Susan J. Zimmerman

ARTIST STATEMENT

I create layered compositions that evolve from my inner landscape that weaves in and out of my outer world. They are explorations inspired by my lifelong fascination with paper, writing, overlays, manuscripts, calligraphic marks and formal concerns as well as dreams and memories, darkness and light. Translucency allows some layers to be revealed and altered by subsequent layers. Lines evoke time lines, life lines, the rhythm of the breath, heartbeat and the connection of brain and hand through brushstrokes. I am connected to life through a body of emotional and physical experience.

“Light and darkness are but opposite sides of the same thing, so wherever the sunlight falls it must of necessity cast a shadow….In the depths of joy dwells sorrow…” The Grass Pillow, Natsume Soseki, 1906

BIO

Susan J. Zimmerman’s art training began in a painting class for children at the Pasadena Art Museum (CA). She lived in Southern California, growing up in a family of art enthusiasts. Visits to museums and galleries were common and she spent many afternoons drawing. Studio art continued at Skidmore College (NY), California State University, Los Angeles (B.A.), and Fiberworks Center for Textile Arts, Berkeley (CA) where paper making was the focus. Paper making led to a summer visiting traditional paper makers in villages throughout Japan (1983). After ten years in the San Francisco area, Susan moved to New Mexico in 1982, where she resides in Corrales. She has won honors, showing and developing her work, which is included in several public collections. She was named a Local Treasure (2009) by the Albuquerque Art Business Association and has led arts organizations, i.e. Albuquerque United Artists and the Albuquerque Arts Alliance. Her work was featured in a one person show at Artspace116, Albuquerque (2006-7) in addition to being included in New Mexico Showcase at 516 Arts, Albuquerque (2009), Albuquerque Now (2010) Miniatures & More (2009-2018) at the Albuquerque Museum of Art & History. Currently, she is represented by April Price Design Studio in Albuquerque and Ocean Ironworks, Winslow, Arizona.

REPRESENTATION

Ocean Ironworks, Winslow, Arizona

Artworks available from studio directly from the artist by appointment

MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS

2006-2019   
ArtsThrive (Miniatures & More, Albuquerque Museum of Art & History, Albuquerque, NM

2009    
Albuquerque Now, Albuquerque Museum of Art & History, Albuquerque, NM

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2008
Back to the Beginning, Weyrich Gallery, Albuquerque, NM

2006-7 
Black Earth, Artspace 116, Albuquerque, NM

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2019    
In Good Company, April Price Projects, Albuquerque, NM

2018
Catch & Release, Luanem Gallery, Menaul School, Albuquerque, NM
Guest Artist, Corrales Bosque Gallery, Corrales, NM

2017    
Local Treasure Honorees, Gallery With a Cause, NM Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM

2016
A Map of My Own, African American Performing Arts Center, Albuquerque, NM
Black & White Show, New Mexico Art League, Albuquerque, NM
Connections, Harwood Art Center, Albuquerque, NM
Inviting Joy, Rogue Gallery and Arts Center, Medford, OR  (two-person exhibition)
Embedded Landscape, April Price Projects Gallery, Albuquerque, NM

2015    
Guest Artist Show, Corrales Bosque Gallery, Corrales, NM

2014
Layers, Fine Line Creative Arts Center, St. Charles, IL (nationally juried collage and assemblage exhibition)

2013
Member’s Exhibition, Inpost Artspace, Albuquerque, NM

2012
New Mexico Showcase, 516 Arts, Albuquerque, NM  (juried by Peter Frank

2007
Guest Artist Show, Corrales Bosque Gallery, Corrales, NM
Encompassing Space, Weyrich Gallery, Albuquerque, NM

2000-2 
Various exhibitions, Patina Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

1996-9
Various exhibitions, Corrales Bosque Gallery, Corrales, NM

1997
Balance, Flow & Movement, Weyrich Gallery, Albuquerque, NM

1996 
Openings to the Underworld, NM Art Therapy Assoc., Albuquerque, NM

1994
Crossings, Bradford College, Bradford, MA

1993
Spirit of New Mexico, National Democratic Party, Washington, D.C.

1991
American Artists, Tamarind Institute & USIA, Central and South America
Magnifico, Albuquerque, NM

1990
Crafts of the American Southwest, The Society for Art in Crafts, Philadelphia, PA

1989
Annual Craft Exhibition, Tupac Center for the Arts, Tubac, AZ

1988
Nine Artists, Kimo Gallery, Albuquerque, NM

1987
Visions of Excellence, Albuquerque United Artists, Albuquerque, NM

1986
Group Exhibition, Stables Art Center, Taos, NM

1986
Pleasures, Park City, UT

1984
Group Exhibition, Abacus Gallery, Denver, CO
Group Exhibition, Canyon Road Gallery, New Canaan, CT
Chain Reaction, Albuquerque United Artists, Albuquerque, NM

1983
Group Exhibition, Sheila Olsen Gallery, Albuquerque, NM

AWARDS & HONORS

2006
Award Artist, 22nd Bravos Awards, Arts Alliance, Albuquerque, NM

1991
Collaborative Paper Making Workshop with Royal Nebeker and a Japanese Paper Maker
(9 invited artists paired with 9 Native American Artists worked together for 8 days at the Oregon coast)

1987
Guest Artist, Tamarind Institute, Albuquerque, NM

1983
Merit Award, NM Arts & Crafts Fair, Albuquerque, NM
Merit Award, Southwest Arts & Crafts Festival, Albuquerque, NM

PUBLICATIONS

2012
NM Showcase, exhibition catalogue

1983
Women in Design International Compendium

1984
Buyer’s Book of American Crafts, American Crafts Council

EDUCATION

Paper making, Japan, summer 1984
Paper making, Fiberworks Center for Textile Arts, Berkeley, CA 1976-80
California State University at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 1970-72, B.A. with Honors
Skidmore College, studio art and Summer 6 program, 1967-69

COLLECTIONS

Bernalillo County Public Art Collection, Albuquerque, NM
University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM
Encaustic Art Institute, Santa Fe, NM
Bodyfelt, Mount LLP, Portland, OR

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

2000
Juror, southwest Arts Festival, Albuquerque, NM

1997
Juror, 9th Annual Fine Arts Exhibition, Corrales, NM

1999-2001
Board Member, Albuquerque Arts Alliance (President 2001)