Meet Suzzanne Anicette | Artist, Arts Administrator and Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Suzzanne Anicette and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Suzzanne, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
There is a saying that your vocation should be something that you love and are passionate about; that way your work feeds your soul. I have endeavored to consistently align my passion for the arts my vocation so I don’t have to work. Life work balance has also always informed my career path. I intentionally transitioned my career from arts education in K-12 school public schools to County Cultural Affairs at the juncture when my child graduated from high school and I no longer needed to be on a school schedule. Being in Cultural Affairs as the coordinator of an arts facility has allowed me to broaden my arts engagement reach beyond the school walls to an entire community, while also diversifying the types of art media. It is truly thrilling!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The arc of my creative journey began very early in my formative years. For many years my love and affinity for literature and visual arts were equally represented. However, along my meandering path visual arts took forefront and creative writing, while still along for the ride, had taken a back seat. In the arena of visual arts I would classify myself primarily as a painter, I have created work in acrylic watercolors, completed a few commissioned murals and even painted a public piano for “play me again pianos.” I have never been very prolific, however, I am always exploring different media. For the 17 years that I was a public school visual arts teacher I would expend much of my creative energy designing and implementing lessons and curriculum for my students. The positive side to this was a tendency to branch out beyond my comfort zone to include as many engaging arts experiences for students. It was not until I transitioned my teaching career to County Government Cultural Affairs that my desire to write creatively bounced back into the foreground. While I still paint and explore media including a recent interest in stained glass, I am endeavoring to re-focus on my love of writing.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I moved to Atlanta a dozen years ago and for the first 6 years lived downtown, which I enjoy immensely. A fun weekend with friends would include Friday eating breakfast at Thumbs Up, a trip to the High museum, with lunch in their café, shopping at the Ponce City Market and dinner at Agave restaurant. Saturday we would venture out to Chateau Elan for wine tour, meals and the spa. Sunday we would return to Cobb county where I currently reside and work for more local food fun on the square, and of course show at the Jennie T. Anderson theatre! If I had the luxury of the remainder of the week a road trip to Savannah would be on deck.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Innumerable shout outs; I will try to list the top few: My siblings: Wilma Beaty Esq., Robin Wilt, Dr. Evelyn Reynolds & William Reynolds
University of Rochester School of Arts and Sciences
Pratt Institute
Ntozake Shange, Zora Neal Hurston & Guillaume Apollinaire

Image Credits
Suzzanne Anicette John Ridings