MOOSOMIN - In the heart of Moosomin, a small town known for its vibrant arts community, resides Terry Grant, a passionate clay pottery artist.
Grant, who has spent years honing his craft, is about to embark on a new artistic journey by attending the Artist Colony of Moose Mountain Provincial Park for the first time.
Born in Elkhorn, Manitoba, his family moved to the lower mainland of B.C. when he was young. They moved once again and he finished his school years in Okotoks, Alberta, and this is where he graduated.
Grant met his wife Jen in High River, Alberta and where they started their family, but they were not to stay.
In 2007, Grant moved his family back to the prairies and made Moosomin home with his three children and his wife. They were happy to be closer to their extended family.
Their three children are now adults and all work and reside in Moosomin. The family is soon to grow with the addition of a daughter in law.
Working full time in Moosomin as the parts consultant for Mazergroup on the agriculture counter, he creates his art in his spare time.
Grant is incredibly involved in Moosomin through the Moosomin and District Arts Council, being the vice chair of the board. Grant is one of the three original founding members and they together have spent countless hours on working to turn a concept into a reality. “It has been a crazy amount of work, but is already worth it to hear people’s feedback,” said Grant.
He sits on six different boards, so there is never a dull moment in his life.
For Grant, pottery is more than just a hobby, it is a way to create and is very therapeutic.
When he was young, Grant always had a love for pottery, he collected it, read about it, and researched as much as he could about the art.
Grant decided to take an eight week pottery class with his daughter at the Birtle Arts Centre in Birtle, Manitoba.
When the fourth week was completed COVID shut everything down, but Grant was already hooked, and he realized this before he even started.
Grant went on the hunt for a second hand pottery wheel and created a small space in the basement which was part of the storage area.
He then found a kiln, and although it was older and used, it did the job for which he was hoping. He taught himself how to fire the pieces, and through a great deal of trial and error he began to create more pieces.
He began to throw and smash several times until he felt he had the feel of getting it right and became more accustomed to working with the clay.
Today he has a new digital kiln, but he still has the same little studio in his basement. He usually creates his art early in the morning before his house wakes up. His evenings are kept for family or in various volunteer endeavors.
Grant’s work, whether functional or more sculptural art, reflects his deep connection to nature. “There is something about turning a lump of clay into something beautiful and useful,” said Grant.
He has spread his wings to do watercolour and loves the way the colours can be soft and subtle to bold and powerful all with the amount of water used.
As Grant prepares for his first experience at the Artist Colony, he is filled with a mixture of excitement and anticipation. He looks forward to seeing what this experience brings, and the new challenges, new friends, and new inspiration.
Grant will attend the artist colony from Aug 13-19.
