Ellie Schmidt's research explores social, ecological and physical “sites of exchange” of Pacific coastlines through film, swimming, boating and love stories. She is interested in developing new vocabularies for considering mutual exchanges (hunting, eating, free-diving, osmosis) that define contemporary relationships between subsistence cultures and wild places, especially in Southeast Alaska and Southern California. In the context of widespread ecological destruction, how can arts practice lead us towards a more enmeshed, reciprocal, loving relationship with the world? Can fiction, myth, or traditions help us to imagine and implement beautiful, blue, post-humanist futures? She uses documentary films, poems, creative nonfiction and interactive installation to ask what different types of interfaces — romantic attachment, subsistence, cutting fish — can teach us about these landscapes of love and loss.

What interests you most about your specific division or program at SCA?
The Media Arts + Practice division is full of genre-busting, creative faculty, staff and students, and there is a general culture and atmosphere of experimentation, adventure, and collaboration, which I love. The doctorate program allows for a great amount of flexibility intellectually, while at the same time challenging us to think deeper and broader than we have before. I feel that I've found a place where I have time and space to explore all my academic and artistic interests.

Why did you choose SCA?
What drew me to this program in particular were the fabulous filmmaking faculty (Stephanie Spray, Micheal Bodie, Holly Willis, Ashley York and more). I also wanted to be near the California coast because a lot of my work involves coastal and underwater stories.

What has been your biggest challenge at SCA so far?
It can be easy to let the small logistical things balloon and overwhelm your day-- from commuting to campus to keeping up with all the emails and showing up to classes. To combat this, I try and settle into regular routines, prioritize my projects, and be sure to make time for pressure-venting activities like beach volleyball and snorkeling.

What has been your biggest success?
Last semester I took USC's Scientific Diving class, which gets you an AAUS authorization as a Scientific Diver. As a non scientist, this was an absolute dream to learn real science methods and to dive at the Wrigley Center on Catalina Island. Experiencing the kelp forests and animals of the channel islands has been inspiring and life changing. My cohort mates, Zeynep and Andrea, and I are planning a project this year involving Scuba diving, photogrammetry, and the Santa Barbara oil rigs. I am so excited!

Is there a project you are working (or have completed) that you're especially proud of?
Last year Andrea Kim and I completed the first phase of a project called Shellfish Diner. The piece was essentially an investigation into how to eat seafood in Southern California in a way that regenerates the kelp forests and minimizes negative environmental and social impact. We explored the fish markets in Santa Barbara, learned about the urchin, abalone and kelp aquaculture industries in Goleta, and Andrea created a menu based on recipes from her family's Korean background with local seafoods. I also made a dinnerware set out of ceramics (in the USC Roski studio) based on the meal. We hosted an art dinner event in which we shared home made seafood meals and talked about kelp, sustainability and food justice in the Los Angeles area. It was super fun and I look forward to continuing that project and doing more like it.

How has SCA prepared you so far for the career you want?
I feel that in this program, I am able to experience precisely the career I want-- doing artistic research and embarking on kooky projects with friends. I hope to work as an independent artist and educator in Alaska in the future, which I feel very prepared for.

What advice do you have for prospective students looking to apply to SCA?
Be true to yourself and your interests in your application :)