Meet Quest Maker Camille Saunders Musser
Quest Makers are women in their 40s and beyond who've declared
"now it's my time," and then set off on their own journeys to realize their dreams. Every month a Quest Maker is featured in the FREE e-newsletter, Your Next Quest Chronicles. Click here to enjoy archived issues.
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Quest Maker Camille Saunders Musser
From artmaking: reconnecting with her heritage to launching an arts foundation
Camille's quest to pursue painting began in earnest when she decided to celebrate turning 50 with her first solo exhibition in St. Vincent & the Grenadines (SVG) for her family and friends. Using proceeds from the sale of her paintings, she founded Youlou Arts Foundation, a visual arts program on the island where she was born. Along the way, Camille was profiled in Pamela Tanner Boll's documentary, Who Does She Think She Is?. [Click here to view the theatrical trailer.]
When did you decide to embark on your journey?
It's like I have two quests that are entwined, one is pursuing my painting and the other is the Youlou Arts Foundation. My quest to be a professional painter started earlier than Youlou Arts. When we lived in Costa Rica, I started painting. Even though people told me not to worry because I was painting from my heart, it upset me that I had not had an art education on St. Vincent, where I grew up. When my family moved to Cambridge, Mass. in 1995, I attended painting classes at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education. I thought to myself: "Yes, this is something I really like!" I've always enjoyed needlework, sewing, quilting, embroidery but it was not ever seen as being professional. It was seen as what women do in their spare time.
When I was about 48, I read a magazine article about a famous designer who had decided to perform a piano concert for her friends and family to celebrate turning 50. I thought what a great way to celebrate. I had been painting for about 3-4 years so I decided to hold my first solo exhibition on my 50th birthday for friends and family on St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG). My goal was to show 30 paintings and I pursued my painting in earnest at the end of 1998 and early 1999. In the end I took 23 paintings with me to the island. There I exhibited them in the lobby of the telephone company where everyone came to pay their bills. The show was a success. I sold two paintings then and another back in Cambridge where I live. The compliments about my work and then selling my paintings were amazing things for me. I thought who would want to buy my work? Click here to see Camille's artwork.
I wanted to donate the proceeds from the sale of my paintings to the SVG government to give to the local crafts people. Since SVG schools still don't offer art classes during the school year, I thought why not create a visual arts program for children instead. In 2000 I launched Youlou Arts Foundation. Youlou is a name that the indigenous people called the island in pre-Columbian times according to the missionaries. The word seems to have something to do with rainbows because just about everyday there are big beautiful rainbows on the island.
How did you come to be in the film?
I first met Pam when we were both enrolled in painting classes in Cambridge. After my solo exhibition, though, I had the confidence to paint on my own so I stopped taking classes and we lost touch. I ran into her again in 2005 the day after I had seen Born into Brothels and we had a chance to catch up. Not realizing that Pam was a co-executive producer of the film, I told her I wanted to meet Zana Briski, the woman in the film who was doing with photography what I was doing with Youlou Arts.
Then Pam told me was she was directing a film for her masters thesis from Lesley University. She asked me tell her more because she might want to profile me. She arranged to visit my studio, shot some film and interviewed me. “YES, we want you in the film!” In 2005, Pam and her son travelled to SVG where they stayed for about a week taking footage. After many unforeseeable delays, Who Does She Think She Is? made its début in 2008.
How has your quest unfolded?
When I returned from SVG, I visited the Women’s Education and Industrial Union [editor’s note: now the Crittenton Women’s Union] hoping to raise additional funds for the program by selling smocked frocks for little girls from a small business I already had. I told them about the project and the staff asked me if I had a business plan for how to accomplish my goal. I asked: “What’s that?” They signed me up for their new 6-week course for women entrepreneurs.
I was very naïve; I didn’t’ know anything about management or boards of directors. I just knew I could offer art classes because I was a mom. I’d been a Girl Scout leader and I had done a little Cub Scouting so I knew I could handle young children ranging from 5-12 years old. The course gave me an opportunity to learn what I needed to know.
