Susan Mains
Work
Miss Grenada and her Entourage
Miss St. Lucia
Jouvert Series
Statement
Between
In that instant when the beauty queen strikes the perfect pose and the jouvert player strikes perfect abandonment, a sparkle of mystery sizzles across the space between them and me. What resin can capture this moment, to cement it in time and space, to give it a name, an understanding, a map to find my way there once again. Then between the work and you, will that longing and inscrutability refuse to go away? Between the inhale and the exhale, a pause of recognition.
Biography
A self-taught artist, for more than 20 years Susan Mains has been pursuing the mystery of the Caribbean in her painting, writing, and now mixed media works. Her work has been exhibited in the Caribbean, Canada, USA, Germany, and most recently, Australia. The paintings are much sought after, and are collected internationally.
CV
Born in the USA in 1958. Dual Citizen, USA/Grenada Lived in The Caribbean since 1970 Barbados, Grenada, Dominica, and settled permanently in Grenada in 1992
EDUCATION
Cedarville College, OHIO, USA BA., Biology, 1979
Freedom University FLORIDA, USA M.Ed., 1985, D.Ed., 1987
ART
Self -Taught artist. Strong colours and contrasts characterize the paintings.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
| 1987 | Roseau, Dominica ,Dominica Artists Guild Group Exhibit 1987 Aquarella Gallery, T'dad |
| 1991 | Solo show, Roseau Dominica |
| 1993-2007 | St. George's, Grenada, Annual Art Council Show |
| 1996 | Solo show, Art Grenada, Fine Art Gallery St George's, Grenada |
| 1996 | Queen's Park Gallery, National Cultural Foundation Barbados, Group show Grenadian Artists |
| 1996 | Museo de Arte, 3rd Bienal, Dominican Republic |
| 1997 | Organization of American States Gallery, Washington D.C Group show Grenadian artists |
| 1997 | Exhibit with Oliver Benoit at Art Grenada, Fine Arts Gallery, Grenada |
| 1999 | Organization of American States Gallery, Washington D.C., Group Grenadian |
| 2000 | Solo Exhibit at NCB House, St. George's, Grenada online at www.spiceisle.com/mains/art |
| 2000 | Diaspora Vibe Gallery, Miami Fl USA "Sierra Leone Series" and Residency |
| 2000 | Aalan City Gallery, Germany Group Show from Grenada Arts Council |
| 2001 | Group of 4-Diaspora Vibe Gallery, Miami FL USA--"Immigration and Boundaries" |
| 2001 | Group Show, DVG, Miami Herald--"Black History Month" |
| 2001 | Miami-Dade Com. College, Miami FL USA "Sierra Leone Series" |
| 2001 | DVG "Africanado" Exhibit at Port of Miami, FL USA |
| 2001 | LaCrit Law Conference, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA "Sierra Leone Series" |
| 2001 | Spice Jazz Festival, Grenada, "Art of Jazz" Susan/Asher Mains |
| 2001 | IV Bienal Del Arte Caribe, Museo de Art Moderno, Santo Domingo Dominican Republic |
| 2002 | University of the West Indies Country Conference, Grenada, "Beyond Walls" |
| 2002 | Washington DC, OAS Gallery-28th Anniversary of Grenada's Independence |
| 2002 | "Rude Awakening" Manhatten, New York; Group Show Diaspora Vibe Gallery |
| 2002 | Grenada Spice Jazz Festival "The Art of Jazz" Group Show Caribbean Art Exchange |
| 2002 | Art Basel Miami, Group Show "Inter/Sections" Diaspora Vibe Gallery |
| 2003 | Gallery of Caribbean Art, Barbados, Two Person show with Oliver Benoit "Parallel Disparity" |
| 2003 | Diasporavibe Group Exhibit "Parallel Horizons" , Institute of Culture, Aruba |
| 2003 | V Caribbean Bienal, Museo de Arte Moderno, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic |
| 2003 | Art Basel Miami, Group Show "Strata" Diaspora Vibe Gallery |
| 2004 | "Exit Inside Out" University of the West Indies, Grenada-Group |
| 2004 | Grenada Arts Council Annual Exhibit |
| 2004 | "Habitat" Solo Exhibit Barbados |
| 2004 | "Visages" Solo Exhibit, Alliance Francais, Grenada |
| 2004 | "Off The Main" Group Exhibit with Diasporavibe Gallery, New York |
| 2005 | "Art After Ivan" With Oliver Benoit at Gallery of Caribbean Art, Barbados |
| 2005 | Galerie Nader, Coral Gables, FL USA, Group from Grenada |
| 2005 | Art Creators, Trinidiad, Group from Grenada |
| 2006 | "Ties that Bind" Group of 4 from Grenada at Brooklyn Public Library, USA |
| 2006 | CLICO Gallery "Women Arts of the Caribbean", Trinidad, CLICO Calendar 2006 |
| 2006 | Museo Arte Morderno, Dominican Republic, 1st ACP Countries Festival |
| 2007 | Caribbean Studies Conference, Victoria University, Melbourn Australia, "Jouvert" |
| 2007 | "Between" Benoit, Froehlich, Mains and Mains, Group at the Rex Grenadian in Grenada |
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
Barclays Bank Plc, Dominica
National Commercial Bank, Grenada
Cable & Wireless, Grenada
Spice Island Beach Resort, Grenada
Coyaba Beach Resort, Grenada
Flamboyant Hotel, Grenada
Young Sounds FM Radio, Grenada
Colombian Emeralds, Int'l, Grenada
Government of China on Taiwan
Texaco West Indies Ltd.
Bel Air Plantation Resort, Grenada
Blue Horizons Cottages, Grenada
Coral Sands Hotel, Barbados
AT & T Wireless Grenada
The Beach House Restaurant Grenada
CLICO Trinidad Headquarters
Grenada Representation at CARICOM Headquarters in Guyana
Various Personal Collections in the Caribbean, North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.
PUBLICATIONS
Spicy, Discover Grenada, Catalogue of 3rd Bienal of Museo de Arte, Santo Domingo,
Greetings Magazine , Review Miami New Times, Mar 1, 2001
"Visual Art As a Sustainable Resource", Paper Presented at University of the West Indies Country Conference, Jan 2002
Cariforum Magazine, "Contemporary Art in Grenada" Article, Mar 2002
The Discover Magazine, "Drawing on the Spirit of the Kalinago" Article Nov 2003
Carib Beat Magazine, 2005 " Art after Ivan"
"Small Island Art-Potential Untapped", Paper presented at University of Vienna, Austria, Caribbean Conference, December 2005
"Vienna Actionist, Caribbean Jouvert" Paper presented at Victoria University, Melbourne Australia, February 2007
Organizing committee group shows from Grenada to Barbados, Dominican Republic, Washington D.C., USA
President of Grenada Arts Council 1997-1999
Founder and Director of Caribbean Art Exchange, 2000-
Curated Grenada Exhibit for the V Bienal of Caribbean Art Santo Domingo 2003