Foreword - “It’s a Web of friendship”
One of the things I love most about the Web is how it has enabled all of us to connect and foster friendships with people we’ve never met.
People living in our apartment block, and people halfway round the globe.
People we wouldn’t grace with a glance on the street, and people we’ve admired from afar our entire life. People.
Susan Olmetti - artist and friend
I can’t recall how Susan and I met and frankly it doesn’t matter. I do remember the huge murals she created that were the reason for my initial fascination with her. Anyone with the energy to paint on such a colossal scale has my respect. Susan’s Biblical inspiration, vibrant colors and fundamental “Joie de vivre” are all things I relate to personally so our naturally a friendship developed.
Susan
About a week ago Susan emailed me and asked me to help her with the online publicity for her upcoming show. I’ve long thought it would be interesting to do an interview her here on my blog and this seemed like a great opportunity. I hope you enjoy it…
An interview with Susan
M:
“So Susan what was your inspiration for the ‘The Jonah Series?’”
Susan:
“My inspiration is my determination to overcome all adversity through my creation and live a happy and healthy existence by letting go of negativity. My new series is very chaotic in flow. I see it as an explosion of color.”
M:
“Sounds like we share that much in common. - I’ve long said that:
‘I do art because it makes me happy. Everything else is a bonus…’”
Susan:
“I’ve adapted over time.
I’ve developed a ‘You can’t hurt what you can’t touch (my heart)’ attitude, although I always struggled with maintaining this protective barrier in interactions with people close to me.
God forgave Jonah. From my perspective, it takes a lot to forgive people.
I have a personal secret with Jonah. I finds myself everyday uttering the words, ‘Not today,Jonah’ whenever I feel myself being pulled under by others around me. I find I’d prefer to say goodbye and let go because they people don’t change.”
Jonah
M:
“Which is your favorite piece in your coming exhibition and why?”
Susan:
“Well Mike they all are the same to me. I look at my art like they are my children and I do my best to love each and every one of them. They’re all different yet the same.”
M:
“Where did you meet Rachel Cohen-Lunning and Merrille Lichenstien-Cohen and how did the joint exhibition come about?”
Susan:
“Rachel and Merrille are sisters and they both lived in the Chelsea Hotel at one time. Rachel still lives there and Merrille moved right around the corner. I’ve known them for a decade and we all admire each others work and have wanted to do a joint exhibition for a long time. We’ve been working closely for a year now on this one.”
M:
“How did your relationship with the Tappan Z Gallery begin?”
Susan:
“I stumbled across his Gallery online. I contacted the gallery director and told him a bit about myself, my art, my long term goals. We clicked right away and I’ve been simply going with the flow.”
M:
“Well I wish you all the best of luck it’s been great chatting to you and I hope you send me pictures form the opening : )”
Well, that’s all for this morning…
As always, if you’ve enjoyed reading I’d appreciate it if you’d link back and share this with your friends.
Also if you’re an artist and would like to feature in an interview on my blog, or if you’re familiar with an artist whom you think might be interested, be sure to give me a holler. I’m always on the lookout for cool people to talk to… : )
Mike
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