Sondra Schwetman shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Sondra, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Wow! I teach at Cal Poly Humboldt in Arcata Ca. This fall the Sculpture and Ceramics areas moved to a refurbished building . It is nice, but it is a stranger. So 4 days I week I go to my new, strange classroom and talk about making art. Right now we are working on “Favorite Food In Fiber” which as the name might imply is a fibers piece. This is just about the favorite assignment I give to students. We go in, open up the classroom and pull out the machines and make art. We sew until 11:00 then at 2:00 we are making models for bronzes right now. I have a full day!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My Name is Sondra Schwetman. Iteach sculpture at Cal Poly Humboldt in Arcata, CA. As an artists my work addresses many socially conscious issues. My current body of work approaches issues surrounding the female body – myth and reality. The work marks the passage of time, and cycles of renewal and escape. I have drawn from Eastern and Western mythologies and various historical time frames as well as current manifestations of the same in popular culture, movies, politics and fiction. I address body image and manipulation, and concerns regarding women’s physical/mental health and situation in general. Through this work it is my hope to continue an ongoing dialogue about the body – past and present.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My earliest realization that I did have power in a way I had not expected. I am a great public speaker. I found that power in a boardroom at an petrochemicals firm. I was young and smart and ran a department on which I had to give reports. Without notes I gave the report for my department to a room full of men. And they listened.
Do you remember a time someone truly listened to you?
I had that strange or unusual experience a couple of days ago. School at the university just started. I was winding up class for the day and I was talking to a student about what I was working on Artwise. I was talking and I looked around and there were 5 or 6 students who had joined in the “audience”. They even asked questions
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
Making THE piece. It is out there somewhere and I have gotten close! As an artist you make what you make. Some of it hits the audience and some of it does not, but it is really more than than. It is that one piece for me, when I know I’ve hit it out of the park.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I knew I had 10 years left I would retire from teaching and just make art…
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sondraschwetmanart.com
Image Credits
Sondra Schwetman (Artist)
Jospeh Gustafson
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