The Union suggested I have a dry run of the program in 2001. We enrolled 15 students—all children of friends—in a 12-day program featuring drawing, painting and local crafts. We had a wonderful time, except the children thought it should have lasted longer! What they enjoyed most was socializing with other children they didn’t know. I was surprised. I thought living on a small island everyone would know each other.
The next year, I put a big ad in the newspaper and advertised on the radio station. We had more than 30 children for 3 weeks. This past summer was the ninth year. The program has expanded to a total of 120 students. We serve 40 children in each of the three locations: Georgetown, Kingstown and Barrouallie.
When we started out we used local artisans and artists to teach the classes. As we grew, we didn’t have enough artists so we started hiring elementary school teachers with or without an art background. That got us into the business of providing a teacher training program. Now every year we have a visiting artist decide on a theme and develop projects to be done simultaneously at all three locations. Then we bring the teachers in for a 1-week class before the Youlou Arts visual arts program begins to demonstrate how to do the projects.
What changes did this bring to your life?
That birthday party brought about Youlou Arts and helped me be more in touch with SVG. I’m able to speak with people I normally wouldn’t meet on my holidays at home. I have a real feel for what is going on in St. Vincent & the Grenadines now. I also have to raise funds, which means I write a lot of letters to SVG businesses.
Youlou Arts has given me a really firm belief in myself. I am really proud that I have kept this program going for nine years. It’s not easy to do. During most of the year I am not on the island but in Cambridge.
At the beginning I’d ask myself why I was doing this. Then I would just need to visit the children who are so happy. Teachers tell me all the time about shy students who leave the Youlou Arts visual arts program full of self esteem. The children call me “The Art Camp Woman.” It’s a nice feeling!
Because I lived near Lesley University, Pam invited me to a dinner celebrating the documentary’s success. I sat next to the university provost who invited me to come and talk to her about how we could introduce art classes into the SVG elementary schools.
That led me to speak with the island’s chief education officer. Now talks are taking place between the university and the government. We are still working out the details. Maybe some Lesley University faculty will come down to the island to train the SVG teachers. Later, we hope a team of SVG teachers will travel to Lesley to get a masters degree in art education.
Looking back, what's one thing you wish you had known as you set off on your journey?
I wish I had known I would have to spend so much time fundraising. I was so naïve. I thought I would write to a foundation and it would be so happy to send a check every time I asked for it. I was also hoping the government would give us funds but it has not. I had to really work very hard at fundraising.
Sometimes it meant raffling off my art work. Sometimes it meant hitting the pavement. It always meant being very persistent. I’ve become a little more creative about what to do and now we have a board willing to work with me. In 2007 and 2008 we held a carnival dance to raise funds for the program in SVG. We also had a big art fair for children with booths providing 30 minute mini projects of what we do during the Youlou Arts program. This coming February, we will have a fundraiser in SVG with a screening of Who Does She Think She Is?.
You know what, though? I have come to enjoy it because I believe so much in the program and have no qualms about asking for donations.
What is the one essential quality that you'd tell women to pack for their own path?
Be very focused. Each day I have to make choices. If I spend a long time at my studio, I need to make sure everything is in place at home so that no one is wondering what’s for dinner or if I won’t be home, the family needs to know ahead of time. Be persistent. If someone says “no,” try another avenue.
Can you describe how you dealt with any obstacles on your adventure?
I have tried to surround myself with people who have encouraged me. Here I have a cheerleaders group, fellow artists and my neighborhood friends. In SVG, Camille Crichton has been my cheerleader. When I started sending barrels of art supplies to SVG, Camille put me in touch with the island’s Rotary Club. Now Rotary clears the barrels through Customs and sends them to a private warehouse for storage.
How do you make time for your quests?
During most of the year I am not on the island but in Cambridge. Usually beginning in April I will spend some time getting the supplies for the program and ship them to SVG. This year since I was the visiting artist, I did some research spread out over a few months to come up with project ideas. I go to SVG at the end of June and all of July, sometimes even staying in August. That means I am away from my family and my garden when it is blooming.
