Visual Arts Nova Scotia is deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of artist, member and friend, Susan Wood. Susan was a long-standing member of VANS and had served on our Board of Directors since 2014. Her thoughtful input and support made an invaluable impact on the vibrancy of our organization.

VANS was also fortunate to have Susan participate as a mentor early on in our Mentorship Program. When Susan first offered to be a mentor, she recounted a story of how pivotal mentorship was in her own career as an artist and how she wanted pass on that experience to another generation of emerging artists. Her spirit of generosity and dedication to art practice made her a natural mentor and she continued to champion the program for its vital role in the arts community.

She will be missed by so many, and VANS would like to pass on our sincere condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues.

Susan’s obituary was published in the Chronicle Herald. There will be a Celebration of Life for Susan at 1:00pm on Friday, March 9 at The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, 1055 Marginal Rd, Halifax, NS.

NSCAD University sent out this tribute:
NSCAD University is very saddened to announce that esteemed retired faculty member and well known artist Susan Wood passed away on Monday, February 26, 2018.

Susan Wood was born in Saint John, NB and grew up in Amherst, NS. She attended Mount Allison University (BFA 1976), participated in the Banff Winter Studio Program (1976-1977) and received an MFA from The University of Calgary in 1981. Susan lived in St. John’s, Newfoundland (1983-1989) where she was a founding member of the Eastern Edge Gallery, taught at Memorial University Extension Arts and continued her studio practice.

Susan moved to Halifax in 1989 and began teaching at NSCAD University in 1990. She participated in numerous group exhibitions across Canada and in Finland, Germany, Scotland and Iceland, and also had a number of solo exhibitions including her nationally touring Devil’s Purse, Dress Drawings and Taxonomies. She was a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts and was a recipient of grant awards from the Canada Council, the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council and the Nova Scotia Arts Council. Her work is represented in private, corporate and public collections across Canada, UK and in the USA. Susan lived in Halifax, and is survived by her children David, Jamie and Aiden. Susan was predeceased by her husband Stephen Fudge.

Susan was well loved by colleagues and students at NSCAD. Susan possessed a remarkable ability to connect with her students. Every one of them appreciated her knowledge and enthusiasm that was delivered with patience and kindness. Susan’s reputation as a drawing instructor was such that students arrived requesting that they be assigned to her class. As a colleague, Susan was the consummate professional. Her generosity, clarity of thought, positivity and ability to keep things in perspective was always greatly appreciated, as was her wisdom and good humour. Susan will be greatly missed.