Susan Hagen: Social Studies

Susan Hagen: Social Studies at the The Center for Art in Wood in Philadelphia in March 2013 was an in-depth survey of recent work by the Philadelphia artist, which addresses themes of social awareness, personal identity and the human condition. Hagen’s detailed, small-scale sculptures are constructed of carved wood (burned, bleached or painted) and mixed media, and her drawings employ conté and ink wash. Though her techniques are mostly traditional, she brings her perspective as a contemporary American woman to her studies of urban life and social issues. Ms. Hagen’s work is represented by the Schmidt Dean Gallery in Philadelphia.

Susan Hagen: Social Studies includes four series of works, which were created over the last decade. Each body of work explores a part of society that is sometimes misunderstood, under-appreciated or marginalized.

• Citizens (People of Philly) (2012-present) is Hagen’s most recent project, which the artist describes as “an attempt to document the people who make up the texture of urban life around me in Philadelphia.” This ongoing project consists of detailed and colorful portraits of people from different communities and subcultures, including homeless people, community gardeners, skaters, and protestors. It also incorporates objects from public life, such as newspaper boxes and parking meters. Hagen says: “My intention is for viewers to take with them a deeper understanding of this moment in the life of our city as well as a more compassionate appreciation of human diversity.”

• Teenager Project (2006-2012) is a series of painted carved-wood portraits of teenagers as they attempt to define their identities in modern culture. These works explore the character and sense of style of individual teens, and were created intermittently over 6 years.

• Recollection Tableaux (2006-2007), originally created for Philadelphia Eastern State Penitentiary, consists of ten sculptural dioramas that document ordinary and extraordinary moments from the history of the penitentiary. They incorporate carved, bleached wood figures in monochromatic white settings with mixed-media props and furniture.

• The Lost Army (2004-2005) was created as a response to the US government’s decision to send troops to Iraq in 2003, but developed into a more personal study of the individuals who served in the war. This series of “pocket” monuments is made up of a company of one-foot tall carved wood soldiers, charred velvety black.

For two of the projects included in the exhibition, Recollection Tableaux and The Lost Army, Hagen investigated her subjects through archival photographs, newspaper articles, and interviews. For Teenager Project and Citizens (People of Philly) she worked more directly with her participants, interviewing and photographing specific individuals.

Susan Hagen received an MFA in sculpture from the Cranbrook Academy of Art in 1983 and a BFA in sculpture from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 1980. Her work has been included in exhibitions at The Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, Miami Basel, World Tattoo Gallery in Chicago, and many other museums and galleries throughout the United States. She teaches at Bucks County Community College in Newtown, PA, and has written hundreds of reviews and articles for the Artblog, the Philadelphia Citypaper, and other publications. Recent honors have included a fellowship from the Independence Fellowships in the Arts and a residency at the Ragdale Foundation in Lake Forest, IL.

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