ARTIST’S STATEMENT
Susan H. Farrow

   Born into a creative family, art has always been a major part of my life. Years ago, while studying Scandinavian design in Norway, I began weaving, bringing a loom home with me. In the early years of our marriage we moved from coast to coast several times, the loom traveling with us as I wove pillows, rugs and clothing, selling some at the Renaissance Fairs in the 1960’s.

   Then children came along and life filled up. Patrick was well into his sculpture so it worked out well for him to stay home with the girls and for me to go back to work. I was fortunate to have good jobs in both graphic and interior design. I also painted portraits for awhile until I became the executive director of first the Chaffee Art Center and then the Frog Hollow State Craft Centers. Once we starting growing our gallery, studios and home in this beautiful old converted church, I assisted folk artist Warrne Kimble in his studio.

   I took my big leap several years ago finally able to be in my studio full time. I knew after years of the 9-5 schedule that I needed to simply play to rediscover my creative core. Patrick and I had been picking up interesting pieces of road detritus for 30 years of morning walks. I had always been good at making something out of nothing and I also knew I didn’t want to waste a perfectly good pile of rusty metal. There it was, sitting in a corner of my studio. Play with it, just go play. No preconceptions, no expectation, just be true blue to yourself. And this is what grew from there.

   I think of them as framed moments in time like a single cell from a cartoon or comic strip, some serious, some amusing. one thought leading to another. For me, it combines images and thoughts from my life with the physical challenges of putting it all together. There are times to be in control of ones art and there are times to throw control out the window. Both of those are represented here in my work. The control comes from the limits of the medium and the shapes I am offered. The out of control comes from whatever I choose to do them. And I am glad to be able to say that at times it bumps up on out of control.