Have you been to 5th Street Gallery yet? It is now INSIDE Macy’s Fountain Place. Yes, INSIDE Macy’s-right across the street from Fountain Square in the heart of downtown Cincinnati. When I tell people where we are located, they still don’t understand that it is inside the Macy’s store. We have a beautiful space on the 5th Street side of the building that is located along the windows. You have to see it to believe it. Wall space is at a premium due to all the windows, so, Mark made some hanging panels to hang in front of the windows and display large paintings. It’s fun to work in the gallery and watch people’s reactions when they are strolling by. They are walking by, look in, see the bright colors, and stop. Often they come in the doors which are conveniently located just to the south side of our windows. They can’t believe we are inside the Macy’s store.

We have been in this new home for 6 months and are finally starting to feel at home. There are 22 members in our group and we all take turns working shifts in the gallery. We each work about one shift a week. Our hours are 11-7 Tuesday-Saturday and 12:30-4:30 on Sunday. If you enter the store from any door but the 5th Street door, just find cosmetics/fragrances on the ground level and we are directly across from fragrances. The management of Macy’s has welcomed us warmly. We are lovingly called “Macy’s Made Local.”

I admit, it makes me so proud when I walk by to see my work hanging in the windows of such a grand and iconic Cincinnati place.

“Go with joy. Life in faith. Believe that life is Good, and if you find it not, help make it so, To the glory of God who made us.” Those words of our minister Larry Kent inspire me on a daily basis. They inspire me to see the good in life and people who enter my life. I try to treat people with kindness and compassion. It’s important to remember what a person’s point of reference is when reacting to them. React with respect and you will often receive respect in return.

Lately the climate of our country has been so contentious. Social media has allowed people to criticize each other for their beliefs, all while sitting in the quiet safety of their homes behind their computers and watching TV. Verbal assaults are plentiful and mean. I have been criticized by my conservative friends that I am too liberal. My liberal friends infer that I am too conservative. I’ve been called out for being a “wimp” for not engaging in arguments when I’m baited. It is all too much for me.

D.W. Winnicott said “Artists are people who are driven by the tension between the desire to communicate and the desire to hide.” I will admit that I have wanted to hide a lot lately.When faced with a verbal challenge I prefer to hide in the quiet chaos of my studio. My artwork is my desire to communicate my belief that life is good. My florals and landscapes celebrate all that is beautiful in my world. It’s not that I don’t know ugliness exists, I do. So how do I address those who want me to be more vocal? Join groups and protest? Rant on social media? No. One city block at a time is my way.

It was my plan to go downtown Saturday. I needed to go to Pendleton in OTR to retrieve a couple paintings and deliver them to a gallery in Longworth Hall. The gallery owner at Longworth thinks her customer will buy them this week. Driven by this potential sale, I set the DVR to record the Buckeye game but I hoped to be home it time to watch it live. While downtown I decided to also visit my friend who planned to work in her new co-op gallery on Walnut Street. I dressed up in my new poncho and my best jeans, boots and a hat, ready for a day downtown taking care of business and enjoying a day out of the studio and not doing usual Saturday chores. The sun was out and the air was crisp. Before I left, I received a text from my friend alerting me to the fact that there were protests planned for downtown and to be careful and perhaps change my plans. After some quick googling I learned that Black Lives Matter planned to protest the jury decision of the Tensing trial and also an anti-Trump protest was taking place on Fountain Square. I was going to be in the locations of both protests but thought they would take place later in the day. Undaunted, I decided to stick with my scheduled plans. I love to stay on schedule. It’s a teacher thing.

