Builder Her a Myth Art Review
Artist Builds a Myth
By: Rebecca Schlosser
Inside the Tech Center at ICC, is the latest art gallery “Build Her a Myth” by artist Carrie Ann Schumacher. The display is centered around dresses made entirely from the pages of romance novels and magazines.They are breathtaking to behold and serve a symbolic purpose. According to the artist statement, Pieces represented in the gallery include, “The Day She Found Out Why”, “Renee, Star Ballerina”, “You Give Your Love So Sweetly”, “Daphne’s Diary”, and “We All Just Want to Hear Our Own Stories”. In her artist statement, Schumacher says: “When I came across a box of fifty free romance novels at the library where I was working, I initially had no idea what I was going to do with them. But something within them spoke to me, and I knew I had to take them”. What emerged from this dusty, old collection of books is a stunning, masterpiece of creativity and symbolism that is beautiful to behold.
Pieces that are present in the gallery include “The Day She Found Out Why”, “Renee, Star Ballerina”, “You Give Your Love So Sweetly”, “Daphne’s Diary” and “We All Just Want to hear Our Own Stories.” My personal favorite was “Daphne’s Diary.” Made from the pages of magazines, it is the picture of elegance. The other pieces had their strong points as well. “The Day She Found Out Why” and “Renee, Star Ballerina.” had intricate work done that looked like flowers on the collars of the dress. Schumacher incorporates her materials in a way that the pieces look like something a girl would pine for and long for, much like, what she believes magazines, romance novels and fairy tales do. Schumacher says: “The dresses reflect this as they are seductively beautiful, but due to the material from which they are created, unable to be worn. Completely without function, it represents how useless the feminine myths we have created are in real life.”
The gallery will run at ICC from Jan. 20 to Feb. 12 and is free of charge to view. Schumacher is a multi-media artist who lives in Chicago. She teaches computer art at College of DuPage. She can be contacted through email at CSchumacherArt@gmail.com or via phone at 630-310-9160.
