Artist Statement

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I, Kim Vanderheiden, do attest that the statements below are true and, to the best of my knowledge, are of fundamental importance to the direction of my artwork.  

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I had a computer mouse that lit up when I touched it. Like a lover, it responded with delight to the caress of my hand. However, the mouse didn’t work well. It jerked and flailed across the screen and even crashed the computer. Students and apprentices complained. Finally, I bought a new mouse. The new mouse didn’t care if I touched it. I felt cruel and ill as I threw the old mouse in the trash.

When I was in college, I saw a Rolling Stones concert. Mick Jagger owned the stage. He owned the music. He owned the audience.

The epigraph of E.M. Forster’s book, Howard’s End reads, “Only connect…”

I saw the third to the last performance night of the first season of American Idol. I’ve been watching it, entranced, ever since. I cheer when I see it recreated in other countries. This year, I even voted. 

In January, I subjected an acquaintance to my unfortunately ubiquitous rant of anguish: “Why am I an artist? I’ve given up my life for this. What am I doing? Who am I doing it for? What kind of art am I trying to do?” He asked what kind of art I would make if I had no audience. I stared at him. I had no idea. 

I bought this small poem carefully letterpressed in one long, uneven slug trail line:
“I wish to point out to you how delicately the slugs creep along the ground,
with utmost grace and careful, tender attention to the surface on which they glide.” [1] 

I once listened often to many versions of Les Misérables. Later, I came across one of the recordings and listened again. I sang and almost wept. I would like to make art that is the equivalent in joy, pain, honor, love, struggle, filth, and redemption. Perhaps I will die before that happens. I think, I must work harder!