Artist Suze Wood Invites Community to Open Studio

WAITSBURG – For Suze Wood, landing in Waitsburg was a case of a left turn being the right turn. Wood had spent years bypassing Waitsburg as she traveled from her parent's home in Walla Walla to Cheney, where she attended college.

It was years later, while seeking a change of pace driving from Walla Walla to her Seattle home, that she decided to take the back way and finally made that left turn off Highway 12 and onto Waitsburg's Main Street. Wood said she was so captivated by what she saw that she had to pull over and take a closer look.

"There were these beautiful historic buildings, someone was walking down Main Street waving hello to someone else, and a group of swallows was flying back-and-forth in a figure eight over Main Street," she said.

Wood was so enamored by the scene (compounded by a desire to move closer to her parents) that she began watching for property in the area. It wasn't long before the artist made the move from Seattle to her Main Street studio loft.

Though she's called Waitsburg home only since last summer, Wood is already looking for ways to give back to the community she says has received her with such an unexpectedly warm welcome. Her first such endeavor will be to offer an open studio the first Sunday of each month - an event she hopes will make art more accessible to area youth. Wood also plans to use profits from her craft classes and space rentals to purchase supplies and cover operating costs to help provide creative activities for local young people.

A multi-talented artist, Wood has been honing her creative skills since childhood. She says she was given her first Singer sewing machine at age six and was creating bridal and evening gowns for friends and family by the time she was in her teens.

A former self-described fashionista, she "discovered horses" in her early 20's and turned her focus to creating high-end, hand-decorated, western couture, even competing in fashion shows in Cody, Wyoming.

Wood attended Eastern Washington University where she studied digital imaging while earning a double major in art history and studio art. Post-college, she was hired at Amazon.com when the company was in its infancy, working with 8-12 others in a "not so nice" Seattle basement in the company's product imaging department. She eventually traveled the world with Amazon as that small team grew to a global imaging department with hundreds of employees and 24 locations, worldwide.

Though her passion is textiles, Wood has also studied printmaking, jewelry design, woodworking, furniture design and more. In 2009 she took a sabbatical from Amazon and spent several months in Paris, where she studied haute couture embroidery techniques at Ecole Lesage, which boasts clients such as Dior, Chanel, and Yves Saint Laurent.

Today, Wood owns and operates Duke & Remington (Duke is her Quarter Horse gelding and Remington is her Toy Fox Terrier), and creates quality bespoke (custom, made-to-measure) equestrian and pet items from natural materials. Her internet-based company can be found online at http://www.dukeandremington.com. Wood incorporates many of the techniques she's learned over the years as she creates made-to-order goods from her historic Main Street loft.

Wood's Open Studio Program and associated classes are a new endeavor that she developed after learning that art programs are no longer funded after the third grade in our local school district. "I wasn't a great student early on in my school career and without art classes I don't think I could have gone on to do what I've done in life. Art teaches problem solving skills and so much more," she said.

Wood got her feet wet working with children when she led a printmaking class during last summer's Knock Out Boredom program sponsored by the Waitsburg Resource Center. She said she was impressed by how attentive and interested the children were and realized that they were capable of more than she had expected.

That experience created the desire to provide a fun, relaxing space where artists of all ages can join together in creating, sharing and enjoying art. To that end, Wood will open her studio on the first Sunday of each month and welcomes children (with a parent) and adults to visit, explore and create.

Wood is also offering a variety of classes to help fund the Open Studio, with profits going to provide supplies and creative opportunities for kids. Classes range from one-day events to six-week sessions, and begin as early February 17.

Wood currently offers ten classes ranging from Fundamentals of Felting to Vintage Sewing Techniques to Sashiko Mending. In other classes you can create a felted map blanket, a Nuno felted scarf, an assemblage necklace or even your own spa products. Projects made during the classes may be displayed or sold during Open Studio if the student desires. Full descriptions of each class may be found at http://www.dukeandremington.com/classes/

Wood says she is excited to share her space with the community and hopes the monthly Open Studio will become a draw that will bring people to downtown Waitsburg. "They can have a coffee or a sandwich at one of the restaurants, visit the shops, then come enjoy art and listen to music. I'm looking forward to it!" she said.

Duke & Remington Open Studio

1-6 p.m. first Sunday of each month beginning March 1

The studio is located above Hubbard Law Office on Waitsburg's Main Street and may be accessed via the door on Preston Avenue (the side of City Hall) and up two (short) flights of stairs.

Learn more about Open Studio, space rentals and classes at http://www.dukeandremington.com or email Suze Wood at help@dukeandremington.com