Alice Schwager Biography | Outsider Folk Art Gallery | George and Sue Viener

Alice Schwager “I paint, therefore I play. For me, painting is equal with playing. Maybe that’s why I refuse to have a certain style or a particular imagery. Every day in our life is different, so is my work. As long as I can explore through art, I consider myself to be free. Freedom is what I feel when I create.”

Born Romania, 1962-

Growing up with communism did not encourage creativity, but Schwager realized that imagination is everything: it is the voice of daring, it is freedom. After the revolution in 1989, Schwager worked as a play therapist in a children’s hospital, using Art therapy as an approach while working in the psychiatric unit. Schwager started to create her own work with rope, leather, old blankets from the hospital, discarded wood pieces, toy parts, puzzles, dominos; whatever objects she found. She started painting while working with children from ages three to five, doing messy ‘play’ on cardboard. She decided not to throw the children’s work away but to paint on top of it, which opened another avenue for her in paint. Schwager moved to the United States in 2002, after having traveled back and forth a few times. Since 2005 Schwager has lived in Quarryville, PA in the woods, where she feels she is influenced less by society and is becoming more connected to nature.

Everything that is going on in my life inspires me- even the materials I am surrounded by. I do collages with different themes: Icons, Native American, African, Aboriginal, September 11th events… some people say my work is tribal but there are no traditional artistic themes through my work. I don’t want to bore myself or bore others. Everyday is different and that’s my work, too. I don’t feel like I fit anywhere in the art world. I am interested in the reaction of people and want to send my work out with positive energy in to other’s homes, I want them to be something alive and healing not just a simple decoration. My intention is for healing. My chant is: “Creator Whisper, I obey.” That’s the way I work, so it’s a sort of a trance.

I don’t hear voices but I feel that I am guided by an unseen force. I have to be alone. I have to have quiet.

Sometimes I do not even remember the technique I use. People ask me, “So how did you do this?” I do not have an answer- even thought I like the effect and wish to create again in that style, but it is gone. When you’re flowing- you’re flowing, it’s as simple as that. Working with children for ten years taught me one thing: that we have to play more as adults. Descartes said: “I think, therefore I am.” I say, “I play, therefore I paint.”

For me painting is equal with playing. I feel a lot of freedom when I create.

Achievements

Honorable Mention, 2001 U.S. Army Fine Arts Contest, United States Army Europe level for “African Themes,” Water Base painting

Honorable Mention, 2001, U.S. Army Fine Arts Contest, United States Army Europe level for “And God Created Us For A Reason,” Mixed Media

Certificate of Appreciation for judging the 2nd Annual Fine Art Exhibit sponsored by 279th Base Support Battalion Child and Youth Services, Bamberg, Germany (December 2001)

Recent Exhibitions

“Tribute to Native American Heritage Month,” U.S. Army Community Activities Center, Bamberg, Germany, 2002: dual exhibition with Clelia Evans
Download Internet Café, Bamberg, Germany, 2002: solo exhibition
“Remembering the 11th of September, 2001” Community Activity Center, U.S. Army, Bamberg, Germany, 2002: solo exhibition
Community Activity Center, U.S. Army, Bamberg, Germany, 2001: solo exhibition