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I am returning to my roots in ...Lumberton, North CarolinaBy Grant Strawcutter

My name is Grant Strawcutter. I am the third son of four children from Howard and Dorothy Strawcutter of Lumberton. Although I was actually born in Winston Salem in December of 1955, we moved to Lumberton when I was only 6 months old. I am a true Lumbertonian!

From Ms. Ellen’s first grade class at First Presbyterian Church through Tanglewood Elementary and onto Junior High School in South Lumberton, I did not really start enjoying school until the 9th grade at Lumberton High School (LHS). I am like a good wine; I seem to be a slow starter but somehow always finished well. I had many terrific teachers during my public education in Lumberton. Did you know that teachers actually fight over artistic students because they want the best bulletin boards? I think that Aileen Gane, not only understood my ADD she wanted my budding artistic talents as well. I know now that I actually learned more doing the boards while she was lecturing. I was easily distracted and could not sit still to save me.

GRANT STRAWCUTTER E X H I B I T I O N

I have just returned from an intense two week workshop in Pietrasanta, Italy. Pietrasanta has been the center for sculpture for hundreds of years.

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My first introduction to international travel was from Mary Stephens, my French teacher at LHS. As many of you know she also took hundreds (maybe thousands) of students and adults abroad during the summers. In 1973 when I went we covered 12 countries in 5 weeks. I was hooked and began making mental notes on where I wanted to return in years to come. Most of them I have been back to, and some more than once. Last but not least, the

late Betty McKeithan to whom I am dedicating this show, was my LHS art teacher. She did more to encourage and inspire me in the arts than anyone else. Even after graduation,

she encouraged me to apply to the University of North Carolina in Charlotte because they had started a terrific college of art there. I applied and was accepted but after some paternal discussion and arm-twisting I also applied to the college of architecture, as well. I decided, if accepted, I would attend. Needless to say I graduated with a four year bachelor of arts degree in architecture. I had to put my art on hold!

After graduating in 1978 I was already working for an architectural firm specializing in small town revitalization projects. After three years, I began looking for a new job with more design diversity. I still enjoy architecture and dabble often but my journey was just beginning. To be honest there is hardly a minute when my mind is not critiquing, designing or trying to improve life, as we know it.

My next job was with another design firm which offered more interesting design opportunities. We created the “Twelve Days of Christmas” exhibit for Fanieul Hall in Boston in the early 1980’s. It was on the upper floor of the main rotunda for thousands to file through during the holidays. We also designed all the exhibits for the dairy industry museum in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin.

After being promoted to Design Director in 1982 my boss had the idea he wanted to enter the “play industry”. He sent me to Langhorne, PA to see and observe the newest play sensation known as Sesame Place, based on the popular TV show. I was challenged to duplicate as many play experiences and components into one freestanding structure with a market set for the fast food industry. We grew quickly installing equipment for chains like Peter Piper Pizza. Excitingly, during this same period we also completed projects for many of the major amusement parks such as all the Six Flags Parks, Astro World, Marineland just to name a few. This new concept had become all the rage in the amusement industry.

Having headed up these large jobs allowed me the responsibility and the opportunity to feel what it would truly be like to work for

myself. I felt the call and resigned in the spring of 1984 and with the help of two partners, Neal Crites and Donald Morrow, started SoftPlay Inc (SPI). My first challenge was to design a better product than I had already designed. It worked because Soft Play took off like gangbusters and within a year we were out of debt.

Our company’s vision was to design the safest play systems in the industry.

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We attracted large clients like Burger King and ChuckeCheese and finally caught the attention of McDonalds. We had experienced almost 5 years of accelerated growth with little competition. Then in

1991, my partner Neal Crites and I were awarded Entrepreneur Of The Year Award in manufacturing hosted by Ernst & Young, Merrill Lynch and INC Magazine. By 1995

SPI had reached its maximum size of 325 employees and annual sales of almost $36,000,000 and had entertained millions of children, and adults the world over.

Although we were based in Charlotte NC, we operated offices in Asia and Europe as well as directed a global network of installation specialists. Finally in 1996 after ten years as a leader in playground safety and design, we sold SPI to a large conglomerate known as Play Power Inc based in St. Louis Missouri. My partner and I were to stay for two years but were able to leave after one to pursue other interests. SoftPlay continues to operate today.

Finally, I was going to be able to pursue my dream to be an artist. Where could I go to be surrounded by some of the greatest art in the world? In 1998, after some R&R, I packed all my belongings in storage and left for Europe. I found a furnished apartment and settled in near London. I was so inspired I continued to draw and began to sculpt while

living there. It was an invaluable experience but very expensive and since I was working decided to return to the US in 2000. I settled in South Florida’s Fort Lauderdale area where I now have my studio. I continue to draw, sculpt and learn as much as I can. The best advice I received was “if I wanted to sculpt, the best way to learn was to just do it!”. I will never stop learning. I believe that life is a journey and not a destination. Everything happens for a reason and that today our lives are a compilation of all the experiences from our past. The only thing we do take on to our next life is our wisdom from this one.

At this stage in my life I have found some comfort in day-to-day financial matters to be able to pursue my dream full time. In my studio I sculpt what challenges me most but as an entrepreneur, the true definition of success means not only doing what one enjoys but also making a living at it. It is time for me begin to market myself.

My work continues to be inspired by the great masters: Michelangelo and Bernini, but also contemporary living artist like

Richard MacDonald, Peter Robino, Paul Lucchesi Tony Ryder and Eugene Daub. All accomplished artists who share their knowledge and techniques with others and of which I have had the opportunity to meet and learn from. I not only take part in

other workshops, I also offer weekly workshops in my studio as part of my continuing education. I have recently returned from an intense two-week workshop in Pietrasanta, Italy lead by artist Nilda Comas. Near Carrara, Pietrasanta has been the heart of sculpture for hundreds of years.

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I see many parallels in all the career moves I have made as they relate to sculpting in 3-D. Architecture is a type of sculpting through the configuration of spaces into a total we call a building. Working with children designing safe playgrounds was similar in the articulation of “play events” as spaces organized into modular play systems. In

many ways I still feel that I am in the infancy of my latest endeavor. Much of what I do involves the human figure and portraiture in clay. In addition, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of being able to drawing as necessary to be developed in parallel with sculpting.

Many things inspire my work: the model, the pose, the energy and the emotion (or any combination of these). Any portrait or bust of someone must capture a person's energy as well as the likeness of the individual. I see my figurative sculpture as an appreciation of the beauty of the human body as well as the triumph of human spirit. Photography is another one of my passions. Photographs can capture a memory in an instant. Most times there is only a fraction of a second to visualize, compose and capture a live subject.

This is my first public showing and I look forward to getting feedback from many of my friends and family. The Friends of the Robeson County Public Library will be hosting me on the weekend between Christmas and New Years, December 28-30. There will be a catered opening night reception to meet me and see my work on display in the Osterneck Auditorium/Lobby.

Also on Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 2pm-5pm, I will also be available in the

gallery.

For more information, go online to:

www.grantstrawcutter.com

or email me at:

grantms@bellsouth.net