemc www.rakeemc.com

Marjorie Salvaterra “She Comes Apart 7” Archival Pigment Print, diptych @marjoriesalvaterra www.marjoriesalvaterra.com