Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Susan Feldman. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Susan , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

About a year before we ever even knew about the pandemic to come, I embarked on a large project. I had decided that after building just a few small wooden buildings, what i really wanted to do was make my own city. I thought Hey, why not??? I can do this and why shouldn’t I? I’m a 60 something woman artist and I have the capability and what the hell…. My Own City featuring only buildings that i would want to have in it if i were to in fact have My Own City. I decided to call it MOC..get it? My Own City. I became obsessed with this creation. I started thinking up places and things that i would want to include and began making lists as i thought of them….Houses, shops, activity centers, restaurants, etc…. This would become a large immersive installation made from found wood and other accoutrements. Each structure would be approx 2ft x 2 ft and include visual puns & clues as to what its purpose was ….As i was nearing 50 finished sculptures, i set it up in my studio to begin inviting curators and other art world people to come see it. My intention was to have it shown at a museum and/or gallery for optimal exposure. That was my plan. After a few visits from potential gallerists/curators, the whole plan sort of blew up in front of me. I had been determined that NOW was the time for MOC…NOW, ASAP this work had to be shown. The time was right!! Cut to a huge global pandemic that pushed the pause button on it and the rest of the world. MOC wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. I found myself with a city and nowhere for it to go. During this time, I realized that I should probably take advantage of this down time so that when, and if, things came back to normal (?) I’d be ready to hit the ground running with MOC. I hired a photographer/book designer and had the whole city shot and a catalog created. I had essays written, created souveniers from The City, and further developed the whole vibe behind it. I boxed up each piece and all the infrastructure i would need to display it. Finally, when the coast became a little bit clearer, I started to reshop this project (about 2 yrs after creation.) I was fortunate to be invited by The Rendon Group in the LA Arts District to participate in a 2 month residency. With their blessings and massive support, I was able to create the whole MOC experience in their gallery space where it was previewed during a special ICA summer event. It was set up for 5 weeks where i could conduct tours and share my city with the public. After a great run, I got offered to once again put it out there for another show. This time, It’s going to MOAH (Museum of Art History) in Lancaster, CA. Opening in September 2023. I have learned SO Much while creating & waiting for the real right time for this project!! I feel so happy that it will get another chance to be experienced in another setting. Everything happens in it’s own time, and that is EXACTLY the right time for it to become. MOC lives on!!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m originally from & grew up in LA. I studied oil painting from the age of 8-16 with a family of artists. When it came time to go to college, i stuck it out for just a year before i stopped going and began to pursue my “art career”. That journey led me to a wonderful job in the music business, but after many years, I realized if I didn’t leave and go pursue my OWN art, I would miss my chance and my true love. I started doing freelance graphic design and ultimately worked as an art director for a magazine. After the birth of our first child, I was able to dedicate whatever time i still had to my art practice, in the garage. After having our second child, they all knew where to find me, so i took a studio outside my home. YAY!!!!! That was close to 30 years ago!

For the past 8 years, I’ve maintained a studio at the Beacon Arts Bldg in Inglewood. I consider myself a Mixed Media artist. I enjoy the process of “building” whether it’s a freestanding sculpture, wall piece, or an installation.

One of the aspects of my practice is that I often create work out of things I find. The gathering of materials is all part of the process for me. I’m very interested in found materials, re-using and recycling, and I often incorporate fragments of older paintings and drawings in current projects to ‘move the past into the present’, per se.

My work often involves the use of found wood, as I love the organic nature of it and how it presents me with a starting point often by just finding a piece that inspires me to make something more out of it. I am kept enthralled with the layering process of materials such as plexiglass, photographic imagery, graphic markings and other aspects of ‘building”. I use this basis for addressing many different topics that are significant to me.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Making whatever i want, choosing the material i want to use that will best translate my vision, whether that’s sculpture, painting, drawing, etc…. I’m so fortunate to be able to go to my studio each day and just make stuff….the community of artists and artworld people in Los Angels is a very special thing. I really realized the importance of our local community of artists during a residency i did in Woodstock, NY. There I met many artists from New York and other states, and in telling our stories, i realized how fortunate we are in LA to have such a close knit community. I’ve been at this for a long time and a benefit from that is knowing so many people in my field.
In regards to having a studio, I’ve seen that during stressful, chaotic times, I feel i have a sanctuary to escape to that’s all my own “make-believe space”, where whatever i want to make or happen gets to exist in some way.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I think I always strive to enjoy and have fun Making. The deeper i can go within my spiritual self is also an added plus. Things may look so simple and yet so much is being conveyed. I feel such a huge satisfaction – an ALRIGHTNESS – when i’ve completed somethiing just the way i want to. Feels so good, like after eating a fine meal.      

Contact Info:

• Website: www.susanfeldmanart.com
• Instagram: @susanfeldmanart
• Facebook: Susan Feldman Tucker
• Email: [email protected]

Image Credits
Artist Photo by Tony Pinto