Karen Schaefer

What do you consider the most pressing social issue right now?

the growing poverty/wealth gap both domestically and globally
the crises in public education
the impact of current US foreign policy
the war
the growing power of the Christian right and its influence on policy
the shameless disregard for the environment of our current administration

If you could do a piece for the current White House, what would it be?

I would make a mapping installation that traces the communities of origin of the almost 1800 American Military casualties in Iraq since the war began on 3/19/03, www.antiwar.com/casualties/index.

The piece would be a permanent installation that I would add to as the war continues, viewers would be able to witness new lines being added to the piece, each line representing a life just lost. The work would make visible the communities that have suffered the greatest loss.

(I am interested in the full picture of lives lost through the US invasion in Iraq, but would focus on representing the ongoing US loss for the current administration.)

What gives you hope these days?

young people’s interest and commitment to the fair trade movement
internet political organizing like www.moveon.org
the growth of international microfinance /microcredit institutions
growth in sustainable agriculture and green architecture

What is the most important duty of a citizen?

to bring a creative and ethical urgency to our interaction with one another
to be informed about the policies which impact our lives and those around us
to vote

And of an artist?

To make visible that which is unseen, to give voice to that which is unheard, to challenge, engage, and inspire the collective imagination.

What advice do you have for your students, for young people seeking justice?

be vigilant in your pursuit
find those people/mentors who can support your growth as an artist
create a contemplative daily practice for yourself
engage with other artists, look at other work in both your own discipline and other disciplines

What question would you like to pose to artists on this site?

What geographic locations were/are most significant for you in the development of your artistic life and practice? I am interested in meaning and geography, identifying those places that have most significantly informed your life as an artist. I am interested in what are the similarities and differences, who needs the great expanse of nature for inspiration, and or who finds the urban landscape central to the development of their work.

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