MEET THE ARTIST, SUSAN DODGE

PLEIN AIR PAINTING AND PRINTS BY SUSAN DODGE

TO BE EXHIBITED IN STETSON GALLERY THROUGHOUT APRIL

The Plein Air Painting and Prints of Marblehead native and Salem resident Susan Dodge, including images of coastal Maine, will be the featured exhibit throughout April in the Stetson Gallery of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead, 28 Mugford St., Marblehead. The opening reception will be held Sunday, April 7, 12-3 p.m., with light refreshments served. Dodge will also be in the Gallery for a meet-the-artist event on Wednesday, April 24 from 6-9 p.m.

 “I am an artist, always, in whatever I do. There are places in this world that hold my heart that, when we visit them, remember who we are. The Coast of Maine is one of the places I have been visiting since I was a child. It brings me to a place of peace in myself.”
            Lifelong artist Susan Dodge was born and raised in Marblehead, and her family history in the town goes back many generations. After earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Massachusetts College of Art in 1985, Susan eventually moved to Key Largo, Florida. The beauty of the tropical Florida Keyes holds a special place in her creative language to this day, but in 1992 Susan returned to Massachusetts to be closer to her family and raise her daughter, Nadine. While working at Julie Keyes Designs, she enjoyed being a part of a vibrant young artist community and having her first studio. Susan created the Artful Dodger signature and created murals, tiles and signature pottery of her own, selling in galleries all over the US and the Virgin Islands.

Susan also pursued a business career and after working in sales and marketing at the Hawthorne Hotel, returned to school at age 48. She earned a certificate in digital graphic design and began work as a design assistant at Pearse Street Consulting, a new media firm that develops social networking websites, where she is now Project Manager. She continues her painting and creative works at her home studio.
           Susan lives and works in Salem with her husband, musician Mamadou Diop and her 13-year old son Djibril. Her daughter, Nadine Dodge, is a Fulbright scholar at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand, where she is studying Environmental Policy.

“My newest body of work is a series of ‘plein air’ paintings of watercolors and gelatin prints that capture a moment of beauty of the most northern spots of down east Maine. The paintings represent that our roots keep us grounded to the earth, reminding us of who we are in a circle of life rising from the dirt and then falling back to the ground. It’s the in between that matters; particularly how we reach and stay connected to who we are.“

           Stetson Gallery showcases artist members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead and the wider artistic community. It is open during Church events, when Church staff are in the building, and by appointment. If lights are on and the door to the Gallery is unlocked, visitors may enjoy the exhibit. The Church Administrator and the curators can also make themselves available to show an exhibit. Please call the Administrator at 781-639-1215, or email the curators at stetson@uumarblehead.org to arrange an appointment.

Calendar: Sunday, April 7, 12-3 p.m.: Opening reception for exhibit of the work of Susan Dodge, Stetson Gallery, Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead, 28 Mugford St., Marblehead. For information, call 781-631-1215.

Calendar: Wednesday, April 24, 6-9 p.m. Meet the artist availability for exhibit of the work of Susan Dodge, Stetson Gallery, Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead, 28 Mugford St., Marblehead. For information, call 781-631-1215.