Susan Weiss works in the visual arts in many mediums, including photography, film, painting and drawing. Her work explores the issues of personal identity and the psycho-social landscape. She also teaches drawing and student artist portfolio preparation both live and in zoom consultation.
Susan’s projects include the ongoing series Humanity in the Modern World, documenting people doing humanitarian work in other countries, most recently at the El Paso/Ciudad Juarez border with a Washington D.C, based NGO. Her recent short documentary film “Lia: A Bodybuilding Story” is has been presented in the international movie festival circuit and has many laurels and awards. The Orchard, a photography book will be published by Green Writers Press of Brattleboro, VT., and will debut October 1, 2024.
Susan photographs with both digital and film cameras depending on the project, including Mamiya 7II, Leica M9P and Leica M10, Polaroid SX70 and 680, Iphone 15 Pro Max, and plastic toy cameras.
“Exploring and photographing the human condition is the major theme in my work. I attempt to connect with people and photograph their lives to document what makes them unique as individuals. The stories are personal but they become my stories as I photograph and interpret through the lens of my camera, and their lives become my art. It is this attraction to lives that are unique and with a sense of vulnerability that drives my work.”
Education:
BA University of Michigan
MA Mills College
MFA San Francisco Art Institute
Certificate in Visual Story Telling International Center of Photography (ICP), New York
PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITIONS/PRESENTATIONS/ARTICLES
EXHIBITIONS
2023 MY NICNEVIN, Nashville Museum of Art, Knoxville, TN
2022 MY NICNEVIN, Merz Gallery, Sanquhar, Scotland
2022 GREATER VERMONT, Arlington Common, Arlington, VT
2021 I SEE YOU, Southern Vermont Art Center SVAC, Manchester, VT
2021 FLORA, Southeast Center For Photography, Greenville, S.C.
TP COVID Mail Art, Imago Gallery, Warren, R.I.
TP COVID/Unmasked: Artful Responses To The Pandemic, Southern Vermont Art Center, Manchester, VT
2020 TP COVID/COVID ART, Glen Arbor Art Center, Glen Arbor, MI
2019 A FLUID SITUATION/Everything is Still, Wilson Museum SVAC, Manchester, VT
2019 GREETINGS FROM, RUTLAND/Rutland Real and Imagined, Alley Gallery, Rutland, VT
2017 DORSET ARTISTS THEN AND NOW, Wilson Museum SVAC, Manchester, VT
I CHOOSE FILM, Wilson Museum SVAC, Manchester, VT
2016 THE REFUGEE CRISIS, Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, CA
2015 WHAT ONCE WAS, Gallery 135, Portland, OR
2013 SERVICE UNQUESTIONED, The Commonwealth Club, San Francisco, CA
2011. NZ/XXL, Plastic Camera Show, RAYCO, San Francisco, CA
2010 THE NEW LANDSCAPE, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA
2009 STRANGE WORLD, JEA Savannah, Savannah, GA
2008 PARKING LOT PEOPLE, JEA Savannah, Savannah, GA
MEDIA/SPEAKING/INTERVIEWS
2022. Lead panel discussion on current status of food deliver system in VT. Related to GREATER VERMONT
2016. Interview with KPFA/Chris Welch Show on the refugee crisis. Related to THE REFUGEE CRISIS.
THE REFUGEE CRISIS. Presentation and talk, Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, CA
THE REFUGEE CRISIS, Panel discussion, GMALL, Manchester, VT
2015 HUMANITY IN THE MODERN WORLD/CAMBODIA, Presentation- Commonwealth Club, San Francisco, CA
ARTICLES AND BOOKS
2024 THE ORCHARD, Green Writers Press, Brattleboro, VT. DOP October 1, 2024
2022 STREETS Issue #22, All About Photo Magazine, October
2020 GREETINGS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE Vol. 1,
2018 “Hearts and Minds Vietnam Vets Return to Vietnam”, ARMY USA, April
2015 “Humanity in the Modern World/Moldova”, N.C. State Dental Journal and ICD Regional Newsletter
2014 “Humanity in the Modern World/Cambodia”, Santa Clara County Medical Association Magazine. December
2012. “Service Unquestioned”, Review by Brig. General Jeffrey Phillips, Ft. Stewart Newspaper
2012. “Service Unquestioned”, Manchester Journal, Manchester, VT