For those of you who have been to the Lopez Island library recently, you are by now familiar with the dynamic artwork of Marc Foster Grant. And for those of you who have not yet seen the creations of this extraordinary painter, hurry, please, for it will only be on display for two more weeks. Do not under any circumstances miss an opportunity to view Marc’s current exhibition, 3 Times 3, featuring nine new paintings.
Hailing from San Diego by way of England and San Francisco, Marc, along with his wife Jeanne, first came to Lopez Island 25 years ago. With family nearby and a desire for a smaller community, Lopez seemed a perfect place to escape from the demands of a thriving fashion design company, Jeanne-Marc, and life in a large city. Many years later, with a local studio and several international audiences including one piece in a permanent collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London under his belt, Marc now brings his renowned talent to the humble walls of the Lopez library.
Painted in acrylic on hand felted paper, Marc chose to feature three of his favorite visual subjects. Comprised of Flowers, Masks and Man, this series of paintings illustrates what Marc considers to be one of his greatest artistic influences: an active appreciation of whimsy. This series, featuring themes of bright colors, contrast, sharp edges, and rich texture brings to life folkloric aspects of modern images. Among the flowers, masks and people you see the same eye for detail, imaginative juxtaposition, and iconic representation of something with which we all identify: beauty. Motivated by his desire to “take regular things in a different direction,” Marc finds his “‘inspiration’ in the comings and goings of… pedestrian life.” In a statement about his current paintings, he says that his work is to stay open to what surrounds him, and to absorb things through his eyes like a sponge absorbs water.
When asked what got him started as an artist, he responds that he has always been painting, since early in his childhood. He held his first show at the age of thirteen, after which he was invited to join the San Diego Museum’s Art Guild as their youngest member. He went on to earn a Masters Degree in Print Making, the work of which earned him several notable awards including a first in the New Paltz Intercollegiate Printmaking Competition, juried by Louise Nevelson and the James D. Phelan Award, a purchase prize for the Achenbach Foundation of Graphic Arts at the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco.
Following a long and successful career in fashion design, in which he and his wife were elected to the Council of Fashion Designers of America, he has returned to fine art as his primary medium for expression. The transition from working with clothing back to painting was simple. Even during his years designing, painting was an important aspect of his work. Many of the clothes featured hand painted images. Behind a paint brush was a place he could hide out on his own and create for himself, but depending on whether it was for work or for pleasure, he always enjoyed creating new images.
About his current exhibition at the Lopez Island library, he says that he wants to bring a bit of lightness to the things that are often heavy. He wants to make people laugh, and to share his delight in the visual world.
Marc’s show, 3Times3 is currently on display at the Lopez Island Library, through the 13th of February. Marc’s work is regularly featured in the Artist Studio Tour and more information about other exhibitions and creative work can be found at: www.marcfostergrant.com. For more information about his current show please visit the Lopez Island Library in person or online at http://www.lopezlibrary.org/art_index.html.
