Rising Waters, Mythical Ships

Carol Schrader’s Rising Waters, Mythical Ships invites viewers into a lush, layered world where mythology, memory, and contemporary life drift together on vibrant seas. Whimsical ships sail through colorful waves alongside chimera, creating a dreamlike menagerie that feels both playful and deeply symbolic. Through cyanotype, stitching, painting, and fiber-based sculpture, the artist transforms sun, water, fabric, and thread into immersive spaces charged with ritual, presence, and transformation.

Both visually exuberant and emotionally resonant, Rising Waters, Mythical Ships calls viewers to reflect on connection, resilience, and the power of imagination in uncertain times.

Opening reception 5-9pm on June 12, 2026 at Art City.

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Carol Schrader is a member of Jeffrey Gibson’s Biennale educator team and the Abstract Picnic Arts Collective in Santa Fe, NM. She has an MFA, Art Institute of Chicago (exp 2026), and a BA in Government, Harvard. Art brings together her passions for creating community and connecting to place.

Image courtesy of the artist.

Carol Schrader

June 12 - July 4, 2026 at Art City

Surrounded by water in Venice,
I drew whimsical ships based on the mythology carved into stone around me,
then filled them with the sinking buildings of that ancient city.

Chimera, the three together, lion, goat, snake.
Transformation, melding past and present.
Your sails are aflame, the conjunction of fire and water.
You are a mythical beast so you must carry our dreams.
You are a ship of fools so you must carry our ego, our greed.
Can you save the sinking world?