About My Work
All of my artwork is a form of self-portraiture. My paintings visually describe the process of dissociation, a normal, adaptive response to extreme experiences. The figures represent aspects of myself, fragments that harbor experiences not fully integrated into consciousness. I think of their forms as physical expressions of emotional and psychological states.
I have an extraordinary personal history, the details of which are almost guaranteed to invite incredulity. I am a survivor of torture and medical experimentation, beginning in childhood, both private and tax-funded, right here in the US. By exhibiting my artwork, I hope to raise awareness about these ongoing, yet widely unexposed human rights abuses. If you would like to know more, please feel free to contact me.
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Education
2002 Atelier Program, Seattle Academy of Fine Art, Seattle, WA.
1987 BFA, Industrial Design, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, IL.
1981 School of Art, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
Solo Exhibits
2008
"Harlow Monkey", Form/Space Atelier.
2006
"Summer Clearance", Pioneer Square Saloon, Seattle, WA.
"Shattered", See Sound Lounge, Seattle, WA.
2005
Mnemonic Gallery, Seattle WA.
Selected Group Exhibits
2008
"Breaking the Walls of Bias (3)", Galerie BelAge, Westhampton Beach, NY, May 17-June 30.
PONCHO Invitational Fine Art Auction.
Canvas Gallery, Pioneer Square.
2007
"Franklin & Madeline", Collaborative art project with James Cicatko, Ouch My Eye Gallery.
"Henry Bash", Henry Art Gallery.
2006
"Think Inside The Box", OK Hotel
"Breaking the Walls of Bias", Trisha’s Gallery, Long Island, NY.
"The Beat Salon", Center on Contemporary Art, Seattle, WA.
"Noise for the Needy", Project 108, Seattle, WA.
2005
Seattle University Human Rights Film and Art Festival. Seattle, WA.
The 8th International Festival de Art Singulier. Roquevaire, Provence, France.
2004
Seattle University Human Rights Film and Art Festival. Seattle, WA.
2002
"Breaking the Walls of Bias", Hofstra Museum, Hofstra University, Long Island, NY.
1998
"Whispers '98", Honorable Mention. Gallery on The Rim, San Francisco, CA.
1992
"Silent No More", Index Gallery, Vancouver, WA.
"Silent No More", The Art Gym, Marylhurst, OR.
1991
"Silent No More" Bumbershoot, Seattle, WA.
"The Great Earth Factory Show", Installation, Atlanta, GA.
1990
"No More Secrets", Seven Stages Performing Arts Center, Atlanta, GA.
Selected Bibliography
2006 Tantra Bensko, “Interview with Lynn Schirmer” Mad Hatter’s Review, October.
2002 Edward Gomez, “Art Against The Odds: Creativity as Salve for Trauma” New York Times, July 10.
Edward Gomez, “Raw Reviews” Raw Vision #40, Fall 2002, p. 64.
1993 Eve Ensler and Stacey Schrader, Editors, Central Park, New York, #22, Spring, pp. 94,151.
Professional – Curatorial
Curator of Corridor Gallery, Tashiro Kaplan Building, Seattle, WA.
2004 – Present.
Supervisor of Curatorial Interns: Angle Gallery, Tashiro Kaplan building. 2005 – Present.
Curator of Tell! Nine artists' work on child sexual abuse. Included a community art/participationproject,reference section, a performance, and a series of panel discussions. Wonderful World of Art, Seattle, WA. 1993.
Presentations
2006
“DID System Function”, Lecture and slide show. The Ninth Annual SMART Conference, Windsor Locks, CT.
2005
“Non-State Actor Torture and Tax-funded Medical Experimentation in the US”. Seattle University Human Rights Film and Art Festival. Seattle, WA.
2004
“Art As Evidence: A Recovery Retrospective”, Slide show. The Seventh Annual SMART Conference, Windsor Locks, CT.
“Child Torture and Medical Experimentation in the US”. Seattle University Human Rights Film and Art Festival. Seattle, WA.