I do not do any painting on the island. I would love to but all my time is spent running the program. I do make sketches and notes for future art making and when I am in Cambridge, I try to make it to my studio at least 3- 4 times per week.
What helped you stay on your quest’s path?
I really believe in Youlou Arts. I am doing something no one else is doing in SVG. In order for the island to have good artisans, there needs to be art education. Children need to be nurtured at an early age and develop critical thinking skills. Youlou helps the children be focused, creative and social. It helps them to be good citizens, too.
What's been the secret to reaching your goals?
Maybe it goes back to my parents. They were very involved in the community, performing a lot of community service on the island. It has made me want to stay connected to St. Vincent, the most beautiful island in the world. Yes, it is very poor and there is a lot of crime but I have a strong belief that true art making can bring about change.
What's the best advice for your quest you've ever received?
To take the entrepreneurial course at the Women’s Education and Industrial Union. The teachers were very encouraging from the very beginning and pointed me in the right direction. The showed me the steps I needed to take to make this a reality. It was definitely excellent.
Is there a particular quote, a movie, a book or a person that has sustained you?
My love for St. Vincent has sustained me. I discovered how much the island means to me. I realize that all my paintings are about the Caribbean and what is happening there. The more I paint the more I want to learn about its history and very rich culture filled with indigenous people, the European colonists, the pirates.
Do you have a new quest around the corner?
People are becoming more aware of the benefits of an art education. We hope to raise funds from the February screening to build an art center. It will give us a home for our supplies and provide space to offer workshops with visiting artists. During the festival this year, a delegation from Cuba wanted to see SVG artists and there were no art galleries or museums on the island for them to visit. Tourist ships stop here for nature walks, so adding a gallery featuring local artists and art would be one way for Youlou Arts to raise money for its programs.
National Commercial Bank, the local bank, has expressed an interest in partnering with Youlou Arts to create an art center and gallery. Lesley University is interested in getting involved in the training of SVG teachers to become art educators. Hopefully, there will be more children who participate in the Youlou Arts visual arts program throughout the island. I hope they will be interested in picking up the mantle and let me pull back a bit. This would give me more time for my own art making which I must say I have been neglecting.
I still have big dreams for my art making. In a way I have been lazy about my art. I can sell Youlou Arts because it is not about me. To sell myself; it is a different story and not that easy. I keep thinking I should go out there and knock on gallery doors. The film has made a difference, though. After viewing it, one gallery owner expressed interest in representing my work. We’ll see.
Is there anything else you’d like to share that we haven’t talked about?
I have taken over the little craft shop that belonged to my mother who died recently because my brothers didn’t know what to do with it. I like to think I have sewn some seeds and have had a big hand in helping the crafts people get their supplies. My mother’s store is one more thread that connects me to the island.
Camille's Art |
Grenadines |
Breadfruit Tree |
Youlou Arts Foundation |
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To learn more about Camille and view her online gallery, you can visit her website or you can send her an email. To learn more abou the Youlou Arts Foundation and its programs, visit the website.
Start your own conversation: Host a party to view the documentary film.
Invite your girlfriends. Or think bigger and screen it at your public library, church or community center. The film’s producers make it easy for you with their House Party Kit. Share the cost of the party kit with your friends or consider holding a fundraiser charging a modest fee for admission.
On Sunday, November 8 at 2:30pm EST (11:30am PST), you can even participate in the national house party. Afterward join in an online interactive talkback, with a panel of artists featured in the film. You'll be able to ask questions via email and listen to the questions live. (You just need a computer and an Internet connection.) Click here for complete details.
If you'd like to read the essay and the Journal Sparker inspired by Camille's interview, click here to enjoy September''s YNQ Chronicles.
Your Next Quest continued the conversation with Camille in October 2010.
Click here for an update.
What you can expect to find in every issue of YNQ Chronicles