Jessica E. Blinkhorn performs at Eyedrum tonight

Atlanta's Jessica E. Blinkhorn will perform at Eyedrum tonight, after a screening of Grounded by Reality, a short documentary about her daily life as an artist. As an instructor and graduate of Georgia State University and Kennesaw State University, Blinkhorn works in a variety of media from drawing and painting to writing. Some of her work, especially her performance work, is informed and shaped by a degenerative genetic disease that caused her to loose her ability to walk at a young age.

On the eve of her performance at Eyedrum, we caught up with her on the phone just as she was putting some finishing touches on a watercolor.

What can you tell me about your upcoming performance at Eyedrum?
My performance work is different from these watercolors. My visual work is time consuming and tedious. I got into performance as a way to utilize my body as a piece.

The performance is titled "As it is Written," it works as symbolism for my natural deterioration. I’m materializing my own breakdown. When I write, I need have to have something at mid waist level. In this case, I’ll be writing on a vertical wall. As I move around the room, it will become increasingly difficult to write. I know that my hands aren’t going to be able to create forever, I use my performance as a metaphor for that deterioration.

Some people think that I’m trying to make a spectacle out of myself, but I don’t want or desire to be thought of as a spectacle. I’m trying to speak with words that aren’t vocal.

How did the documentary come about?
In October, GSU published a profile on their website about me. At that time, I had been going to GSU for a couple years and during that time I saw this woman around, with a huge head of red hair. I saw her all the time, but I’d never had a chance to talk to her. Then, one day she introduced herself and said she’d read the article about me and when the opportunity came up, her and her partner decided use to me as their subject.

They got the title from a tattoo on my arm. I'm a writer, as well, and it’s a line from one of the pieces I’ve written. I’m really grounded by reality. I have an ego, you have an ego, but being the way I am keeps me grounded.

When did you start making art?
In my family, I was the middle child, I wanted a way to stand out. My sister was the princess, so I would do whatever I could to get attention. When I was three, I would draw on the walls. One day, my mom realized that my drawing skills were way above average, so they started buying me art supplies.

How did that turn into the work that you're producing today?
When I got into KSU and saw the work that people there were producing, I realized I knew nothing. My mentor there, Joe Remillard, I learned all my technique from him. He demanded me to do my best. He never said anything like “That’s good considering...”

Grounded by Reality premieres at Eyedrum tonight, Tues., July 27 at 8 pm. Jessica E. Blinkhorn will perform immediately following the film.