About me
Susan is one of the founders of Ix Art Park Foundation, a non-profit organization that manages a year-round free outdoor mural and sculpture park located on privately owned property in downtown Charlottesville. Susan is a passionate believer that art and collective creativity has the power to bring vitality to a physical space while simultaneously bringing a diverse community together.
Along with co-founders Brian Wimer and Ludwig Kuttner, the Ix Art Park began in 2014 as a way to activate an urban space in downtown Charlottesville that had been shattered by poverty and displacement following the bankruptcy of the Frank Ix & Sons Textile Factory, a major employer in central Virginia for more than 70 years. The Founders began by inviting local artists to enliven the space by painting murals and building sculptures on the pubic use portions of the property. Next, they began to host a variety of free and/or affordable events that spanned different artistic genres, including music, dance, film, theater, crafts and visual arts as well as family friendly festivals, cultural folk festivals and events that promote diversity and inclusion. In 2019, they obtained non-profit status and built The Looking Glass, Virginia’s first permanent immersive art experience - 6,000 sq ft enchanted forest built by more than 25 artists.
As part of its mission, the Ix Art Park seeks to provide an open and free space that welcomes people from all social, political, spiritual and economic backgrounds. The ultimate goal is to become a national example of how public-private partnerships and dedication to public art space can help build healthy and economically vibrant neighborhoods.
