Local art historian, lecturer makes passion her purpose

by Michele Collins

Hudson resident Felicia Zavarella Stadelman always admired art. As a youngster, she enjoyed visits to the Cleveland Museum of Art, studying the paintings and learning about the various styles of artwork.

But it wasn’t just the artwork that piqued Stadelman’s interest. It was the people who created the art – the artists themselves.

“I was fascinated by the stories behind the artists, about their passion, their inspiration and their lives,” she shared.

Although Stadelman thought her career might be in the graphic art world, she never lost her passion for artists and their history.

“Back when I was in college, art history was kind of boring,” she said. “I didn’t think I could have a career in it either.”

But once she became a mother, she started sharing the stories of her favorite artists with her children and nephews.

“What I found was that because of the stories I shared about the artists, the children remembered the artwork that went with the stories,” she said.

So, Stadelman created an art docent program in the Mayfield Heights Schools. Soon her entertaining tales were told by other docents whom she trained.

As the art docent program grew, expanding to other districts, Stadelman became an accomplished researcher. She poured over letters written by the artists and about the artists. She read and studied and discovered the backstory for 47 artists and counting. 

When Stadelman’s husband was transferred to Rhode Island, and her time with her local schools came to a close, she adapted her lectures to a new audience.

“I decided to try and share the artist’s stories with adults,” she said, “including the sometimes more mature information that I could not share with children.”

Before she knew it, Stadelman’s business had evolved. Via her company, Through the Eyes of the Artist, she shares art and artists’ stories throughout Northeast Ohio, at libraries, community centers, senior centers and assisted living residences. She also works with the Hudson-based SAGE group, Senior Adults for Greater Education.

She also is a frequent lecturer at the Hudson Library and Historical Society, at Laurel Lake and as the featured guest of numerous organizations.

“I have some adults who kind of follow me around to the different places I lecture, kind of like groupies,” she said with a laugh. “But what really amazes me is that they remember the stories, and then they will see a piece of art by that artist, and it will remind them of one of my lectures. And I am so pleased when they tell me they saw a painting in Italy and they knew right away it was done by one of the artists we have talked about.”

Dispelling the rumors and tales surrounding the life of Vincent Van Gogh; Norman Rockwell, not always the image he presents in his pictures; and Auguste Rodin and his talented student Camille Claudel, a tragic love story carved in stone; are just a few of the stories Stadelman recites to her growing group of students.

She is currently working on a series for both winter and spring presentations, tying the series to a genre of artists or a shared subject matter. Stadelman said her work is her passion. Videos of her presentations abound on Youtube.

In fact, a PBS station in France even included her work in a documentary on the relationship between artists Mary Cassatt and Edgar Degas, enabling Stadelman to be part of its filming in Paris.

“Here I was just this mom from Hudson, going around Paris, telling the story of two awe-inspiring artists,” she said. “I can’t believe where my passion for artists has taken me.” For an opportunity to learn more about the artists and their stories, visit throughtheeyesoftheartist.com.