ARTIST STATEMENT
Toys occupy much of my time and thoughts these days. I collect them. I have a room full of them. I surround myself with them to constantly remind me of my youth. I felt very lucky as a child. I was happy. I could just play for hours on end, alone, with friends, it really made no difference. More recently I began buying toys on eBay that I remember playing with as a child. I house them in jars like specimens, eerie reminders of a time when my world was smaller, when questions had answers, and when my biggest fears existed only in my mind. Now I look at all that plastic and I see target markets, child labor, the third world, abortion, war, and genocide. I think about the significance of these toys to the greater world, and about who's responsible for this fate. I think about a photograph I had seen. It was taken during the Vietnam War. It was a photograph of a young boy. This boy, however, was a soldier, armed with an M-16 and what looks like a joint. I think about that boy in Vietnam and his counterpart in the States who only "plays" war. I think about play and the joy I felt as a child. And then back to the boy in the photograph.
BIOGRAPHY
Abby Schmidt grew up in South Jersey. As a child she spent many hours alone in her room trying to create the visions in her mind with whatever materials were available. After high school, she went away to college hoping to pursue a career in fashion design. Whatever persuaded that move, quickly faded and Abby began the application process at the University of the Arts located in center city Philadelphia. At the close of her freshman year at U Arts Abby decided to major in crafts and spent the next 3 years answering questions from friends and family about macaroni sculptures. She graduated in 2004 with a BFA in Crafts. She recently purchased a house in Philadelphia which she is currently converting into her studio and home.
EDUCATION
2000-2004 University of the Arts Philadelphia, PA
BA of Fine Arts
Crafts
1999-2000 Philadelphia University Philadelphia, PA
Fashion Design
1995-1999 Edgewood Regional High School Atco, NJ
REPRESENTATION
SOLO EXHIBITS
2008 Art Around Gallery Philadelphia, PA
GROUP EXHIBITS
2008 The Philadelphia Sketchclub Philadelpia, PA
Absolutely Abstract 08
2007 Fuel Gallery Philadelphia, PA
Redbull Art of the Can Juried Exhibition
2006 Limner Gallery Phoenecia, NY
Emerging Artist Juried Exhibition
2006 Dangenart Gallery Nashville, TN
Nancie Mattice Juried Exhibition
2004 Hamilton Gallery Philadelphia, PA
Annual Spring Student Exhibition
2004 Nexus Gallery Philadelphia, PA
Identifying Now Crafts Senior Thesis Exhibition
2003 Dorrance Hamilton Hall Philadelphia, PA
Shadow and Illumination Annual Crafts Banquet
2002 Dorrance Hamilton Hall Philadelphia, PA
Seven Deadly Sins Annual Crafts Banquet
2001 Dorrance Hamilton Hall Philadelphia, PA
Coney Island of the Mind Annual Crafts Banquet
2000 Philadelphia University Philadelphia, PA
Spring Annual Juried Exhibition
ARTICLES
OTHER INFO
