October 6, 2000
Loyola's own is world-famous artist
by Selena Spence, A'01, Intern in the Offices of Public Affairs and Publications and Marketing Communications
Visual
Arts Professor Mark Grote lives for the excitement of going to new places
and finding new things to sculpt. He travels the world doing residencies
at different art galleries in search of adventure and different cultures.
"Being in a different environment, you react differently to things,
and that is exciting to me," Grote says.
Last year, he received a residency at Gasworks Studios in London from June to September. During that time, Grote worked intensely in his studio, transforming objects he collected from the streets and fields of London into breathtaking art pieces. Gasworks Gallery exhibited his work in August 1999. As a reflection of the caliber of his work, Grote was the first international artist at Gasworks to be offered a show by the gallery. Grote's work made a rich and valuable contribution on many different levels. His residency, exhibition, and slide talks have benefited many artists, visitors to the studios, art students, and the general public. The Gasworks artist exchange coordinator, Anna Kindersley, says Grote was one of the most successful artists the gallery has hosted in its six-year history.
During his residency, Grote visited Cuvyniad International Artists Workshop in Wales, which was organized by a group of Liverpool artists in collaboration with Triangle Arts Trust. This proved a particularly inspirational experience for him that has led to initial discussion with Triangle Arts Trust about setting up the first International Artists Workshop in New Orleans. Grote intends to work closely with Triangle Arts Trust to discuss the aims, logistics, and potential of establishing an International Workshop in the city.
Grote is busy working on several other projects, as a result of his residency at Gasworks. He has a three-week residency coming up in spring 2001 at Loughborough University in England which will lead to an exhibition and a catalog. He also has another three-week exhibition in summer 2001 in Honiton where he will be doing work for the civic center at St. Michael's church. Grote will then return to the United States for a two-month residency during the summer of 2002 at Bemis Center for Contemporary Art in Omaha, Nebraska. He has also been short-listed for a residency at Villa Montero in California which he will take advantage of as soon as the opportunity becomes available.
Currently, Grote is working on an exhibition called "Toying Around" for Nicholls State University. He is collecting objects from garage sales and thrift stores around his home in Covington for this project. He will be lecturing and exhibiting his work at Nicholls from the end of October through November this year.
While growing up in Salina, Ohio, Grote began perfecting his craft. "When I was a kid, I would always be out in the woods building rafts and tree houses. That inspired me to make art out of things that people threw away," Grote says. One man's trash is another man's treasure.
Unfortunately, you won't be able to find any of Mark Grote's work at any local galleries. "I am more interested in residencies and workshops for now," he asserts. But if you're craving to see his work take a stroll over to the Department of Visual Arts. In the lobby, there are two neon end tables from 1985 that he worked on with his wife as part of an entire living room set for an exhibition at Stern Gallery in New Orleans.
Grote received his master of fine arts degree in sculpture from Washington University in 1974. That same year he came to Loyola as an assistant professor. He served as chair of Loyola's Department of Visual Arts from 1980 to 1998. Grote has exhibited all over the United States and Europe including France, Romania, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.