Suzanne Bort Gray
                                                                                   Freelance Artist
Collaborations
While artistic vision is the realm of a few, creativity resides in the souls of all. 

Many people give up on their creative longings after childhood, claiming they can't even draw a straight line.  Given the opportunity to collaborate on a project, most are astounded at their significant contribution to the whole.  Suzanne has collaborated with Davis Family YMCA, the Canfield Fair, Global Art Project for Peace, Lawless Industries, Russian Peace Foundation, and the Ursuline Sisters to create lasting works of art.

The Canfield Fair
Every year in late August, the Canfield Fair, the second largest county fair in the U.S., takes place at the fairgrounds in Canfield, Ohio.  In addition to entering her own artwork and photography in the Fair's competitions, for the past 8 years, Suzanne has worked with the Fair's Fine Arts Committee to present the largest fine arts exhibition in the tri-county area.


Faces of the Fair 2009

Over 1500 people were
photographed for this
inaugural montage


 

Faces of the Fair 2011

Over 3500 people participated
in this 165th anniversary montage.




Global Art Project
The mission of the Global Art Project (GAP) is to joyously create a culture of peace through art. Biennially, participants create works of art expressing their vision of global peace and goodwill. The Arizona based Global Art Project then organizes an international exchange, resulting in thousands of people sending messages of peace around the world at one time --visions of unity simultaneously encircle the Earth. The art is sent as a gift of global friendship and exhibited in the receiving community.

Suzanne became involved with GAP in 2005 and now serves as an International Coordinator for the biennial exchange.

 One Piece One Peace

 

One Piece One Peace
Davis YMCA Global Art Project, 2008
Exchange with Senegal, West Africa

Hundreds of YMCA members were photographed for this montage.  The children (youth art students), face the rainbow in the horizon, longing for peace.  The montage, along with art materials and medicines, were sent to a village in Senegal. They, in turn, sent  the YMCA drawings and a dvd of their village.

The Face of Peace
Bort Family Global Art Project, 2008
Exchange with Ramadi, Iraq

Suzanne's brother, Richard Bort, was the impetus for this montage.  He assembled the main image --male, female, white, black, Asian, Middle Eastern, old, young. The entire Bort family, as well as many of their acquaintances and friends are featured in the small images that comprise the large. The montage was the first ever GAP artwork sent to Iraq.

Face of Peace


Face of Peace

The Face of Peace
Davis YMCA Global Art Project, 2008
Exchange with Sudbury, Massachusetts

Youth art students collected small objects and made clay pieces expressing their views of world peace.  The idea is that anyone who looks into the mirror sees the face of peace.


Russian Peace Foundation
Through the Russian Peace Foundation and Youngstown State University (YSU) Campus Ministries, Suzanne had two occasions to volunteer at orphanages in St. Petersburg.  Knowing that art is the universal language, she packed her bags with paint, canvas, clay, beads, and many other supplies.  Wonderful works of art were created by the children of various detsky domas (children's homes).  The Russian people are very art oriented and gladly hung the finished pieces in their government and educational facilities.

 Friendship Garden

Hands Around the World

Friendship Garden
St. Petersburg, 2003

Hands Around the World
St. Petersburg, 2005


 making the hands around the world quilt hands around the world  making the friendship garden mirror 
 Suzanne working with Russian children to create the Hands Around the World quilt Hands Around the World quilt  Suzanne and Russian child creating the Hands Around the World mirror 

The  Hands Around the World  quilt project continued for several years, spreading from Russia to Canada and Mexico. 

 Hands Around the World, St. Catharines YMCA, Canada Hands Around the World, Akumal Primary School, Mexico  
Hands Around the World, St. Catharine's YMCA, Canada  Hands Around the World, Akumal Primary School, Mexico 


Lawless Industries

When Lawless Industries was contracted to create a remote controlled device for a test flight over the Magic Kingdom, they were in need of a light weight model to attach to the wires.  In stepped Suzanne, who, with the help of art teacher Ann Bort, created a Tinkerbell facsimile.  One summer night, after the park had closed, several successful flights were completed.  The Tinkerbell lookalike is on display at Lawless Industries in Boardman, Ohio.

 Suzanne Bort Gray with Tinkerbell prototype  Tinkerbell test flight  Tinkerbell flight through Magic Kingdom
Suzanne with Tinkerbell facsimile
Test flight at Lawless farm in New Springfield, Ohio
 Maiden flight through Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom


Ursuline Sisters Affiliation
The presence of the Ursuline Sisters is ubiquitous in Youngstown, Ohio.  Most area artists are involved in the organization in some regard, whether donating artworks for fundraisers, or working with children and families.
Starry Night Over Casa Madre
Starry Night Over Casa Madre
Just for Kids, 2008

During a summer program for HIV/AIDS infected/affected teens, van Gogh was studied at length, not only for his artistic genius, but also for his life struggles.

After painting his/her interpretation of Starry Night, each student pieced, framed, and sewed the panels into the quilt.  Suzanne painted the bottom panel showing Casa Madre under its own starry night.

The quilt won Best of Show at the Canfield Fair, the  second largest county fair in the country.  It was auctioned off to raise funds for HIV/AIDS awareness and was later donated back to Casa Madre, where it now hangs.

In 2000, Suzanne embarked on a cross country journey with Ursuline Sister, Norma Raupple.  The destination was Brownsville, Texas, where Sr. Norma had a mission, working with Mexican immigrants.  The two women took several trips across the border to volunteer at a colonia (makeshift shanty town) on the outskirts of Matamoras, Mexico.  This was Suzanne's first look at true poverty....and that poverty was within spitting distance of the United States.

The award winning Whatapity, a quilted photo collage, was inspired by the people and situations encountered during those border crossings.

Whatapity, Matamoras Colonia
Whatapity
Matamoras Colonia, 2000 

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