Susan Ferner
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EDUCATION
2001-2006 San Jose State University, CA, BFA Fine Arts, Pictorial
ACADEMIC HONORS
2006 “Magna Cum Laude” San Jose State University, CA.
2006 “President’s Scholar” San Jose State University, CA.
2003-2006 “Dean’s Scholar” San Jose State University, CA.
2003 Member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
PUBLIC WORKS "Turtle Pond" installed at Gavilan College, Gilroy CA
"Point Lobos" installed at City of Gilroy, Gilroy CA
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SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2019 “Spirit Animals”, Art of Yoga, Morgan Hill, CA
2007 “Promises Fulfilled”. Presbyterian Sanctuary, Gilroy, CA
2006 “Big Picture”. San Jose State University, Student Gallery, San Jose, CA
“Facets of the Figure”. San Jose State University, Student Gallery, San Jose, CA
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GROUP EXHIBITIONS
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2025 "Placer Art Tours: Outside the Box Reimagined" Juried Live Auction, Loomis, CA
2025 “Rocklin Fine Arts Open Show” Rocklin, CA
2024 “Gold Country Fair” Best of Show, Auburn, CA
2011 “Palo Alto Art & Wine Festival” Honorable Mention
2011 “Art Party” San Francisco, CA
2009 “Gilroy Arts and Culture Commission Art Show” Gilroy, CA
2009 “California Missions”, Valle Del Sur Art Guild, Morgan Hill, CA.
2008 “Meet the Artists”, Gilroy Art League, Gilroy, CA
“Clos La Chance Art Festival”. San Martin, CA
“Art Party”. Private residence, San Jose, CA
“Delineated”. Backwater Gallery, San Jose, CA
2007 “Art party”. Private residence, San Jose, CA
“Flux”. Works Gallery, San Jose, CA
2006 “Figurative Phrasing”. San Jose State University, Student Gallery, San Jose, CA.
2005 “Views of Expression”. San Jose State University, Student Gallery, San Jose, CA.
2003 “Heavy Metal”. San Jose State University, Student Gallery, San Jose, CA
“Our Valley, Our Stories”. San Jose State University, Student Gallery, San Jose, CA.
2002 “Meet the Artists”. BN Galleries, Jackson, CA.
AWARDS
2024 “Gold Country Fair” Best of Show, Auburn, CA
2011 “Palo Alto Art & Wine Festival” Honorable Mention
2008 “Artist of the Month, September”. First Place. Valle Del Sur Art Guild, Morgan Hill, CA.
“Artist of the Month, November”. First Place. Valle Del Sur Art Guild, Morgan Hill, CA.
SUSAN EILEEN FERNER-PETERSON
ARTIST STATEMENT
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My current work is a past conversation awakened by ancient symbolism, myths, and the human psyche. Joseph Campbell believed that myths provide a cultural framework to understand self, navigate life's stages, and cope with universal human experiences like birth, death, and transformation. Acting as a guide for living a meaningful life by providing symbolic representations of deeper truths about our existence. Myths can transcend cultural boundaries and offer insights into the human psyche across different societies. Universal archetypes are recurring within myths suggesting a shared unconscious human experience. Myths can assist in understanding our own inner lives and thus help one navigate personal challenges through their relatable narratives connecting us with something larger than ourselves.
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My process reorganizes mythic stories and symbols into a new abstract composition, while the conversation or energy still embodies my work. The mystics of the past believed that symbols and talismans contained thought energy that was passed down and added to over thousands of years. As Albert Einstein stated, “energy can neither be created nor destroyed.”
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In my process of creating new pictorial iconography and mythic images, I reorganize elements first using charcoal drawings. Then transfer them to canvas. Working by destroying and finding symbolism. Letting the images connect me both consciously and subconsciously to a new creation of the old.