50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community
Featured in The Springfield Beacon (January 9, 2008)
By Todd Peterson
Springfield Beacon
Mark & Susan Dodge
Creating visionary and "next generation" art
For Susan and Mark Dodge, art is creation and re-creation -- using one art form to create another. Susan paints colorful visions of sea life while Mark creates abstracts with recycled paint from his window art. Together, they create three-dimensional outdoor scenes from wood painted to capture the beauty of nature.The Dodge's began their journey into art over 20 years ago as holiday window painters and wood workers at Saturday Market. They were commissioned in 1988 by major corporate chains to travel the West Coast doing their artwork. Eventually, the couple decided to move to South Lake Tahoe where they created the largest holiday window painting in the world for Harvey's Hotel & Casino.
After receiving additional commissions for murals and promotional artwork from casino/hotels in the Las Vegas area, Mark and Susan moved to Bullhead City, Arizona. While living there, they were inspired by the beauty of the desert and created large canvas landscapes currently in private collections. Missing the beauty of Oregon, they moved "back home" in 2005 to share their art locally.
In doing collaborative art, Susan notes that the work is "like a marriage." Either partner may start a piece and take it as far as they'd like, then pass it along to the other partner to add their creativity to the project. They continue to work together back-and-forth until they both agree that the piece is complete. "Working collaboratively with my husband is a joy" says Susan.
In his artist's statement, Mark writes that his art "has crossed barriers, it has transformed from one art form to another. Imagine an art form that is commissioned, created, enjoyed and then recaptured by the artist and recreated into another art form." He goes on to say that his art is "created with a sole purpose and function, but with an intention of further use at a later time. Art with more than one purpose and life."
The art of Susan and Mark Dodge promises to awaken you to new ways of seeing one art form transformed into another -- a "next generation" -- and delight you with visions of sparkling beauty beneath the sea.
Inspiration To Begin: Mark's art teacher at Cascade Middle School, Miss Samuelson, inspired his artwork in 7th and 8th grade. He recalls saying he would "make her proud some day" with his art. Susan's mother was her inspiration early in her childhood. Susan learned to paint with watercolors like her mother and did pen and pencil drawings as well.
Important Mentors: Susan's teachers in junior high and high school were her early mentors (after her mother). She was in the National Art Honor Society in her school in Columbia, Missouri. Among the Masters, Susan loves Michelangelo, Seurat, and Dali as well as Georgia O'Keeffe. Van Gogh has been a favorite of Mark’s since 7th grade, along with Picasso and his LCC teachers, Bill Blix and Alan White.
Value of Art in Life: For Mark, art is both the "sugar and spice of life. It inspires, delights, and entertains." He hopes people who see his art will be touched and inspired. Susan sees her art helping people realize that they "don't have to think in a box". She finds creating art a very fulfilling part of her life.
Their Artists' Legacy: "I want to leave a legacy that shows how passionate I am as an artist." (Susan). "I hope my legacy will be 'believe in yourself' and 'all goals are attainable'. And "Thank you for being here." (Mark).
"Congo Line" by Mark Dodge
"Old Man of the Sea" by Susan Dodge
All art images and photos of the art are copyright of the artist.
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About The Artists
Birthplace: Augsburg, Germany (Susan); Alhambra, CA (Mark)
Arts Education: U. of Missouri (Susan); LCC Art Classes (Mark)
Media of Choice: Acrylics (Susan); "Next Generation" (Mark)
Favorite Place to Do Art: Anywhere and everywhere
Favorite Subjects To Paint: Sea life (Susan); Abstracts (Mark)
Arts Organizations: Emerald Empire Arts Association
Awards: 1st Place - Lane County Fair (Yosemite Falls)
Current Show: At the Emerald Art Center (thru Feb. 2)
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