Newsletter #17
[07/2024]
Hi friends,
Sending you this slightly-shorter-than-usual newsletter to share with some exciting exhibitions and workshops I'm getting involved with; I'll write more thoroughly once the rush of those moments has passed to share the new work with you and how things are unfolding for me at the moment.
In quick news: I'm feeling incredibly blessed to have found myself in West Wales since March. This little corner of the world has been so welcoming and I've quickly grown to feel that this could be my home - and trust me, I had been longing for that! Finding a place where I can finally feel safe, surrounded by beautiful people and nature has been a life changer - the anxiety and big lows that used to hit me daily have kept themselves at bay lately. What a difference it makes. Now I'm settling into this new reality, I started some care-work (making art is not sustaining me at the moment), do a lot of gardening and outdoor work, and I paint and dance as often as I can.
On the art front, opportunities are arising and I'm really glad my work gets to be experienced in the flesh both in London and here in West Wales. I'm also involved in a few workshops this Summer, all details below.
Landing
solo show & workshop
Cardigan - August
It's one of those opportunities that came through beautiful serendipity: friends were visiting and we shared some delicious homemade food in a cafe in Cardigan. As a got chatting with Becky - the lovely human at the heart of this place - she mentioned having just acquired a second space, that she'd run as a gallery, where people could share a meal or coffee, or simply sit surrounded by art, and ask me if I wanted to exhibit next. So here we are:
Landing - a first solo show in Wales
Where: Oriel Saith, 7 Black Lion Mews SA43 1HJ Cardigan
When: Through August & September
Painting Workshop: Perceptions & Senses
London (Dulwich) - September
After such a great time Painting the Figure in the Landscape in Provence last May with the Dulwich Art Group & School, I'll be back for a three-day workshop, this time in London. I’m very grateful they’re trusting me to lead this: exploring together how to paint beyond what we see, getting curious about how we see and what we feel.
All the info, with my intentions for this workshop and the day-by-day break down here.
Where: Dulwich Art Group & School, London
When: Sun-Tue, 1st to 3rd of September
Green & Stone gallery, summer show in London (Chelsea)
I just learnt that this self-portrait has made it through to the final selection of Green & Stone gallery summer exhibition in Chelsea, London. What a sweet surprise! I was already quite shaken when I saw it being pre-selected. I had submitted it as a "favour to my brave self" who had dared creating it in the first place, but then the idea of it being judged further, and potentially hung amongst very different pieces, felt utterly challenging. I pushed through nonetheless, got it framed and was helped to deliver it to London on time (thanks David!). And finally accepted? For those of you used to those submissions, you know the rollercoaster they are (on top of ending up costing quite a lot of money and time). I had convinced myself it'd be rejected, probably for self-protection, but also as it's such an intimate and vulnerable piece I still can't imagine it in a summer exhibition. Well I guess i was wrong and it is happening, and for that I'm delighted and curious/nervous to see the hang and how people engage with it.
Where: Green & Stone gallery, 251 - 253 Fulham Road SW3 6HY London
When: Tuesday 30 July - Friday 30 August 2024, Monday–Saturday 10.00–17.00
Summer show
London (Spitalfields) - July
My painting Daughter & Sea has been selected to be seen in Spitalfields Town House in London this month of July. I have a lot of love for this painting and I’m very grateful more people are getting to see her. Fiona Atkins got together a very beautiful show, over fifty paintings and ceramics in conversation in her pretty special antique gallery.
Where: Town House Spitalfields, London
When: until Sunday 28.07
Mini Exhibition
Cardigan - August
This small acrylic has been selected for Canfas Gallery's contemporary art exhibition of miniature works (all under 10x10cm). Always a joy to revisit those visual motifs of sleep and day dream, and I'm really glad to have started a relationship with acrylic paint lately, they're fun!
Where: Canfas Gallery, Cardigan
When: 2nd-31st August
Interview
By Jo MacKenzie
Jo MacKenzie interviewed me in regard to my participation to Artist Portrait & Landscape of the Year, asking great questions about my experience there, my practice and my process. I felt very happy to be invited to pause and reflect on myself with such thoughtful prompts.
30min of me smiling-non stop through it.
That's it for now,
As you might have sensed from the pace of those newsletters and my use of social medias, I'm finding myself (like many of us I guess) disengaging more and more from having an online "presence", and feeling much better and more aligned for that. This said, I hope to preserve this newsletter as it feels like a sweet way to connect to you.
What is certain for now is that I'm making the most of this new life chapter, my mental health being now much better. I feel that I've finally arrived in my life as I entered my thirties
Thank you for reading me,
I hope you're well and able to live a life as connected to your heart as possible.
Lots of love,
Suzy xxx
My fire dancing debuts, what a life my friends - photograph by Jarro at manjaro.media
Last time I shared the financial stress I was (and still am to a certain extent) under. I am so thankful for everyone who was in a position to help, it truly made a difference to receive such direct support. Things are not as bad as a couple of months ago but making art is currently costing more than providing, so I'm leaving this Donation option open in case it resonates, thank you.