Meet Natalie Schorr | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Natalie Schorr and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Natalie, why did you pursue a creative career?
I don’t think I pursued an artistic career; I think it pursued me. Being creative is so much a part of who I am that I cannot really separate myself from it. I have had to take on many other jobs in the past in order to support myself and my family, but I was always able to find creativity in the cracks and moments between life. Also, creativity takes a lot of different forms. I draw, collage, print, build, sew, knit, crochet, try making new foods; the list is endless. And now that I’m retired from the other jobs, I get the privilege of not putting fun on the back burner as much, because creativity is all about having fun.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Primarily, I am a collage artist. Recently, a curator told me that they “admired” that I was so dedicated to collage, which was “not a respected medium.” I think they miss the point.

For me, collage is very personal. It is about accepting things I cannot change. When I draw something, I can make it exactly the way I want. With collage, it would be impossible to find a hand for instance that has the exact gesture in the exact lighting and the exact skin tone to exactly match the body you are building, so you have to accept things that are not perfect. Not to scale or not as you envision. You have to make compromises. And like all compromises, you can either look at the work as disappointing or exciting. I get excited, because I have used things I would not normally have put together and made something I never imagined I would do. Pushed a boundary and grown a bit. Art and play are good therapy.

Collage came into my work at a time when there was a lot about my life that was extremely hard to accept, and it helped me to learn that things can be wonderful and have their own beauty while letting go of the need for perfection. Collage is incredibly accessible, too. If you can operate scissors and a glue stick, then you’ve got this.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am not the person who tries to cram every experience possible into a trip. I try to enjoy the things I get to do and not stress about the things that don’t make the cut for whatever reason. Places around Greensboro that I enjoy are the Bog Garden, Greensboro Project Space, and Gate City Yarns. I frequent Pho Hien Vuong, Nazareth Bread, and Kiosco for great food without pretense, and I’m always delighted when I get to watch the symphony practice through the windows. I could (and frequently do) spend days in Reconsidered Goods discovering new creative materials and ideas. It’s an incredible gift to have them here in Greensboro.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to acknowledge my children, Zoe and Isaac, as the ones who have been my constant support. While they each see my work very differently, their honest feedback is invaluable.

Website: https://natalieschorr.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natalieschorrart/