Life Once Removed

SUZANNE HEINTZ’s work—described as equal parts photography, sculpture and theater—makes her an unusual artist. Her professional experience as an art director for television has a strong influence on how she works artistically: make an impact and connect at an essential level with your audience. Since her work is intended for everyone, not exclusively the “art-educated,” she uses mediums that have the most universal appeal. Taboo to most in the art world, humor is her most important medium. Heintz employs satire because she feels that it is crucial to the digestion of what might be perceived as a bitter pill – social criticism.

The external pressures of culture, and the internal pressures she placed on herself to fit into the expectations of that culture, built up over time, until she decided to do something about it. In order to confront it, she felt she had to satirize the idea of conformity to a universally accepted way of life: Married Life. This has been a primary focus of her work for nearly 14 years.

Also participating in the exhibition will be Heintz’s “familyquins”—or plastic family as they are also lovingly referred to… Meet the artists at Second Friday Opening Reception; 6-9 PM

This exhibition is part of MoP - Month of Photography Denver is a biennial celebration of fine art photography with hundreds of collaborative public events throughout Denver and the region during March and April 2015. The Firehouse Art Center is the sole participating gallery in Longmont.

EXHIBITION INFORMATION

This is a weird time in Women’s History. Don’t get me wrong, I’m pleased as punch that I was born when I was. I have more choices and opportunities than any generation of Women before me, but our roles have never been more complicated by deeply ingrained mixed messages, from both previous and present generations. The term “perfect” is no longer used to describe what we’re all striving to be. Now it is called, “fulfilled.” But for Women, the path to fulfillment is not through one thing, it’s through all things; Education, Career, Home, Family, Accomplishment, Enlightenment. If any one of those things is left out, it’s often perceived that there’s something wrong with your life. We are somehow never enough, just as we are. Even if we do have a finger in each of those pies, there is never enough time to do any of them to our satisfaction. We are constantly set up by our expectations to feel as though we are missing something.

I thought it was high time to call this nonsense out publicly, because this notion of insufficiency is not just about me, nor exclusively about Women in regards to Marriage. It’s about anyone whose life doesn’t look the way it “should.” Rarely does anyone’s life turn out the way it was expected, and if by some miracle it does, what they expected isn’t what they thought it was. I’m simply trying to get people to open up their minds, and quit clinging to outdated assumptions of what a successful life looks like. I want people to lighten up on each other, and themselves, and embrace their lives for who it’s made them, with or without the Mrs., PhD. or Esq. attached to your name.

SUZANNE HEINTZ’s work, described as equal parts photography and theater, makes her an unusual Artist.Her professional experience as an Art Director for Television has a strong influence on how she works artistically. It taught her that to make an impact, it’s essential to connect with your audience. Since her work is intended for everyone, not exclusively the art educated, she uses mediums that have the most universal appeal. Taboo to most in the art world, humor is her most important medium. At the risk of being perceived as a form of “Artertainment,” Heintz employs satire because she feels that it is crucial to the digestion of what might be perceived as a bitter pill – social criticism.

Growing up in New York was more influential than any of her education. These influences have come together in shaping the focus of her subject matter. The external pressures of culture, and the internal pressures she placed on herself to fit into the expectations of that culture, built up over time, until she decided to do something about it. In order to confront it, she felt she had to satirize the idea of Conformity to a universally accepted way of life, Married Life. This has been a primary focus of her work for nearly 14 years. Previously, her subject matter dealt with related issues on being human, and struggle with self. “Though I see value and beauty in work that focuses on other things besides humanity, it is the only subject that compels me to manifest a public expression of it.”

See more of Susan's work here: http://suzanneheintz.com/