Denise slaps a little sending medium on Boxcar Arete (V8), Gunks, New York. Photo: Russell Santos
Denise slaps a little sending medium on Boxcar Arete (V8), Gunks, New York. Photo: Russell Santos
From Urban Climber #20
Name: Denise Strzempek.
In it: A little over a decade.
Home: Philadelphia, PA.
Sponsors: Five Ten, Verve.
Local Climbing Area: Haycock Mountain, PA and Doylestown Rock Gym, PA.
Most memorable climbing experience?
Not too long after I graduated college in 2000, I got to experience my dream of living on the road in a minivan! After working many hours to save enough money, along with a few strokes of good luck, I was able to escape the world for a year and just climb. I made numerous breakthroughs in my climbing by projecting things that were way too hard for me…and doing them! I learned that anything is possible if your heart is in it and you are willing to put in the time.
Tell us about your dream climbing trip. My dream climbing trip is pretty simple — it could take place anywhere there are beautiful routes or boulders and good people that want to try hard, but laugh too. Some other ingredients would be: a cozy bed to retire in after a long day of climbing, some tasty chocolates, and sardines with mustard (not on the same cracker); good food and spirits, nice weather with great sunsets, and steaming hot showers, too. To complete the dream I send my project!
Aside from being a strong climber you’re also an amazing artist. What’s the story? I have been drawing since I was given my first set of crayons as a child. Art, like climbing, has been an big part of my life since its introduction. My medium of expression fluctuates, as does my subject matter. I have worked with silkscreen, woodcuts, embroidery, and clay subjecting abstract landscapes and animals. Dogs always seem to find their way into my subject matter. These days I am considering myself more of an illustrator, working on children's books and magazine art, as well as personalized pet portraits.
Do you feel there any correlations between climbing and art? Being that there are so many climbers out there that are artists, there must be a connection. There is a certain freedom in art and climbing and both act as an escape from the everyday world. Both the arts and climbing communities tend to be very accepting and really allow for individuals to express themselves freely. While working on an art project or a climbing project, one enters into problem solving mode: deciding on a foot placement is like choosing where to put a dab of paint.
Well put. Alright, now for some quick questions. Do you prefer crimps, slopers or pinches?
Pinches are my very favorite!
Technical or burly?
Burly, but I get great satisfaction from working out a technical move.
Who are your top 5 climbing heroes? 1. Lynn Hill
2. Lisa Rands
3. Jason Kehl
4. Char Fetterolf
5. Anyone who works full-time and still climbs his or her heart out!
Top 5 artists? 1. Marc Chagall
2. Paul Klee
3. Eric Carle
4. Shel Silverstein
5. Frank Lloyd Wright
Inspire someone with one sentence. "A goal without a plan is just a wish." -Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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