Susan Cushing has studied art and practiced her craft since graduating from Davidson College with a degree in Fine Arts, followed by studies at Savannah College of Art & Design, The Corcoran School in Washington, D.C., the Art Barge in Amagansett and the Scottsdale Artists School in Arizona. Ms. Cushing currently works and lives in New York City, Palm Beach and Quogue.

“Being There” is a highly stylized series of narrative landscapes inspired by the decade of the 1970s and very reminiscent of the society photographs of Slim Aarons and the post-modern environmental style of Alex Katz and David Hockney. The artist captures the beautiful colors and themes of summer and evokes a world of casual elegance with scenes of garden parties, lazy porches and poolside lounging.

“You are drawn into a world of beauty and glamour where you willingly participate”, Ms. Cushing says. “The venues, the dress, the postures, the ease of living bring you back to old movie glamour, that of a charmed life.”

Color, shadows and reflections are important to the artist, and she notes that “turning up the volume on color is what interests me. The richness of color portrays the rich textures of life.” Ms. Cushing feels that the strong light at the beginning and end of the day creates abstract shapes that can become the main subject of the painting. She describes her artistic philosophy as “striving to capture on canvas the beauty I see all around me. Instead of being dark and brooding, I choose to bring light and levity and focus on happiness”.

Art Gallery Committee members Lulie Morrisey and Missy Lynch are chairs of this show,which will be on display from July 2 – 30.