Living the Life: Q & A with OVERLAP gallery owner Susie Matthews
By Sarah Winters
Newport Life talked with the owner of OVERLAP art gallery Susie Matthews, ahead of her gallery’s exhibition “No Place Like Home.” The show runs from November 16th – December 21st, with an opening reception November 16th from 3 p.m.-5 p.m.
Q: Tell us a little about yourself. How did you come to be in Newport?
A: I first came to Newport to work on a 12 Metre sailboat for the summer many years ago. But I made the commitment to open a gallery and bought the OVERLAP building during the COVID pandemic. I have lived in Jamestown with my family for the past 18 years.
Q: What’s your art background?
A: Art has always been a part of my life – much thanks to my mother. I majored in visual art at Brown University, and earned an MAT and a MFA in ceramics from RISD. I taught high school art in Bristol very briefly and have been making and exhibiting my work regionally for a while. I have also been on the board and exhibition committee of the Jamestown Arts Center and a member of Hera Gallery in Wakefield.
Q: Did you always want to open and/or work in an art gallery?
A: No, not at all. This endeavor really came out of my experience as an artist – wishing that there were more places showing non-traditional contemporary art. I originally thought this would just be a little pop-up space next to my studio. Then the architect, Jim Estes, made the space itself amazing and I was fortunate to hire a wonderful co-director, Alicia Renadette. Their combined influence, the contributions of many others, and my own desire to create the best experience for artists and audiences all snowballed into what OVERLAP has become.
Q: What has it been like to open a gallery, and share art with others?
A: The past two years have been extremely rewarding, and exciting, as well as exhausting. In addition to the day-to-day tasks we have also been figuring out our “identity” and role in the community. As hard as it can be, I like thinking about these complicated questions. It is wonderful when an artist thanks me for giving them an opportunity to show their work. It is thrilling to introduce a visitor to an artwork that moves them deeply. I love presenting ideas, raising questions and facilitating dialogue and engagement.
Q: How did you come up with the idea for “No Place Like Home“? It’s a fundraiser for the Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness and the Newport Housing Hotline, how did you decide on these two organizations?
A: I was prompted to do a fundraising show in response to the consumerism of the holidays. Giving, and not selling, feels like the right way for me to honor this season. Sue McNally’s annual raffle for Newport Housing Hotline was an inspiration. We stole her idea and expanded on it. We added the RI Coalition to End Homelessness so we would be supporting both a local and a more regional organization. And, of course, housing is a huge issue. The number of people experiencing homelessness in Rhode Island has more than doubled in the last 5 years.
Q: How did you decide what art and artists to showcase? What were you looking for in the pieces you selected?
A: We were very fortunate. A great many artists applied to our call and we had about 170 artworks to choose from. We selected pieces that we thought would prompt reflection about the meaning of “home” and would represent our community. We primarily assessed the work for originality and variety.
Q: What made you decide to have a related author reading event on Dec. 7? How does the topic, “Thoughts of Home,” fit into the meaning of this exhibition?
A: I wanted to add another forum within which we could explore the idea of “home”. The reading adds another access point, another way to engage with the concept and it also provides another fundraising opportunity. (More info about that event here)
Q: What do you hope people take away from this exhibition?
A: I hope people will think about what home means to them, how important it is to have a safe place to call home, and the importance of giving and supporting our community members.
Q: What’s some advice you have for other artists trying to break out in the local art scene?
A: Go to as many art events as you can. Apply to any calls that seem relevant. Don’t be put off by rejection. Be creative about showing your work. There are all kinds of audiences out there, you just have to find yours. Don’t make work you think other people want you to make.
Q: Have you been to any other exhibitions recently that have inspired you?
A: Getting some balance back to my life and making time to see more shows is a current goal. I haven’t been seeing nearly enough art, but I did get up to the Franklin Williams show, “It’s About Love”, at the Bell Gallery at Brown last week. I found his work to be very compelling. Brown is also doing some great things through the Brown Arts Initiative. It is very much worth checking out (the show is on view through Dec. 8).
All images are courtesy of the artist and OVERLAP
Read more installments from our Living the Life series, spotlighting people and happenings around town.
