As the winner of the Mixed category in the 2001 International Art Contest, being selected by such a diverse group of artists from the world over, how do you feel? 

Thrilled and very flattered.

Please describe your current works and any plans for forthcoming exhibits. 

I am currently finishing the second piece in a triptych, which consists of a philosopher, an academic and an artist. I am also finishing a small freestanding sculpture of an old woman.

As of this spring, "Figurehead" will be part of a National Show: Captive Passage: The Transatlantic Slave Trade and the Making of the Americas, opening April 6th, 2002 at the Mariners' Museum in Newport News, Virginia. In February 2002, the show will travel to the Smithsonian, where it will stay for approximately 8 months, and then move on to Atlanta, Chicago, and New York City (as a result, "Figurehead" will not be available for purchase until 2005). 

Five more of my pieces will be shown in Mutation, held at 31 Grand in Brooklyn, New York, opening January 12th and running until January 26th.

If any, in what ways have you seen changes in attitudes towards "art"? 

In the last 100 years, it seems that "high art" has become an illustration for obscure philosophical insights-without intellectual commentary, the work is inaccessible. Meanwhile, "realism" has taken second stage; to many, "obviousness" has become trivial. But I disagree. Rather, as a professional philosopher, I find that most of the "philosophy" that accompanies postmodern art to be contrived, if not fraudulent. As a result, I am perfectly comfortable making art that stands alone, independent of theory.

Do you think that the fine artist will survive as technology replaces our skills? 

Yes. Nothing will replace the intimacy of the human touch; art is not about technique, but about ourselves.

What advice could you give to those embarking upon a career as an artist? 

Work, work, work. Did I say work?

Why did you enter the Art Dept contest and what decided your selection for entry? 

I entered because of the quality of the site and the other entrants' work. I selected "Figurehead" because I thought it was one of my stronger pieces.

Is there anything about being an artist that you do not like? 

The fact that I have to constantly wrap myself up in self-promotion.

Would you sell your most favourite artwork, or keep it? 

Hard to say. I think I would sell my most favorite piece, but I definitely will not sell my very first pieces-they are too much a part of me.

How important was education and training to you? 

The training I had in figurative painting and drawing has provided me with a great vocabulary. I particular, I remember the summer course I took at RISD in figurative drawing which was tremendous. But I am self taught when it comes to sculpture and wood carving, although I did spend most of my free time in Rome (on a junior year abroad) drawing Medieval and Renaissance sculptures. Drawing another sculptor's work is a profound method of communication; some of my best conversations have been with dead men.

Is there anything in your art career that you would have changed? 

I would have started showing my work earlier. I've gotten a late start at all of this, and still have a long way to go.

If you were invited overseas to exhibit your works, where would you like that to be? 

I would love to exhibit most anywhere, but perhaps Europe in particular, specifically, Germany, Austria, or Eastern Europe, where some of the best Medieval woodcarving originated.

Are you looking forward to entering the contest for next year? 

Absolutely.

Do you recommend use of the Internet for an artist's publicity? 

Absolutely.

Would you change anything about how the contest is organised? 

No, everything seemed to run very smoothly.

How can the Internet be made better for working artists? 

As it is, the internet is a great tool. If I could change anything I would like to see galleries take advantage of online portfolios instead of requesting slides. This would save artists a lot of money. Perhaps this will happen as the quality of internet imaging increases.

Stefanie Rocknak