Sue Vittner saw a need for emerging artists to share their work in a pop-up setting that lasted more than a weekend!

It’s five years since fifteen artists that agreed with her to try a two-month Pop-Up Art Gallery on Exchange Street in Portland that lasted for five months. They are now part of a fifty-one artist working group called The Maine Art Collective that brings fresh and affordable art to Southern Maine and all that visit here (art is shipped across the US regularly.)

The fifty-one artists divided between the three galleries (open daily 10- 6, staffed by artists) with some artists represented in more than one. Sue’s paintings are in all three galleries.

This year also introduces a year-round gallery: 9 Moulton Street, Portland, Maine

May through December Pop-Ups: 157 Middle Street, Portland, Maine 119 Perkins Cove, Ogunquit, Maine

Original acrylic painting (60″ x 48″) by Sue Vittner. During a meditation session, she was told to paint with her hands, it’s now twelve years later. Her paintings vary in size from 6″ X 6″ to 72″ x 48″. Thier abstract quality speaks differently to each person. One day at Maine Art Collective, a couple left discussing how they were going to handle their differing perspectives on the painting by changing how they would rotate it occasionally.

But Who is Sue Vittner? Truly a collaborator, a leader in spite of herself, she did accept the title of founder of Maine Art Collective. She is a beam of light and energy that is translated through a variety of mediums: Art, Massage, Human Design, Hand Analysis Readings and Coaching. I asked Sue if we could have a conversation about her life and work and here it is.

A Conversation with gifted healer, founder, dancer and visionary Sue Vittner.

At the end of a delightful conversation with Sue Vittner, a woman of many talents, I asked her what her main goal was.  She responded, My work is to help people relax and connect to the deepest, most spiritual and joyous parts of themselves.  She does this through a variety of mediums: art, massage therapy, coaching, Human Design, and founding and leading the Maine Art Collective.  

What from your early life helped you trust and follow your instincts?
Sue:  Oh wow, that’s a good question! In college, I resisted picking a major because I didn’t want to be boxed into one thing. By junior year, I kept getting flyers in my mailbox saying, ‘You have to pick a major.’ I loved the variety of classes, but eventually chose English since I was going abroad to England. I’ve never been drawn to the typical American dream, and my parents have always supported me in exploring different paths.

So did they find it interesting or did they just love you a lot?
Sue: Haha, I guess both! My parents have always had this attitude of, ‘Oh, that’s just Sue.’ Like, who knows what she’s up to now—for example when I went to work as a janitor in Antarctica, they had to acclimate to that one! They just love me and accept that I’m a little different.

That’s cool, so how did you find a job in Antarctica?
Susan: I had been dating someone, and after we broke up he went down to Antarctica to work as a plumber. We stayed in touch, and the next year I wanted to go too—I thought it would be amazing to have that opportunity to travel and see incredible things. I wasn’t a scientist, so I figured, why not be a janitor? The scientists down there need support staff.

So there’s a practicality that emerges here about the next step of whatever you’re doing?
Sue: Yes, that’s true.

So has that been consistently true for you?
Sue: Yeah, I guess you could say that! I’m also very dependable, even though I’ve taken lots of different paths and tried many things. There’s always been this underlying sense of responsibility—whether it’s taking care of something or just paying my bills. So even though I’m free-spirited, I’m also grounded, and I think I’ve always been that way.

Retreat Acrylic 72″ x 24″

That’s great. A visionary with a great combination of skills, dependability and determination. As you’ve been going through all of these different things that you’ve done, did you ever have any vision that art would come into it?
Sue: Art has always been in the periphery of my life—whether I was drawing, painting, or making something creative. For years I made quilts, often as gifts for friends or sisters when they had babies, and I’d even draw portraits of their infants to give as keepsakes. I’ve always loved giving artistic gifts. When I lived in Texas, I showed some watercolors and photography in a couple of local art shows, and back in college I took a lot of art classes. Creativity has just always been there, woven into everything I do.

Do you find your art changes with all of the work you’re doing with Human Design, palm reading and coaching? The work you do around different aspects of human development?
Sue: I think the biggest shift in my work came when I started painting with my hands. Given how long I’ve been doing massage, it felt like a natural extension, but it really started after a meditation where I suddenly had this vision of finger painting. It came out of the blue, and I remember thinking, ‘What was that about?’—but it ended up opening something new for me.

