Perceive Me

(Los Angeles)  In “Perceive Me,” plus-size artist Kristine Schomaker challenges us to examine our acceptance of differences, especially related to size. She posed for 60 artists to do nude portraits of her larger-than-average form; the results are a celebration of and for anyone who has ever felt less than beautiful.  

With “Perceive Me,” Schomaker found a way to stimulate serious thought and important conversation about accepting oneself.  Her work has often touched upon perceptions of the female body, an issue that has been a challenge for her since her youth. She hated having her photo taken because she didn’t want her body and face, which she saw as less-than-ideal, being memorialized in photos. She developed an eating disorder, but she never lost sight of the need to express herself in her art.

Viewers cannot spend time in this remarkable exhibition without having their concepts of female beauty challenged and, hopefully, changed. Beautiful portrayals of people who are not usually considered attractive can compel viewers to alter their perceptions.

                                                                                            Betty Ann Brown, Art & Cake, January 30, 2020

This exhibition of "Perceive Me" is on view at MOAH: CEDAR from October 9 to December 12, 2021. An opening reception will be held on October 17, 2021 from 2-4 PM.

“I’ve never heard so many people come into the gallery and just make some sort of vocal exclamation of surprise,” said Peter Tyas, executive director of Studio Channel Islands. “Everybody who has come in, regardless of where they are on the spectrum of having an arts education . . . is surprised by how they react. And that’s the mark of a great exhibition.”Tyas notes that the exhibition is “intentionally provocative” and “daring” because it “celebrates the bravery of standing naked in front of somebody, and the bravery of accepting your own body, and presenting your own body for others to accept.”

Ventura County Reporter, Sept 1, 2021

“Perceive Me” originally opened for a month-long installation at California State University, Los Angeles on Jan. 25, 2020 and recently concluded a seven week exhibition at Studio Channel Islands. After MOAH: CEDAR, “Perceive Me” travels to Mesa Community College Art Gallery and to Coastline Community College Art Gallery in 2022.