Artist: Susanna Melo | Location: Columbia, SC
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Artist: Susanna Melo | Location: Columbia, SC
Columbia, SC
Susanna Melo was born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil. She graduated from Indiana University in 1975 with a BA in Folklore. Unable to work in this field in Brazil, Susanna began teaching English as a Foreign Language. In 1986, she completed an MA in Comparative Literature at the University of South Carolina, and thereafter taught Spanish, Portuguese, and ESOL in Columbia.
Because art was not taught in the K-12 school system in Brazil, Susanna had little opportunity to develop any artistic skills during her formative years. When she retired in 2011, she and her husband had the opportunity to live in Tbilisi, Georgia for a year. There, Susanna took some hand-building classes with Malkhaz Shvelidze at the Clay Office.
In 2013, Susanna found the Arts Center run by the City of Columbia Parks and Recreation Department. She took a couple of workshops to become familiar with the "American" products and ways of working with clay.
Susanna continues experimenting with clay, having both good and bad days. She has since taken throwing classes, but feels her forte is in hand-building, which she believes allows her more creative expression.