Sarah Richert
Artist Statement
Her yelling at me
My grandmother would always say “tochter von Gott” meaning, "daughter of God" in German. Although I did not completely understand the purpose of this statement growing up, I knew it meant I was a child of God in my grandmother’s eyes. Ironically, she called me this name only when she was yelling at me, instead of using other verbal German reprimands. Looking back on it, I think she yelled that phrase instead of a simple “shut up’’ in order to remind me of who I need to be, rather than what I am doing wrong.
The dolls
I am not entirely sure if my grandmother was a devout crazy-lady or a devout tradition holder, but one of those can be explained through my ornamental German doll collection. Conventionally beautiful dolls clothed in traditional European clothing and perfectly styled hair make up part of the gifts she has given me over the years. Although they possess decades of culture and heritage, I was more convinced they possessed demonic spirits more than anything, so I was never particularly fond of them. After planning to sell them or give them away, my grandmother told me that they are cursed and if I got rid of them, I would be cursed as well. So naturally, they are sitting in my closet and I discarded any plans to get rid of them.
The tea parties
For as long as I can remember tea parties were a common pastime for me, beginning with miniature tea sets that were nearly impossible to break to eventually handling tea sets that were decades old and worth more than me. Of course I did not attend these ‘parties’ because I was an avid tea enthusiast, I attended these partially because I was forced to, but mainly just to learn ‘how to be a lady’. Including learning the proper placement of silverware, napkins, dishes, and, above all, me. We would venture to weird old houses with weird old ladies and eat weird old foods. Ironically, all I learned was that I hate the idea of social status affecting how you act and think.
Her story
My grandmother came from a long line of German aristocracy and traditions, some of which were passed on to me, including my middle name, ‘Anne’, which was traditionally given to the first born girl of the first born girl of each generation. If she had it her way, the line probably would have continued in Germany. However, she lost everything during World War 2, even her own elementary-aged children. As the Nazis were taking over, her family’s house was a primary target for them because it was a mansion overlooking a body of water, a particular body of water that eventually hosted American military members. Consequently, the Nazis invaded her house, stole her young boys so they can join them, turned her mansion into a surveillance camp, and gave her a direct choice. Join or die. Fortunately, American allies found her and were able to take her in as a refugee in America. Where she stayed for the remainder of her life, eventually having more kids and marrying a successful oil worker. She only was able to salvage a few photographs and items, but kept her aristocratic culture with her indefinitely.
My studies?
Although traditionally the women were less educated than men, meaning they were expected to read extensive literature and be able to perform basic arithmetic, but complicated college-level studies were reserved for the men. This was one tradition that she did not want me to stand behind. Once I was identified as ‘gifted’, she had me reading any books she could acquire. She denounced certain activities, such as me watching the entirety of Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network, reading simple children’s books, and playing “educational games”
My grandmother would always say “tochter von Gott” meaning, "daughter of God" in German. Although I did not completely understand the purpose of this statement growing up, I knew it meant I was a child of God in my grandmother’s eyes. Ironically, she called me this name only when she was yelling at me, instead of using other verbal German reprimands. Looking back on it, I think she yelled that phrase instead of a simple “shut up’’ in order to remind me of who I need to be, rather than what I am doing wrong.
The dolls
I am not entirely sure if my grandmother was a devout crazy-lady or a devout tradition holder, but one of those can be explained through my ornamental German doll collection. Conventionally beautiful dolls clothed in traditional European clothing and perfectly styled hair make up part of the gifts she has given me over the years. Although they possess decades of culture and heritage, I was more convinced they possessed demonic spirits more than anything, so I was never particularly fond of them. After planning to sell them or give them away, my grandmother told me that they are cursed and if I got rid of them, I would be cursed as well. So naturally, they are sitting in my closet and I discarded any plans to get rid of them.
The tea parties
For as long as I can remember tea parties were a common pastime for me, beginning with miniature tea sets that were nearly impossible to break to eventually handling tea sets that were decades old and worth more than me. Of course I did not attend these ‘parties’ because I was an avid tea enthusiast, I attended these partially because I was forced to, but mainly just to learn ‘how to be a lady’. Including learning the proper placement of silverware, napkins, dishes, and, above all, me. We would venture to weird old houses with weird old ladies and eat weird old foods. Ironically, all I learned was that I hate the idea of social status affecting how you act and think.
Her story
My grandmother came from a long line of German aristocracy and traditions, some of which were passed on to me, including my middle name, ‘Anne’, which was traditionally given to the first born girl of the first born girl of each generation. If she had it her way, the line probably would have continued in Germany. However, she lost everything during World War 2, even her own elementary-aged children. As the Nazis were taking over, her family’s house was a primary target for them because it was a mansion overlooking a body of water, a particular body of water that eventually hosted American military members. Consequently, the Nazis invaded her house, stole her young boys so they can join them, turned her mansion into a surveillance camp, and gave her a direct choice. Join or die. Fortunately, American allies found her and were able to take her in as a refugee in America. Where she stayed for the remainder of her life, eventually having more kids and marrying a successful oil worker. She only was able to salvage a few photographs and items, but kept her aristocratic culture with her indefinitely.
My studies?
Although traditionally the women were less educated than men, meaning they were expected to read extensive literature and be able to perform basic arithmetic, but complicated college-level studies were reserved for the men. This was one tradition that she did not want me to stand behind. Once I was identified as ‘gifted’, she had me reading any books she could acquire. She denounced certain activities, such as me watching the entirety of Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network, reading simple children’s books, and playing “educational games”