Biography as of 2007

1. GRA N T S T R AW CU TTER E X H I B I T I O N
December 28th-30th, 2007
I have just
returned from an
intense two
week workshop
in Pietrasanta,
Italy. Pietrasanta
has been the
center for
sculpture for
hundreds of
years.
I am returning to my roots in ...
Lumberton, North Carolina
By 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.
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2. My first introduction to international travel My next job was with another design firm
was from Mary Stephens, my French teacher which offered more interesting design
at LHS. As many of you know she also took opportunities. We created the “Twelve Days
hundreds (maybe thousands) of students and of Christmas” exhibit for Fanieul Hall in
adults abroad during the summers. In 1973 Boston in the early 1980’s. It was on the
when I went we covered 12 countries in 5 upper floor of the main rotunda for thousands
weeks. I was hooked and began making to file through during the holidays. We also
mental notes on where I wanted to return in designed all the exhibits for the dairy
years to come. Most of them I have been industry museum in Fort Atkinson,
back to, and some more than once. Wisconsin.
Last but not least, the After being promoted to Design Director in
late Betty 1982 my boss had the idea he wanted to enter
McKeithan the “play industry”. He sent me to
to whom I am Langhorne, PA to see and observe the newest
dedicating play sensation known as Sesame Place, based
this show, on the popular TV show. I was challenged to
was my LHS duplicate as many play experiences and
art teacher. components into one freestanding structure
She did more with a market set for the fast food industry.
to encourage We grew quickly installing equipment for
and inspire chains like Peter Piper Pizza. Excitingly,
me in the arts during this same period we also completed
than anyone projects for many of the major amusement
else. Even parks such as all the Six Flags Parks, Astro
after World, Marineland just to name a few. This
graduation, new concept had become all the rage in the
she encouraged me to apply to the University amusement industry.
of North Carolina in Charlotte because they
had started a terrific college of art there. I Having headed up these large jobs allowed
applied and was accepted but after some me the responsibility and the opportunity to
paternal discussion and arm-twisting I also feel what it would truly be like to work for
applied to the college of architecture, as well. myself. I felt the call and
I decided, if accepted, I would attend. resigned in the spring of 1984
Needless to say I graduated with a four year and with the help of two
bachelor of arts degree in architecture. I had partners, Neal Crites and
to put my art on hold! Donald Morrow, started
SoftPlay Inc (SPI). My first
After graduating in 1978 I was already challenge was to design a
working for an architectural firm specializing better product than I had
in small town revitalization projects. After already designed. It worked
three years, I began looking for a new job because Soft Play took off
with more design diversity. I still enjoy like gangbusters and within a
architecture and dabble often but my journey year we were out of debt.
was just beginning. To be honest there is Our company’s vision was to design the
hardly a minute when my mind is not safest play systems in the industry.
critiquing, designing or trying to improve
life, as we know it.
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3. We attracted large clients like Burger King living there. It was an invaluable experience
and ChuckeCheese and finally caught the but very expensive and since I was working
attention of McDonalds. We had decided to return to the US in 2000. I settled
experienced almost 5 years of accelerated in South Florida’s Fort Lauderdale area
growth with little competition. Then in where I now have my studio. I continue to
draw, sculpt and learn as much as I can. The
1991, my partner Neal
best advice I received was “if I wanted to
Crites and I were sculpt, the best way to learn was to just do
awarded Entrepreneur it!”. I will never stop learning. I believe that
Of The Year Award in life is a journey and not a destination.
manufacturing hosted Everything happens for a reason and that
by Ernst & Young, today our lives are a compilation of all the
Merrill Lynch and INC experiences from our past. The only thing
Magazine. By 1995 we do take on to our next life is our wisdom
SPI had reached its maximum size of 325 from this one.
employees and annual sales of almost
$36,000,000 and had entertained millions of At this stage in my life I have found some
children, and adults the world over. 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
Although we were based in Charlotte NC, we Lucchesi Tony Ryder
operated offices in Asia and Europe as well and Eugene Daub. All
as directed a global network of installation accomplished artists
specialists. Finally in 1996 after ten years as who share their
a leader in playground safety and design, we knowledge and
sold SPI to a large conglomerate known as techniques with others
Play Power Inc based in St. Louis Missouri. and of which I have
My partner and I were to stay for two years had the opportunity to
but were able to leave after one to pursue meet and learn from. I
other interests. SoftPlay continues to operate not only take part in
today. other workshops, I also offer weekly
workshops in my studio as part of my
Finally, I was going to be able to pursue my continuing education. I have recently
dream to be an artist. Where could I go to be returned from an intense two-week workshop
surrounded by some of the greatest art in the in Pietrasanta, Italy lead by artist Nilda
world? In 1998, after some R&R, I packed Comas. Near Carrara, Pietrasanta has been
all my belongings in storage and left for the heart of sculpture for hundreds of years.
Europe. I found a furnished apartment and
settled in near London. I was so inspired I
continued to draw and began to sculpt while
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4. 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
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.
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. Also on Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday
2pm-5pm, I will also be available in the
Many things inspire my work: the model, the gallery.
pose, the energy and the emotion (or any
combination of these). Any portrait or bust
of someone must capture a person's energy For more information, go online to:
as well as the likeness of the individual. I
see my figurative sculpture as an www.grantstrawcutter.com
appreciation of the beauty of the human
body as well as the triumph of human spirit. or email me at:
Photography is another one of my passions.
Photographs can capture a memory in an grantms@bellsouth.net
instant. Most times there is only a fraction
of a second to visualize, compose and
capture a live subject.
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