How long ago was that?
Sue:  10 or 11 years ago

I think I first met you in Bar Harbor, and in my mind I had placed it that you started doing that about 10 to 12 years ago.
Sue:  OK, yeah I didn’t remember that’s where I first met you!

I did Mark Fink’s shows a few times.  Sue: Was it that stormy weekend?

Yes, I was there several before that and the one where we had to take everything down and then come back on Sunday to set up again.
Sue: Yes, that was crazy! 

Yeah, that was quite something, setting up on Friday am, taking down Friday night, then setting up and taking down again on Sunday. Well, hurricanes win, one way of the other.

Do you find people saying, “How can you be doing all of these diverse things?” Sue: Yes, yes, I get that a lot. I chalk it up to being a Manifesting Generator according to my Human Design chart, which means I’m really good at multi-tasking, like I’m a multi-passionate person and I’d get bored doing just one thing!  

Are they all fitting together easily for you? Keeping track of them that is?
Sue: Yeah, I would say many things I do are seasonal, whether it’s like the actual season to be doing something or even if it’s just honoring the ebb and flow of my energy. So sometimes there’s more emphasis on the galleries, spring and summer, and then in winters time is freed up to focus on Human Design. And my massage therapy practice, which I’ve been doing for over 20 years, is always running in the background. That’s what helps keep me the most grounded.

How did Human Design come about?
Sue:  I had a Hand Analysis Reading done many years ago, and I was fascinated by how on target it was.  Years later Todd and I were traveling in California, and we visited a used book store in which I found a CD course on hand reading that I listened to over and over again. Eventually I began taking actual classes with her which included Human Design.

Nice
Sue: Often my life works this way…I just say yes to things and the universe will put something in front of me, and if it’s interesting, I’ll follow that thread. Which is actually how the galleries got going also!

Yes, yes it’s quite amazing. I’m really happy to be part of all of this excitement.
Sue: We’re happy to have you!

How many people are involved in the Maine Art Collective Galleries now that there are three of them? 
Sue: 51 artists.  A few artists are in more than one of the galleries. We have a variety of artists in the different galleries, potters, jewelers, fiber artists and woodworkers. 

That’s great! Could you ever have imagined that? Three galleries!
Sue: When we first started, the hardest thing was finding the artists. That was the biggest challenge, to find enough artists to make the numbers work. Now they’re calling every week wondering if they can be part of it?

That’s great. How many did you have when you first set up on Exchange Street?
Sue: There were 15 of us that first year. We planned on it being a two month pop-up, and then we just kept going month-to-month until December. 

And how did you find the Middle Street location?
Sue: We were just looking for a vacant spot. We looked at a lot of different places in town that were empty and found the Middle Street location. Since they hadn’t rented it in many years, we were able to negotiate a reasonable rent on a month to month basis.

That’s great. I still love it.
Sue: Yes

I really like that spot, you know that!

Do you have a specific painting that you’ve done that really stands out for you? Has there ever been one that you really like?
Sue: I think it’s when I do the really big pieces—like the 60 x 48, with that blue horizon line. When one of those comes together and it’s finished, I just go, ‘Wow.’ For me, it’s all about expression and a sense of infinity—like the ocean, the mountains, or the sky. It feels like capturing that expansive feeling on canvas.

That’s wonderful. That is wonderful and I think that definitely is what hypnotizes people.

 So is there anything else you’d like to share about your work? Maybe you could put into words how all the different parts of your work tie together?
Sue: OK Well, I have a mission statement for myself and my work.  It is to help people relax and connect to the deepest, most spiritual and joyous parts of themselves.

Wow, that’s wonderful!
Sue: It’s definitely the common thread in all of the things I do through my art, massage, palm reading and human design. 

Great, that’s awesome. Well, I think that’s great. Sue.
Sue: Thank you so much, Jo, I appreciate you doing this!

Field of Dreams Acrylic 72″ x 36″

To learn more about her diversity, visit her website at: Sue Vittner.com.

Her original painting can be found at the Maine Art Collective Galleries and a wide assortment of prints are available at SueVittner.artstorefronts.com.

Please like, share and comment! We’d love to hear from you!

And come see us at any one of the Maine Art Collective locations!

Thanks for visiting,

Jo Eaton, No Repeats Fiberarts