The trips to Pendleton and Longworth were uneventful. No signs of discontent; just a sleepy Saturday morning. Meeting with the gallery owner was pleasant and the potential sale of two paintings is always a good thing. I then drove to 7th St. and parked in a garage near 708, next to Jeff Ruby’s. I toured the gallery, which is great, and then decided to walk to Macy’s where I am part of a new gallery co-op there. The artist working at our gallery had texted me some questions and I thought maybe she needed some help or relief. It was a gorgeous day and I love being downtown so there was no point in moving my car. As I left 708 I approached the corner and fell into step with an older black gentleman. We were both waiting for the light to change. He smiled and I did as well. I noticed he was shabbily dressed, missing most of his teeth and carrying a plastic bag from CVS. Part of me was fearful, but, for the most part I just wanted to cross the street and keep walking. We crossed the street and appeared to be headed in the same direction. As we approached some scaffolding, he paused to let me pass first. He said “Where are you headed on this beautiful day?” I told him I was going to Macy’s, which was several blocks away. He said he was not walking too well and for me to go ahead of him. Something inside me made me want to talk to him so I slowed down. I told him there was no hurry and that I only hoped to be home in time to watch my team play football at 3:30. I said “Saturdays should make us slow down.” I’m really not sure where that thought originated, but it’s what I said. He told me his age made him slow down every day. I don’t think he was much older than I am but I thought his circumstances maybe prematurely aged him. I wondered if he was homeless, but was not sure. I asked him where he was headed and he said he was going to catch a bus to Walmart to finally get the TV that was on layaway that he had been paying on for months. He proudly told me it’s 36″ and is going to be a great new way for him to watch football. So, he isn’t homeless if he has a place to watch football. Good. We kept walking. Our mutual love of football occupied our conversation for several blocks. We talked about Cardale Jones winning the national championship, Tony Romo probably being out of a job, Zeke Elliott and his amazing success this year, the Bengals. He seemed impressed that I could remember the names of those players when he could not. He confided that he loves basketball even more that football. He scolded me gently that I don’t watch the Buckeyes play basketball regularly. We arrived at Fountain Square and he said he was going to use the restroom before catching his bus because “Living on Ensure in a can goes right through him.” I really did not understand what he meant until later. We said goodbye. I told him I enjoyed meeting him and wished him many happy times watching sports on his new TV. He said “I’m going to think of you every time your Buckeyes win! Thanks for being so kind to an old man; you made my day!” And he was gone. Wait, I don’t know your name….too late. I could have done more, so much more. I suddenly wanted to drive him to Walmart, to chip in on the TV and buy him a meal. It was over in a flash. Such an unlikely encounter. What an odd couple we made walking through the city together. So many people were very openly staring at us. I did not care. I wanted more.

Why do I share this brief pairing of maybe 15 minutes of my Saturday? I don’t want to be thanked or commended for talking to this man. I don’t want to be congratulated for showing a little human kindness. I want only to be recognized for doing things my way…not the way you may think is right… my way of battling racism, and silencing my detractors who say I am a wimp. I am me. I am unashamed. I try to be considerate of those around me, whether it’s for the person behind me waiting in line or the clerk who is ringing up a sale. I paint what I see and do what feels right. Call me “Susie Creamcheese” or “Goody Two Shoes” if you want. I have on my rose colored glasses. It’s personal with me… one opportunity at a time; one person at a time, one city block at a time. Isn’t that what it’s all about?  Martin Luther King said “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way”

I continue to “Go with Joy” and look for opportunities to help people and treat them with respect and kindness every day.

I just wish I knew his name.

Big news from Mahan Studio and Mark I! We are now part of a co-operative gallery in downtown Cincinnati. Macy’s Fountain Square has offered space inside their store to house the 5th Street Gallery. We are part of that space and could not be more excited about this new opportunity to showcase our work. The gallery space is INSDIE Macy’s -located on the 5th Street side- basically in the windows facing 5th Street. We are open for business during regular Macy’s hours. Macy’s is launching a new program called “Macy’s Made Local.” We are the first group of local artisans to be a part of this program. We are very happy to partner with them to pilot this effort. Let’s all support downtown businesses this holiday season. Be a part of the “local” movement and support your local artists! 

It’s not a secret that I am working on 2 huge installations for Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. The work, however, is a secret. The theme is river related. Not a bad fit for a girl who lives on the Little Miami, no? So, I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel in the progress of these huge projects. Mid-September should bring completion and a huge amount of stress lifted. One piece is 5′ x 6′ and comprised of a large center canvas “framed” by 18 12″ x 12″ canvases that are “snapshots” and compliments of the larger piece. The other piece is 3 canvases that together form a 15′ mural. I can’t tell you more than that, but, I will give you an idea of the parts that will combine upon installation to make an impact! There will be a ribbon-cutting sometime after installation, so, please stay tuned-You will be invited! Thank you for checking in.

This month you can find 4 of my mixed media paintings on the first floor of the Pendleton Art Center. You can’t miss them when you enter the front door of the warehouse building. Also, included in the show in the 8th floor gallery is one of my large works. I am the “Artist of the Month” this month! High visibility has increased interest in my work. Lots of visitors, an invitation for a solo show next June and an excellent sale resulted from this designation. If you are in the area, check it out. If not, here is a view of the lobby installation.

