Artist's Books

For decades, Schmidt has been making books, exploring the distinct storytelling and interpretative possibilities that the form has to offer; that is, as a more private art form that can be carried with you and read alone. Schmidt’s books often explore the connections and experiences of family, and are often informed by her own experience of adopting children. For example, in Would You Accept . . ., Schmidt uses the text from an adoption agency pamphlet meant to prompt parents to examine their own needs and limitations. She writes: “many children are raised by relatives, foster families or adoptive families, who face loss and displacement with great courage and resiliency . . . My books are about the memories, feelings and transitions that occur in these families, as well as other families. The interactions between adults and children involve a range of physical contacts, movements, and hand gestures that mark our roles as part of a family. We move according to necessity, according to our ages, and our expectations and feelings. The images and text work together to tell a story – but an uneasy and indeterminate one.”