Ellie Schmidt is a visual artist and one of the six Sitka Fellows in residence at the Island Institute this summer. She uses feminist ideas and a variety of media, from underwater photography and video mapping to ceramics, to tackle ecological issues. She is especially interested in what it means to live in an era of climate change.
In Sitka, Schmidt is developing an experimental film about ocean life in Sitka. Her film is inspired by John Luther Adams’ orchestral piece “Become Ocean” and strives to break down the separation between humans and nature.
Tomorrow (08-20-15), Schmidt will lead an improvisational dance workshop called “How to Dance with Sea Lions.” Using projection art and ocean music as background inspiration, Schmidt invites participants to “rethink the way we use our bodies and interact with our environment.” The workshop will take place at 7 p.m. in Fraser Hall.
All the fellows will be showcasing this work this Saturday, August 22 at Odess Theater in Allen Hall from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
To learn more about Schmidt, visit her website.
A coral reef made of porcelain, from Schmidt’s senior these project at Carleton College, Winter 2013 – 14 .
Schmidt’s hi-fired stoneware and wood fired b-clay, depicting the surfaces of coral reefs. June 2015.
