Vulnerable Beauty: the work of Laura Schumpert

Artist Laura Schumpert shares with you the vulnerability she pours into her work. Profound loss led her on her current path as an artist. Its cathartic nature soothed.

Her work embodies her journey.

What led you to art?

The birth of my son triggered me to pick up a camera and document his days. After the first release of the shutter something ignited inside of me and I had a strong desire to seek out the profession. I stayed up days and nights learning and researching how to improve the quality and technique of my photographs. I photographed everything I could get my hands on and wedding photography soon became my niche and passion. His birth triggered my wedding and portrait photography and his death was the catalyst for my fine art work. Soaked in grief I began creating surrealistic portraits to process emotions I couldn't explain or live with. I never knew how powerful and cathartic photography could be with someone immersed in great pain.

When you are in need of inspiration are there particular things you read, listen to or look at to fuel your work?

I usually have too much inspiration and my difficulties come in trying to focus it on a project. What I do find helpful is looking to different mediums to help clear my head. Cinema, sculpture and literature each one can help me lift myself from a project and inspire my focus. I am drawn to anything seeping with emotion and storytelling aspects. I have also recently ventured into other mediums and I was amazed when learning a new skill how it could be applied to my photography. New knowledge and learning in something completely unrelated to your current practice can fuel your work and broaden its depth.

In an imaginary world where your art could speak, what other artist would it talk to and what would it say, ask, or communicate in some way?

Knowing the nature of creating and the mind we possess I would want to learn what that artist endured or their life experience was. Why they choose the elements they did or the messages they were conveying. I think art is deeper than the canvas it bleeds straight into ones perception and experience. A small window into a deeper presence society may try and cover, I would simply ask for their story.

What is your greatest strength?

I have always had intense drive in anything I was passionate about. My focus and determination is incessant until I reach my goal. This has been a useful factor in order to compete in such a stringent industry.

What about yourself challenges you the most?

My emotions and mind are my greatest challenge. I have a mind that never seems to shut off, constantly spinning with careless ideation and dialogue. My emotions have always been deep and intensive. I love strongly and without limits and grief has also been fiercely heightened. Trying to control those two areas is a full time job you exhaust with the only reprieve being the nights you do not dream. This could be seen as a gifted curse, in which wherever you feel pain or sorrow you as equally experience love and light. I struggle to keep the balance in harmony.

Laura Schumpert is one of the talented artists you'll see at uBe Art and the juried exhibiton, From Where I Stand.

Opening Reception: Friday, November 6, 6-10PM