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WMU administrator's inner journey through art on display

by Mark Schwerin

Sept. 28, 2011 | WMU News

Photo of Susan Caulfield's Basket artwork.
Susan Caulfield's "Basket"
KALAMAZOO--She's a professionally degreed criminologist, a former faculty member with the Department of Sociology and current director of academic collective bargaining at Western Michigan University.

But through October, she'll be known as an artist to those who view her inner journey as manifested through her creations in fabric and phrases.

Work by Dr. Susan Caulfield is on display through Oct. 31 in the second floor gallery of the WMU College of Health and Human Services. A reception is from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29. Caulfield will also greet visitors from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, at the exhibit during the college's Homecoming Open House.

Gallery Hours

The gallery is closed Sundays as well as Saturday, Oct. 8 and 29.

"While some might find labor negotiations and art an odd mix," notes Caulfield, "each informs the other, and each informs me in my continuing quest to understand myself and the world around me."

While enjoying the realm of academic scholarship, Caulfield also explored many avenues of art and took several courses at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts during the past 20 years. A little more than three years ago, she finally found her medium: screen-printing and fabric. She works with batik fabrics and dyes, while taking classes to add new potential to her art. Recently she has been spending studio time at the art institute, developing new ideas on how to blend words, images, fabric and color.

The Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo has invited Caulfield to exhibit her work at Kingscott Associates as part of the Oct. 7 Art Hop. She also has exhibited at Borgess Woodbridge and Powell Library's Barnabee Gallery. Her work is on permanent display at SolSpring at the Kalamazoo Center for the Healing Arts, People's Church and Confections with Convictions.

For more information, contact Gay Walker at (269) 387-3839 or gay.walker@wmich.edu.