Susan Bach

 


The Honorable Madeleine Albright Delivers Remarks to Graduates
at Agnes Scott College’s 121st Commencement

Ms. Albright's broach was
created for her by Florida
artist, and Agnes Scott parent,
Susan Bach.

Saturday, May 08, 2010

Agnes Scott College held its 121st Commencement on May 8, featuring remarks by former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright and honorary degree recipient and Agnes Scott alumna Gay McDougall. Nearly 200 graduates received their diplomas at the ceremony. Albright encouraged grads to challenge conventional wisdom and be tenacious in their pursuit of truth.

“This mission begins with an important premise—that we don’t know everything there is to know,” Albright said. “The pursuit of truth in the 21st Century is truly a global one.”

“Don’t settle for an old or well-worn path,” she added.

Albright received an honorary degree from the college for her amazing achievements, both for women’s rights and human rights.

Albright was the 64th Secretary of State of the United States. As the first female to be named to that position, she became at that time, the highest ranking woman in the history of the U.S. government. As Secretary of State, Albright reinforced America’s alliances, advocated democracy and human rights and promoted American trade and business, labor and environmental standards abroad.

Albright is the Michael and Virginia Mortara Distinguished Professor of Diplomacy at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. She chairs both the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs and the Pew Global Attitudes Project and serves as president of the Truman Scholarship Foundation. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Board of Trustees for the Aspen Institute. In 2009, Albright was asked by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen to chair the Group of Experts on NATO’s New Strategic Concept.

Ms. Albright's broach was created for her by Florida artist, and Agnes Scott parent, Susan Bach.

 

 
 
   
 
 
 

Born and raised in upstate New York, Susan Bach is the daughter of eminent wildlife artist, Tom Beecham. This factor combined with growing up in the beautiful NY countryside has had a major influence on Ms. Bach's work and choice of subject matter today.

Working with a traditional craftsman's material, clay, in a non traditional way, Ms. Bach creates highly patterned, decorative vessels and sculptures. Each piece is fashioned from white earthenware or terra cotta and finished with lustrous glazes. Occasionally, over glaze transfers or 22K gold leaf is added to complete the work. Every piece is original and one-of-a-kind.

Ms. Bach has exhibited in galleries, museums and art exhibitions throughout the country. Her work is in many private and corporate collections as well as the permanent collections of the City of Orlando, Valencia Community College and the Maitland Art Center.

Ms. Bach teaches private hand building and wheel classes at McRae Art Studios as well as classes in hand building, surface design and mold making at The Pottery Studio, www.cityoforlando.net/pottery  and at the Maitland Art Center, www.maitlandartcenter.org.

Ms. Bach has been a resident of Orlando, Florida for 35 years. She and her husband, landscape and mural artist Stephen Bach, both attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn NY. They maintain studios at The McRae Art Studios in Winter Park and at their home in Downtown Orlando's Lake Cherokee Historic District. They live with their 22 year old daughter, two cats and five goldfish.


susanbach@mcraeartstudios.com

407.810.5077