Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Susan Budge. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Susan, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is creating works that people are challenged by, or can relate to- There are numerous projects that I have done that are meaningful. Early on, I used clay to celebrate life, and vent anger when life is hard. Many early works celebrated nature. My formative years were spent in New Mexico and I loved hiking in the mountains, so my ceramic forms referenced forests of aspen trees and rock formations. After being a victim of rape my work addressed that violation. When my personal life was full of drama I started using imagery on my work to tell my story. In response to stress, my work is narrative, cathartic. I work spontaneously in the studio, allowing subconscious thoughts to surface. As a result, my work reflects aspects of life at that specific point in time. When my son was born, as a single mom, I had to take him with me into the studio. I put him in his baby holder on a work table by a window thinking he would enjoy looking outside. But every time I looked at him he was watching me. That is when it hit me- that he would be watching me for guidance his whole life. It was my responsibility as his only parent to set a good example for this little person. So, I modified some of my behavior, and started making little forms with a single eye peaking out. That was the beginning of the “Eye Spy” series. I’ve been making forms with realistic eyes for over 21 years now. They are reminders that we are being watched, and to “be good”. Another meaningful project was my “Out of the Depths” exhibition at the Nave Museum in Victoria. It followed and addressed the Deep Horizon Oil Spill. My dad was a geologist and always taught us to be respectful of our environment- to leave our campsite cleaner than we found it. As I watched the news of oil pouring into the ocean, I knew that I had to say something about it. So I made sculptures of drill bits coming up, as if out of the water. I had been making ceramic hard hats as a tribute to my grand dad, so I used those as a tribute to the oil field workers, then included 11 white hard hats with an eye to honor those who had lost their lives in the explosion. More meaningful exhibits followed where I was challenged to make works to fit a particular environment. For my exhibit at the Botanical Gardens, I made fountains to fit into the pond, for Brackenridge Park I referenced elements of nature as did my installation at the Silos- “Stardust”. Responding to challenges in a positive and productive manner is some of my most rewarding work.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I first found clay when I was five year old at the pond on my grandparents farm in east Texas. I formed a little plate, bowl, cup and utensils. I let them bake in the sun, and then when it rained they melted back into the earth. Then, in high school in Albuquerque I was part of an experimental program with an extensive selection of art courses. I took them all, including ceramics. From that point on, I never stopped working with clay. In college I pursued several majors, and always took ceramics as a reward to myself. Finally, as a senior majoring in business, I came to my senses and changed my major to art. My courage came from winning a cash award in an art competition. An article came out in Time magazine that listed the percentages of art students who stayed in art careers, as working artists, or teachers of art. The percentage was about 1 out of a thousand, so I told my ceramics professor, “I’m going to be the ONE!” I was determined, but also realistic. I knew I would have to support my art career with another job, so I looked for jobs that gave me the most time off, so that I could get in the studio. First I worked as a flight attendant, and I used my benefits to promote my work, while managing my schedule so that I could complete my Masters of Art degree. I burned out at that job the same time the airline went out of business, so I waited tables until I got my first grants from the Texas Commission on the Arts. The artist in education grants started my teaching career. I taught kindergarten through high school then taught at San Jacinto College. After five years, I landed the position as Head of Ceramics and Art Metals at San Antonio College. I learned that I could move up the pay scale quicker with graduate credits, so I attended graduate school at UTSA while I was teaching full time. In three years I earned my MFA, and within twenty years, I had my only son, became full Professor, received an excellence in teaching award and established and endowed scholarship fund for Ceramics.Then I carefully calculated my cost of living and took my retirement the minute I was eligible in order to devote more time to my son and my art work. While teaching full time, my work was included in hundreds of exhibitions, selected for site specific public art projects, added to corporate/museum collections in addition to private collections worldwide. Following retirement from teaching, I was awarded a residency at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, taught ceramics at the Museum of Fine Arts Glassell School, participated in a residency and exhibit in Germany, had my work added to more museum collections. One of my students introduced me to the the man of my dreams, a singer/songwriter who built me a big studio, helps move, deliver and install my work. We married at the end of the pandemic and I gained a big family that I love to spend time with. Wanting to produce sculpture that can be in any outdoor setting, I started having my works cast in bronze and stainless steel and participating in additional public art exhibits. To date, I have had 34 solo exhibitions and been included in hundreds of group shows. It gives me a great sense of pride to have my work on permanent display in parks, public buildings and museums. First I am rewarded when I make good work, then I am rewarded again when others want to own it. Regardless of how much success I achieve with my sculpture, my greatest source of pride is my son William. He has grown up in the art industry, going to gallery openings, museums, attending lectures and meetings, helping me in the studio, transporting work, helping install shows all while pursuing his own creative interests, getting a college education and starting his own career. He is ethical, smart, talented, funny, hardworking- absolutely a man to be proud of. It’s usually a copy of his eye that is peering out of my sculptures.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
There are many rewards and challenges in choosing a career in art. For me, it was not as much a choice as it became a necessity. I have to make art. Working in the studio keeps me sane. While I was teaching at San Antonio College, we were overloaded with committee work. When I commented on that, and how it interfered with my studio time, the dept. chair said “Well, you could just do your art work in the summer”. I almost choked! I told her that I needed to make my art like I need to breathe… (prana- life giving breath). She didn’t understand. Some people can’t understand, and that’s ok. My desire to make art has always been so great, that I was willing to work other full time jobs to support my art career. Now, after teaching college for 32 years, I have retired from teaching and can devote my time to my studio work. There are many rewarding aspects to being an artist. The first is to have the time in the studio to work, the second is to produce good work, and the third is when others recognize that I make good work. The ultimate rewards are when collectors, corporations and museums purchase my works. I love it when people want to live with my work, and I love it when museums, corporations and parks put my work on permanent display.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
A story illustrating my resilience… Sometimes it feels like the whole world is crashing in on you. You go into survival mode and just push through. In 2022, my mother died, three weeks before my one and only wedding. At the same time I was finishing a major commission. Then I was diagnosed with breast cancer, my son graduated from high school and left for college. Then I had a mastectomy with many complications resulting in more surgeries, draining all my strength and energy. I had a solo show scheduled to open at Heidi Vaughan Fine Art and did not have enough work to fill the show, but I did not want to give up my opportunity. So, I asked Heidi if we could co-curate a show, inviting artist friends whose work dealt with transformation, transcendence, manifestation, mystery, or healing through their art- We called the show “Transcending”. “Transcending” became an exhibition of works produced by artists who use their work as a means of addressing physical, emotional, mental or spiritual challenges of life. As modern Shaman’s, the works in the exhibition varied between the subtle and sublime to the blatant and defiant. Harsh realities and inner reflections created an intriguing dance among the works of a diverse group of artists. With only two months notice, every invited artist said “YES!” While I was recovering from my surgeries, I was able to create small works. Then as I regained strength, I was able to construct one of my larger sculptures. The exhibition was a celebration of survival, strength and friendship. Art reflects life, and life is enriched through art. It can show you how it feels to be in the depths of despair, or it can elevate you out of the muck and madness in which people can become entrenched. Following “Transcending” was “Dreams, Visions and Desires”, a show that celebrated the return of strength and triumph in the aftermath of adversity. I’ve always told my students that tenacity is the key to success- now I will add resilience.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://susanbudge.com
- Instagram: budgeceramic7
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanbudge777/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@susanbudge4781
Image Credits
Ansen Seale
Bach & Petrie
Hall
Budge
Rick Paulson