Visiting Artist
Susan Cooley-Gilliom Artist in Residence and Teaching (ART) Program
ART Program
The Susan Cooley-Gilliom Artist in Residence and Teaching (ART) Program is a lasting gift to the many artists, arts educators and students, and arts enthusiasts we are fortunate to have in our community. The program represents a significant part of Susan’s lasting legacy–as a beloved local artist and environmental advocate.
The ART program works to develop and enhance the visual arts through short-term residencies and workshops taught by nationally-established and highly reputable artists who create in a range of media. Past visiting artists include: Karen Willenbrink-Johnsen, Michelle Ross, Richard Notkin, Katherine Ace, Laura Ross Paul, Tip Toland, Sergei Isupov, Phoebe Toland, Michelle Gregor, Ana Lisa Hedstrom, Jason Walker, Mark Abildgaard and Jennifer Rugge, Marsha Godoy-Schindler, Ruth Ellen Hoag, and Ray Gonzales, Jane Ingram Allen, Jori Phillips. Set to come in the fall of 2026 is artist M. Florine Démosthène.
This program is offered in partnership with Blue Line Arts. To learn more about open Calls to Artists click here.
2026 VISITING ARTIST
SCG Past Recipients- Clay Artists Panel
The Susan Cooley-Gilliom Artist in Residence and Teaching (ART) Program is bringing back past recipients Ray Gonzales and Jennifer Rugge in the fall of 2026.
Hosted by Blue Line Arts, these two regional artists will be offering hands-on workshops, a panel discussion and open studio hours.
To see the schedule of events during the residency, click here.
Artist Statements
Ray Gonzales’ work has always been in clay. The tactile, visual and narrative qualities are what inspired him and have kept him focused since the beginning. Contemporary, historic, ancient and cultural works in clay provide endless inspiration for Ray.
Sculptures are the narratives and reflections of Ray’s experiences and his expression of world events-both past and present. Traditional and contemporary color, form, surface and scale are included in his creative process. He constantly explores variations with clays, glazes, raw surfaces and multiple firing techniques using electric and gas fired kilns as well as Raku and primitive firings.
Jennifer Rugge is an earth artist. She creates her art using organic materials and mixing paints and clay slips from natural minerals. Her work engages a presence of life from the land of our ancient ancestral roots in color and composition and with pictographs from early languages. These elements speak to the mystery that shadows the radiance of the inner voice and her journey with Art.
The collection of minerals and ochre clays are just the beginning of the entire process to create environmentally safe Art. From here these ochres are broken up, ground and finely pulverized into pigments. Adding organic binders to raw clays and minerals introduces a method to make your own paints and slips ready to employ onto the canvas or clay surfaces. The processes engage the self with the earth and to the Art. Therefore, art takes on a significant connection with the land and its creator.
