Johnson Valley, CA
2020
wood, thread, mirrors, cushion, candle, lighter, lighting by Adam Taylor
This Portal served as a space for solitude, reflection, prayer, and remembrance during the first 10+ gathering for many individuals coming out of isolation. After COVID-19, we have become more sensitive to crowds of people, energy, and are more aware of our feelings. This installation offers an intentional space to reflect, pray, and meditate facing away from the surrounding sound art gathering. At night this portal allows the experiencer to pass through the portal into the star speckled night sky.
Collaboration with Lighting Designer, Adam Taylor
Outdoor Installation
2020
wood, thread, mirrors, cushion, candle, lighter, lighting by Adam Taylor
This Portal served as a space for solitude, reflection, prayer, and remembrance during the first 10+ gathering for many individuals coming out of isolation. After COVID-19, we have become more sensitive to crowds of people, energy, and are more aware of our feelings. This installation offers an intentional space to reflect, pray, and meditate facing away from the surrounding sound art gathering. At night this portal allows the experiencer to pass through the portal into the star speckled night sky.
Collaboration with Lighting Designer, Adam Taylor
Outdoor Installation
BREATHING SPACE
Just Buffalo Reading Series, Silo City 2016.
Parachord, weatherproof spandex, string
This project was completely grass-roots funded in Buffalo, NY through the words "I Love You". Jaime Schmidt alone erected 150 feet of white weather-proof fabric that she hand-sewed specifically for this space. The white would bounce light into the space, it would dampen the 7 second reverb of this grain elevator, and it would add a soft element into this masculine and hard environment. These silos are being resurrected from previous industrial structures, becoming abandoned, to full of arts, music, and intentional regrowth. This installation piece was a reflection of the space itself, but it paralleled with meanings deep within Jaime's childhood. Experiencing many near death experiences with her father from a young age, Jaime has become committed to creating the feeling of vitality, resurrection, healing, and resilience through her work. Just before this piece, she had lost her childhood best friend to the opioid epidemic. During childhood, she had experienced dream work with this friend, where he had learned to lucid dream from a young age, and had carried this ability into adulthood. While mourning the loss of Chris, she had received many dreams involving him that had also deeply influenced this specific piece.
Parachord, weatherproof spandex, string
This project was completely grass-roots funded in Buffalo, NY through the words "I Love You". Jaime Schmidt alone erected 150 feet of white weather-proof fabric that she hand-sewed specifically for this space. The white would bounce light into the space, it would dampen the 7 second reverb of this grain elevator, and it would add a soft element into this masculine and hard environment. These silos are being resurrected from previous industrial structures, becoming abandoned, to full of arts, music, and intentional regrowth. This installation piece was a reflection of the space itself, but it paralleled with meanings deep within Jaime's childhood. Experiencing many near death experiences with her father from a young age, Jaime has become committed to creating the feeling of vitality, resurrection, healing, and resilience through her work. Just before this piece, she had lost her childhood best friend to the opioid epidemic. During childhood, she had experienced dream work with this friend, where he had learned to lucid dream from a young age, and had carried this ability into adulthood. While mourning the loss of Chris, she had received many dreams involving him that had also deeply influenced this specific piece.
NOTHING NEST
Manuel Barreto Gallery, Buffalo, NY 2016
Strings had become a way to meditate and draw actively in a space. It was a way to sculpt an environment, and to lead viewers into themselves.
The day this piece was finished, Jaime had learned that her childhood best friend was in a coma as a result of relapse from opioid addiction. This childhood best friend had once traveled with Jaime from the small town they grew up in to NYC to view Marina Ambrovmavic's "The Artist is Present" when they were both 15 years old. They were both in awe of this performance and sat for hours outside of the MOMA staring at each other, being still. This piece became a symbol of grief, and for connection with memories of those who have past, continuing a relationship with the spiritual realm, for remembering the moments when you stared someone in the eye who can no longer stare back. One chair was accessible for viewers, while the other chair was empty and covered in webs. Pieces of red fabric swim in the air above the chairs as a symbol for escaping the body.
Strings had become a way to meditate and draw actively in a space. It was a way to sculpt an environment, and to lead viewers into themselves.
The day this piece was finished, Jaime had learned that her childhood best friend was in a coma as a result of relapse from opioid addiction. This childhood best friend had once traveled with Jaime from the small town they grew up in to NYC to view Marina Ambrovmavic's "The Artist is Present" when they were both 15 years old. They were both in awe of this performance and sat for hours outside of the MOMA staring at each other, being still. This piece became a symbol of grief, and for connection with memories of those who have past, continuing a relationship with the spiritual realm, for remembering the moments when you stared someone in the eye who can no longer stare back. One chair was accessible for viewers, while the other chair was empty and covered in webs. Pieces of red fabric swim in the air above the chairs as a symbol for escaping the body.
SPROUTING
City Of Night
Buffalo, NY 2015
found objects, torn studio drop cloths, plants, mirrors, contact microphone & amplifier, wire, string
Buffalo, NY 2015
found objects, torn studio drop cloths, plants, mirrors, contact microphone & amplifier, wire, string
KINETIC BODIES
Wrafterbuilt, Buffalo, NY 2015
disposable camera photographs, old clothing, thread, and drawings on paper