The incredible passion I have for animals and the natural world is what inspired me to learn taxidermy. All the animal elements found in my work are road kill casualties or have died from natural and unpreventable deaths. By preserving them in the very small window of time between death and decay it forces the viewer to see them in a more intimate and surreal setting. By placing them in improbable situations, I hope to remind the viewer of our fragile world.
I grew up in Rochester, NY and still call it my home today. I work at More Fire Glass Studio full time, managing the studio and blowing glass. On weekends I volunteer at Wild Wings (an injured bird of prey facility) helping to educate people about the environment. And at home, my husband and I, have 3 rescue greyhounds.
Creating and making art from a very young age eventually led me to art school. I graduated from Alfred University, School of Art and Design, where I was exposed to glassblowing and continued to experiment with different materials. My sculptural work is mixed media based. I love sourcing found objects from antique stores, sometimes those are the source of inspiration for the piece. I incorporate my own blown and sculpted glass into the work but I also incorporate vintage glass as well.
I have always felt a strong love and connection to animals and the natural world. As a kid, my sister and I spent hours upon hours playing outside, building forts and making “food” from random plants and berries. We would stay busy playing in Irondequoit Creek which ran through our backyard and enjoyed being surrounded by the wildlife that lived close by. This informed my artwork as a kid and it continues to do so today.
My approach of beginning a piece consists of different thoughts and feelings. It isn’t always the same formula for me. I don’t do a ton of sketching, most often a vision will pop in my head and I start piecing it together. It could be the animal that inspires me, in other instances it is a found object or a lot of times I am tying personal experiences in amongst the broader message. I hint at what the pieces are about for me in the titles but I always love for the viewer to take away their own perception of the piece if possible.
I am honored to be among all of the talented artists showing work in the current exhibition de/composition at Main Street Arts, I hope all of you get the chance to see the show!
Jennifer Schinzing is one of 31 artists featured in the national juried exhibition de/composition at Main Street Arts. de/composition runs through June 28, 2019.
