Press Release: Illustrated Poem Centerpiece of New Art Exhibit

Words and images work in tandem when Long Island artist Susan Ruth Cohen steps into her studio. A writer by habit, Cohen often includes written phrases in her artwork, and specifically titles her pieces to reflect her thought process and poetic imagery. Her illustrated poem “Colorsong” began as an independent project, and was completed especially for her current exhibit at the Long Island Children’s Museum’s KaleidoZone gallery. This centerpiece collection features 22 images; illustrating each line of text in her poem.

Her work blends autobiographical and imaginative themes; drawing upon memories and visual images from her life in order to invest her pieces with a sense of personal history. She interprets familiar, "everyday" objects in a personal manner as she takes her audience on a mosaic journey of colors, shapes and lines. Working on paper allows her to react in a direct, private way, much like the process of writing in a diary. Cohen spontaneously juxtaposes images and patterns upon the visual space, using acrylic paint, pencil, crayon and collaged pieces of her etchings or drawings. She enjoys layering, reworking her images and reassembling collage pieces to create a richly textured visual surface. Within this surface are the discovery, exploration and free association of images that comprise my artistic vision

Cohen’s exhibit at LICM showcases this creative process as visitors see a reproduction of her art studio and tools set amidst her finished art work. The Children’s Museum’s focus on making art accessible to its young visitors includes a commitment to making artists accessible as well. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn more about the process of incorporating written messages into artwork on Saturday, June 27 when she conducts a workshop for children (ages 5 and up) at the Museum at 3 p.m.

Her art experience has been brought to numerous Long Island cultural institutions, including roles as Project Director of the Arts Education Partnership for After-School & Alternative Programs at Tilles Center and Director of the Youth Arts Project at P.S. 1 in Long Island City, Queens and University. Most recently, Susan was Director of Arts Education at Friends of the Arts (FOTA) and Director of Education & Outreach at Great Neck Arts Center, where she worked in partnership with schools and community organizations throughout Long Island to implement innovative arts-in-education initiatives.

Her works have been exhibited in numerous group and solo shows from Maine to Hawaii. She holds a B.F.A. from the University of Michigan, and an M.F.A. from the State University of New York at Buffalo, where she was a Teaching Fellow in Drawing and Printmaking. She is the recipient of a prestigious “Workspace” grant from the NY State Council on the Arts to set up a studio space as artist-in-residence at the Jamaica Arts Center in Queens, NY.

“Colorsong” will be on display at the Long Island Children’s Museum through July 25. The exhibit is free with museum admission.

All activities will be held at the Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Avenue, Garden City, NY. Children must be accompanied by an adult. General Museum admission: $10 for adults and children over 1 year old. Under 1 year old FREE. $9 seniors. Additional fees for theater and special programs may apply. For additional information, contact 516-224-5800.

Photo Links and Captions
Colorsong at Children’s Museum- Susan Ruth Cohen has created images to illustrate each line of her poem “Colorsong” as the centerpiece elements in her exhibit at the Museum’s KaleidoZone gallery. (Images illustrate the lines: (top) “Colors circling home to dance” and (bottom) “Finding the song as if by chance.”
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Artist at work- Visitors to LICM will be able to see how Susan Ruth Cohen Works as they examine elements of her artist studio set amid her finished artwork.
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Illustrating Art – Susan Ruth Cohen incorporates written messages into her mixed media art pieces, on display at Long Island Children’s Museum. (Art piece pictured: “No Time to Stop And”
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