Feelin’ the love at Monroe Primary School today! Art teacher Mrs. Janice Harris proposed the addition of a permanent art collection of work created by local artists for the school. I was selected by the students to sell them a painting for the inaugural piece for their collection. The students chipped in their change-lots and lots of quarters-to raise money to buy a painting. I sent photos of 4 paintings that were available. Again the students voted. Today I delivered the selected painting to the school and gave a little talk to the students and teachers. Imagine 500+ students and staff in the gym, hanging on your words and clapping and cheering. I’m not sure I remember feeling so loved. Thank you Mrs. Harris, and all the adorable and generous students of Monroe Primary School! I am so grateful. Here are a couple of photos to remember the day. It’s great to get out of the studio once in a while!

Another  Cincinnati Horticultural Society Flower Show is in the books! The Artists’ Village was certainly a hit this year. The comments were resoundingly positive and sales hit an all-time high. We had a great time greeting hundreds of visitors, discussing our work and finding new homes for our art. The weather could not have been more perfect. Blue skies, stunning river views and blooms of all kinds made it a week to remember. This year’s team of artists could not have displayed more varied and beautiful work. Everyone pitched in and worked hard to make the week successful. Thank you to all 14 artists! We could not have done it without each and every one of you. Here are some photos of the Artists’ Village and the beautiful venue at Yeatman’s Cove. See you next year!!!

April 13-17th plan to visit the banks of the Ohio River at Yeatman’s Cove for the Cincinnati Horticultural Society Flower Show. Back for another year, the Flower Show promises to be bigger and better than ever. New additions to the events calendar are a wedding show, sister city participation and lots of new restaurant venues. The tickets are going fast. Last year an estimated 16,000 people attended the reinvented show. This year a whopping 40,000 are predicted for the 5 day event. Wow.

The Artists’ Studio will be located just inside the main gate. Nancy Neville and I have selected 14 of the area’s finest artists to participate. There will be watercolor, oil, and, of course, mixed media paintings (mine.) Also included in the show are: fiber art, glass work, jewelry and ceramics. All the artists have been hand-picked for their excellence. They are excited to exhibit in this exciting venue and are hard at work on unique nature-related creations.

Here are some of my new pieces that will be available at the show. All are 18″ x 18″ and available for purchase at the show. Please come to visit us any day of the show from 9-6. We will also be open for the Opening Night Gala on April 12th from 5-9PM. See you on the river!!!!

It’s important to have a bucket list. Professionally, I have a long list of things I would like to accomplish. Study with nationally acclaimed artists-check. Have my work purchased by commercial customers-check. Show my work in a stunning gallery with another artist whose work I greatly admire-soon to be realized. One month from today is the opening of my 2 person show at Art Access Gallery with Frank Satogata.

The show is titled “Kaleidoscope.” The definition of Kaleidoscope is: “A continually changing pattern of shapes and colors.” Further explanation of the show is: “The work of Susan Mahan and Frank Satogata embodies the meaning of the word Kaleidoscope. Floral subject matter assumes a secondary role to the ever-shifting colors, views and patterns. Vibrant hues, fragmented color fields and unusual perspective beg the viewer to take a second look.”

February 12 is the opening of the show. You are invited to join the celebration of this body of work. The gallery will be filled with over 40 pieces of new work. Each of us has interpreted a single photo. An installation of cropped images of our paintings printed on metal is also a highlight of the show.

My half of the show includes 21 new pieces. You may notice that my work continues to change and evolve. All photos are now being used as the paper source. It is exciting to explore this new technique. The work takes on a more expressive, painterly and impressionistic look. The addition of fine line painted detail over the paper adds additional visual interest.  Visual tension between the loose paper work and the tight details painted over the paper adds areas of focus for the viewer to study. All pieces are heavily varnished which makes the paper edges disappear and take on the look of paint.

Please consider attending the opening from 5-8 PM at Art Access Gallery in Bexley, OH.

Here is a sneak peek of a couple of my new pieces included in the show. 

Last night was the opening of Xavier University’s biannual exhibition “Art at the X.” This piece, “Dancing in the Rain #3,” won one of the two awards presented by Matt Distel, curator of the Carnegie Arts Center. It was an honor to accept the award. Many arts educators were in attendance as well as teaching professionals, current and retired. It is a small but good show and will be in the university art gallery through September.