upcoming Exhibition AT THE GALLERY AT STILL RIVER EDITIONS

susan saralegui filosa
the foxspell series: companion in grief
April 11 - July 2, 2026

Opening reception saturday, April 11, 2 pm - 4 pm
Free and open to the publiC

FoxSpell: Companion in Grief is an exhibition of fine art prints by mixed media artist Susan Saralegui Filosa. Filosa is both a Licensed Professional Counselor and Art Therapist, and her work is imbued with a sense of the transformational power of art, both as an artist, and as a viewer.

In her artist statement, Filosa gives a detailed account of the encounters she had with animals in the Front Range Mountains of Colorado. The animals became her companions, photographed from a respectful distance, as she grappled with the emotional landscape she traversed as her mother was dying. To reflect the many layers of that experience, she wove the photographs into mixed media artwork that includes photography, drawing, painting, collage, and digital techniques.

Filosa’s own words below recount the story best.

ARTIST STATEMENT

The FoxSpell series was conceived within the Front Range Mountains of Colorado where Violet, a wild black fox with copper eyes, auspiciously appeared to me during a cold, winter sunrise and there remained during a time of emotional turbulence. My estranged mother was suddenly dying, and with that, challenging memories and beliefs confronted me. I was in need of this very companion, a muse, and some intriguing reflection of my soul. During this time, I wrote, drew, painted, collaged, and took endless photographs of Violet, the spectacular land, and all its inhabitants. Her presence comforted and inspired me.

During her daily visits, Violet began to observe me as I hid patiently, faithfully, in bushes, hoping for the perfect picture: a stag with impressive antlers or a humpbacked moose, a speckled woodpecker or golden eagle with its piercing eyes, or, more profoundly perhaps, the three-legged coyote that occasionally labored through. I was out there, uninterrupted for days, alone in tall, scratchy grasses, awaiting magnificent sights like the quarreling of hummingbirds and hawks hunting.

With the passing of seasons, Violet and I witnessed raven and magpie battles, sat in pouring rain, and relished grand, double rainbows. Yet regardless of the moments captured, Violet's company remained unmatched. Singing to her, trying to connect, I would giggle and delight in the perplexed cocking of her head, the pivoting of her large, black, velvety ears. Sadly, the days where we adventured side-by-side dwindled, as the emotional turbulence subsided and a joyous sense of self and peace arrived.

This experience reaffirmed my beliefs around employing art to transformative ends and in the healing power of nature. I aim to encourage others to embrace their own evolution in the tranquility of nature. Nature holds and unites us, and I desire to help guide others to what I have found, so that they too can gain access to their own inner world, one filled with personal meaning and insight - through creative endeavor.

The FoxSpell series is the artwork birthed during that time and I hope it captures the magic I experienced under the spell of a wild black fox, affectionately called Violet.

artist biography

Susan Virginia Filosa is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Registered Art Therapist, and Mixed Media Artist. Drawn to the intersection of creative expression, the human psyche, and resilience, she studied art, psychology, and philosophy, finding in their overlap a lifelong source of inspiration.

Susan has exhibited her work in numerous shows and educational events dedicated to bridging mental health awareness with the transformative power of art. Her work reflects a deep reverence for the natural world. Often found with a camera in hand and a backpack filled with both traditional and unconventional materials, she integrates her love of diverse art forms with her fascination for inner landscapes.

“I bring together my love of the natural world and the intricate, emotional worlds we each carry within us,” she says, “blending drawings, paintings, collages, and my own nature photography into a single, multi-layered expression.”

Filosa currently lives in Piermont, NY.

Website: susanfilosa.com

ABOUT THE GALLERY AT STILL RIVER EDITIONS

The Gallery at Still River Editions has hosted national and regional photographers and artists since 1989. In spring 2011, after a brief hiatus from exhibiting new work, the gallery returned to hosting up to four exhibitions a year. The Gallery's mission is to show traditional and digital prints of photographs and fine artwork, and to be a center of creativity and connection in the Danbury area. 

The Gallery at Still River Editions is open during normal business hours 8:30 am - 5 pm Monday through Friday, and during posted hours for special events. The Gallery does not accept unsolicited submissions at this time.