Sue Cleveland’s dream is to one day run an art shop out of a barn on her property. For now, she inspires her students to create their own artwork as a teacher at Michigan City High School.
Art has always been a part of Sue’s life but it was Indiana University that taught her how to teach others. She earned her Master’s degree in Art Education. Her first job was at Barker Middle School, in the same city she had grown up in.
“It’s the kids that give me inspiration,” she says. “They teach me a lot. They keep me young and up to date with the current technology.”
It has been 30 years since Sue joined the faculty ranks of the Michigan City School system, the last seven of which were spent at the high school. She teaches drawing and sculpture classes to artists of all aptitudes. Some of the advanced students even attend twice a day if they have enough free periods.
The entire school is getting excited about their most recent project: A series of murals that are bringing color to the stoic hallways. A new teacher, Deanna Ehrdarht, came up with the idea. She, Sue, and two other teachers came together to turn vision into artwork.
A lot of time, effort and fundraising have gone into a project that has only just begun. It started with one painting, the school logo. A GoFundMe page was created to raise money to do more of them across the building. The funds pay for paint and other supplies. The students donate the hours it takes to turn sketches and digital designs into life-size pieces of art. Their reach out to the community through the funding page led to commissions from the YMCA and the Second Chance Gallery.
“It immediately inspired me,” said Sue. “It was very exciting. Instead of getting worn down, we are just getting more excited.”
Sue believes that it is important for the students and the community outside school walls to get involved with each other as early as possible. A mural in the public means that they are putting their footprint in the world, and taking ownership of their hometown.
The same principal goes with the school.
“It doesn’t matter who puts the mural up,” said Sue. “It’s all of theirs.”
Sue speaks often of inspiration, and of finding it in her students and in the changes coming over her city. Michigan City is having an artistic revitalization that is much overdue.
“I think what’s happening in the art district is a phenomenon and gives me hope that Michigan City is coming back. We want everyone to be proud of where they’re from. Giving them a say so is a big part of it.”
It all starts at home.
Sue’s home is filled with rehabbed furniture, bits of potential jewelry, and other artistic paraphernalia. When her cats are not trying to distract her from her work she likes to create personal pieces she will someday share with the world. Some of them go sooner rather than later. When she is done refurbishing a piece of furniture she once found at a yard sale, she often gives it away. When she retires, Sue would like to make a she-shed or a barn store to sell her work as inspiration to others.
Her husband Kent works in construction and Sue enjoys the times he helps her with her art. Kent has even assisted at the school.
A project they are working on right now is tiling a vacant alcove down the hall from Sue’s classroom. A phone booth was torn down from the spot, and Sue would like to replace it with selfies that her students have taken and then redrawn. Each tile will feature an artist in the history of Michigan City High School.
“Creativity brings about inspiration. When you bring around people who are inspired it makes a better quality of life. We’ve already done it with the school. Just beginning these murals has breathed life into the school.”