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Q&A – Questions & Artists – Susan Hoffmann

“Wandering Crimson” by Susan Hoffmann.

I first met Susan Hoffmann last year when she purchased my painting, “Expresso Lane.” I met her at the Top of the Hill Shops to deliver the painting and we went into the Door County Art League Gallery where I viewed her work.

Hoffmann is a textile artist; her work is both unique and appealing. Our interview was done by phone several days ago and, as in the case of many of my interviews, could have gone on for pages.

Randy Rasmussen (RR): Susan, are you a Wisconsin native?

Susan Hoffmann (SH): I was born in Neenah, Wisconsin, and I graduated from Neenah High School.

RR: Did you have an early interest in art?

SH: I enjoyed all my art classes but my last art class was in 8th grade. I was ‘fast tracked’ for college and there wasn’t room in my schedule for art classes in high school.

My mother really supported my ‘artistic side’ and growing up I remember making art gifts for people. My mother and my father also collected art, particularly art from the American Southwest.

RR: Did you attend college?

SH: Yes, I went to college at [the University of Wisconsin –] Stevens Point for three semesters. I met my future husband there and marriage took precedence over finishing my degree. In the end in all worked out well.

“Golden Sunrise” by Susan Hoffmann.

RR: How did you evolve into textile art?

SH: Our family moved to Oshkosh, Wisconsin. A long story, but I was a stay–at–home mom. In addition to raising my children, I volunteered for everything. I was on the board of directors for several charitable organizations and was very busy.

Along with everything else I developed an interest in sewing. (I think this came from my one of my mom’s interests). As I said earlier my parents were interested in Southwest art and Southwest architecture. I took their interest and made it my own. I ended up designing a home with a Southwest influence and we built the home. My mother did the same thing as we were growing up. We ended up building one home and then using what I learned we built another home.

RR: And these experiences pointed you in the direction of textile art?

SH: Yes, to decorate my home I wanted an authentic Southwest decor. We had two Southwest furniture designers make some of the pieces in our home and I wanted it to be right.

“Northern Lights” by Susan Hoffmann.

In a casual conversation with a friend in Oshkosh I heard about Sievers School of Fiber Arts on Washington Island. They were teaching a class in of all things, Navajo rug weaving. I took the class in 1999 and have been going back to the school yearly.

RR: Fascinating. So you made rugs for your home?

SH: I learned a lot but decided I couldn’t devote the time to make rugs; but in a quilting class I learned to think outside the box. I did the beginning of quilts using multiple fabrics and the other students told me the work looked like a watercolor. I had found myself.

RR: Explain to the readers how you do your work.

SH: I hand dye cotton fabric for the background. I use other cloth that has been hand cut for the rest of the scene I am doing and then use three types of adhesive to put it all together. The work is then framed under glass.

RR: Thank you.

For more information about Hoffmann and her work, visit http://www.susanstextileart.com.

Hoffmann’s work is on display at the Door County Art League Gallery in Fish Creek, located in the Top of the Hill Shops on the corner of Highway 42 and Country Road F, open Thursday – Tuesday from 11 am – 5 pm (3 pm on Sunday). For more information about the Door County Art League, call 920.868.2288 or visit http://www.doorcountyartleague.org.

Her work is also on display at Greco Gallery, located at 24 N Third Avenue in Sturgeon Bay, open 10 am – 5 pm, Monday – Saturday. For more information about Greco Gallery call 920.743.5000 or visit http://www.grecogallerycoop.com.