Susan was raised and schooled in upstate New York, Syracuse University, BFA. She found herself and her art flourishing in the West Olympic town of Forks where she lived for thirty years.
Susan was known as an advocate of future artists and the promotion of the West Olympic area as a viable location for artists to live, create and present their work.
Her driving force in this rural area as an instructor, lecturer and judge of artistic endeavors was instrumental in the founding of West Olympic Council for the Arts, an arts advocacy organization, and Olympic West Artreck, a self guided tour of galleries and studios.
Through WOCA Shaw has chaired Rainfest, an annual celebration of creativity, been a juror and exclusive curator of “Art on the Hill”, an annual art installation at the Olympic Natural Resources Center and been instrumental in the development of Rainforest Arts Center.
Susan was author of the Arts Alive column in the Forks Forum. In 1995 Susan was nominated for Tourism Promoter of the Year and in 1996 Rainforest Soroptimist presented her with the Women Making a Difference Award.
After dividing her time between the “west end” and the North Olympic Peninsula area for several years Susan and her husband Mike have completed a house and barn fix-up on ten acres in Sequim.
“The move from the rainforest to a desert area has not been an easy transition for me, but as the settling in process happens I am enthralled with the light, the uniqueness of the land shapes and the horizon line that appears everywhere here!”
Susan is now concentrating exclusively on the fulfillment of her personal goals of peace, love and laughter which would naturally include artistic achievement.
Susan’s work can be found in collections throughout US and Europe.
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1993/94, Peninsula College, West End, art instructor seniors classes
1979/04, Participated in Olympic Peninsula, national & international juried shows
1979/96, Participated in workshops given by noted national & international artists
1979/02, Private art instructor, adults &children, drawing & painting
1975, moved to the Olympic Peninsula
1974/75, Syracuse Public Schools, art instructor
1964, BFA Syracuse University, 1974 Graduate Work