“I began this body of work during a time when the world felt unsettled and uncertain. It made me think about how people find steadiness in moments like these, and how important it is to strengthen our relationships with one another. I was drawn to ideas of kindness, respect, care, and the simple act of being a good neighbor.

As I experimented with making spherical ceramic forms, they gradually grew longer and began to feel almost bodily, as if they were developing torsos. While working, I found myself singing a familiar song from the television show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood: “Won’t you be my neighbor.” That phrase stayed with me, and I realized that what I was building was a neighborhood.

These forms are like beings. They begin in similar ways, similar enough to feel related, almost like members of the same species. As they develop, they diverge in color, size, and presence. Each one is distinct, yet they belong together.

Welcome to my neighborhood.”

Susan Sternlieb has been making art for over 50 years with education in the arts including a B.S. degree in Textile Design, 1971, an MA in Fiber Art, 1977 and an MFA in Sculpture with an emphasis in Ceramics, 2000. Her art related employment has included work in the field of fabric design, restoration of handmade rugs, work for a knitting magazine as well as various teaching opportunities. Her emphasis changed from Fibers to Ceramics in 1997 becoming fascinated with the possibilities of a hard body formed from a soft material with choices of many new techniques to explore and glazes offering worlds of visual depth. She has continued to explore art in various media including encaustic painting, four of which are displayed in this exhibition.