About

Protective spaces, both physical and emotional, are an important part of my work; investigating protective layers that happen naturally or intentionally.

In the physical, I reference protection created by the surrounding landscape–trees, rocks and boulders or of our own making, with our own hands.  In the emotional, I reference the vigilance with which we protect ourselves from the past.

Objects and artifacts – mementos, small items, ephemera  – the spaces they occupy – shelves, boxes, cubbies are referenced at one time or another.

I work with muted tones using water-based mediums on paper.

My work is dark, it is somber, it is not about joy, it is not about moving forward through the seasons — it is about being stuck in winter — it is about hiding, it is about clothing yourself in armor.

Education:

• The Baldwin School, Bryn Mawr, PA
• BFA, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn NY
• MALS, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT

Solo Exhibitions:

2022: Looking Back, West River Arts, New Haven, CT
2018: Protection/Protected, Schumacher Gallery, Westover School, Middlebury, CT
2016-2017: Shelter, Cultural Alliance of Western CT, Danbury, CT
2016: Coats II: Exterior Installation, BMAD, Bethany, CT
2015-2016: Cladding, Exterior Mural, East Wall Westville, New Haven CT
2015: Wall/Paper, Moira Fitzsimmons Arons Gallery, Hamden Hall, Hamden CT
2015: Banton Street & The Quinnipiac River State Park, Mitchell Library, New Haven CT
2015: New Work, Project Space, New Haven CT
2014: Fear and Familiarity, City-Wide Open Studios, New Haven CT
2014: Coats, West Cove Gallery, West Haven CT
2012: Shelters, Caves and More, Discovery Museum, Bridgeport CT
2012: Walk in the Woods, Mitchell Library, New Haven CT
2011: Shelters, Caves and More, Pound Ridge Library, Pound Ridge, NY
2010: Recent Works, LAA Gallery, Stamford CT
2008: Journeys: A Closer Look, The Flow of Art Gallery, Norwalk CT
2008: Recent Work, Evergreen Woods Gallery, North Branford, CT
2006: New Works on Paper, Mayor’s Gallery, Stamford Government Center, Stamford, CT.  Curator: Lina Morielli

Group Exhibitions:

2024: Object Memory, The Gallery at Metro Arts Studios, Bridgeport, CT
2023: After Picasso – The Constructed Image, DaSilva Gallery, New Haven CT
2020: NOW, Ely Center for Contemporary Art, New Haven, CT
2020: Six Square Jam, New Haven, CT
2020: Mill Street, New Haven, CT
2018: Our Bodies, Our Selves, Ely Center of Contemporary Art, New Haven CT
2018: Isolate, Hygienic Gallery, New London, CT
 
2018: Nothing Rhymes with Orange, The Range at Lotta, New Haven, CT
2018: An Anthropogenic World II, Ely Center for Contemporary Art, New Haven, CT
2017: EXPOSED, The Range at Lotta Studio, New Haven CT
2017: No Language, No Streets, Artspace, New Haven, CT
2017: Looking then Reading, The Institute Library, New Haven, CT
2016: Match Game: New Flatfile Members, Artspace, New Haven, CT
2014: Por Oaxaca, The Institute Library, New Haven,  CT
2013: Now & Then, Gallery at Constitution Plaza, Hartford, CT
2013: City Wide Open Studios, New Haven, CT
2013: On Nature, Perspectives…The Gallery at Whitney Center, Hamden CT
2012: About Paper, The Institute Library, New Haven, CT
2012: City-Wide Open Studios, New Haven, CT
2012: Mid Winter Mix, 22 Haviland Street Gallery, South Norwalk, CT
2011: Daybooks: Artists’ Daily Reflections, Prairie Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio
2011: Elements, Loft Artists Association Gallery, Stamford, CT
2010: Stamford Barns, Mayor’s Gallery, Stamford Government Center, Stamford, CT
2009: Bits & Pieces, BID Gallery, New Rochelle, NY.  Curator: Jonathan Talbot
2009: LAA Draws!, Loft Artists Association Gallery, Stamford, CT
2009: Change of Space, Wilton Library, Wilton, CT
2008: unConventional Self, Loft Artists Association Gallery, Stamford, CT
2007: land*marks, 22 Haviland Street Gallery, Norwalk, CT

Awards, Fellowships & Residencies:

• May 2015: One Month Residency, Weir Farm National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service), Wilton CT
• May 2012, State of Connecticut DECD and COA Artist Fellowship

Susan McCaslin is a 2012 Artist Grant Recipient