Artists from Carriacou

           "Steel Ban Pan" 

Mary Graham

Artist's Statement

Education

• B.F.A. The School of The Art Institute of Chicago August, 1990

• Joliet Junior College, Joliet, Ill. February, 1986-June, 1987

• B.S.N. Loyola University School of Nursing , Chicago, June, 1962

Selected Exhibitions

Solo Exhibitions

• 2003 18 Artists gallery, Chesterton, IN

• 2002 - Northbrook Public Library, Sponsered by the Suburban Fine Arts Center, Highland Park, IL

• 2001 - Fine Arts Building Gallery, Chicago

• 2000-1999 - "Paintings by Evanston Artist Mary Graham" - Campagnola Restaurant - Evanston, Ill.

• 1997 - "Scenes From A Summer Garden" Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, Ill. "Watercolors by Mary Graham" Cliff Dwellers Club, Chicago.

Two-Person Exhibitions

• 2002 - Green Lake Music Festival Benefit, Green Lake, WI

• 1999 - "Mary Graham, Tom Graham, Patrons of the Arts 1999" - FAAF - Drury Lane, Ill.

• 1998 - "Mary Graham, Tom Graham" JINX - Evanston, Ill.
  "Mary Graham, Tom Graham: New Work" - Fine Arts Building Gallery - Chicago

• 1996 - "Study to be Quiet" - Fine Arts Building Gallery - Chicago

Group Exhibitions

• 2003 "How Do Our Gardens Grow?" - Old Court House Art Center, Woodstock, IL

• 2003 "Animal Images" - Anti Cruelty Society, Chicago, IL

• 2003 Center for Conflict Resolution Benefit - SAIC, Chicago, IL

• 2003 "Chicago Artists" Viridian@ Chelsea, NYC

• 2003 Wilmette Arts Guild, Wilmette Public Library, Wilmette, IL

• 2003 "Small Works" and "Artists/Artists" - Fine Arts Building Gallery, Chicago, IL

• 2003 "Eight Artists Show" - Premier Bank, Wilmette, IL

• 2002 - Wilmette Arts Guild, Wilmette Public Library, Wilmette, IL

• 2002 to 1995 - Fine Arts Building Gallery, Chicago, IL

• 2001 - Illinois Watercolor Society, Prairie Center for the Arts, Schaumburg, IL

• 2001 to 1995 - Fine Arts Building Gallery - Chicago

• 1999 & 1998 - "Chicago Artists Coalition, Chicago

• 1998 - Brickton Gallery and Art Center - Park Ridge, Ill.

• 1998- Bucknell University Gallery, Lewisburg, Pa.

• 1997 - Cliff Dwellers Club Gallery, Chicago

• 1996 - Suburban Fine Arts Center, Highland Park, Ill.

• 1996-1994 - Norris Gallery, St. Charles, Ill.

• 1994 - Skokie Library, Skokie, Ill.

• 1994 & 1990 - The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago

• 1990 - Joliet Artist League, Joliet, Ill.

• 1989 & 1988 - ARC Gallery, Chicago

• 1987 - Kankakee Community College Gallery, Kankakee, Ill.  Joliet Junior College Gallery, Joliet, Ill.

Awards

• 1999 - Patrons of the Arts 1999, FraAngelico Art Foundation, River Forest, Ill.

• 1987 - Foundation Education Experience Scholarship Illinois Community College Juried Art Exhibition - Award of Excellence

Selected Publications

• Garden Talk, Chicago Botanic Garden Publication, January 1997

• CAC Newsletter - "A Closer Look", November 1997, John Brunetti, 

• Evanston Clarion - "Study to be Quiet", September 1996, Evanston, Ill.

• Gallery & Studio, "Chicago - Not the Musical - The Visual" - Feb & March, 2003. Vol. 5 , #3.  NYC

Professional Membership and Affiliations

• Chicago Artists' Coalition

• Wilmette Arts Guild

Collections

• The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago

• Joliet Junior College, Joliet, Ill.

• Down Island, Ltd. Carriacou, West Indies

• Stonington Beach Hotel, South Shore, Bermuda

• Lastingham Grange, Lastingham, Yorkshire, England

• Spring on Bequia, Bequia, St. Vincent, West Indies

• Private collections in the United States and Europe

Island House Series: Windward #2, Carriacou - Available

Tree Frogs and Passion Flower - Available

Contact at:
Fine Arts Building
410 S. Michigan Ave.
Suite 206 Chicago, IL 60605

E.mail: mahargmt@aol.com
www.marygrahamartist.com
Voice:312•922•8050 Fax:312•935•2307

Henry Otway

Still Life of the Nutmeg

Biography

After completing high school, Mr. Otway immediately embarked on a banking career
servicing foreign diplomatic missions and international organizations. He furthered his education at the American Bankers Institute. After a five-year tenure, he pursued a career in the Hospitality industry. For fifteen years he worked for several luxury and Convention hotel operations fine tuning his craft and gaining experience as a Department Head, Auditor, Systems Manager, Guest Services and Executive Operations Committee. Mr. Otway has been awarded for his many years of excellence within the industry. As an artist, he has the ability to imagine, visualize and create customized artwork,printed materials, and visual set designs. He is a member of VSA arts Artist Registry and co-founder of the Washington Consortium of Event Designers. Mr. Otway aspires a challenging and successful career in the world of vision, creativity and strength. Henry, welcome and thank you for taking a few moments to chat with us today. Henry:Thank you for the opportunity and it is certainly an honour to be able to share 
with you my perspective as a Grenadian artist of North America.  

V@I:       What inspired you to start painting?
Henry:  I have always been a creative person. It never occurred to me that fine art is something
 that I can pursue. I discovered my ability through the recuperation process from a spinal disorder, 
where an art therapist offered me her kind advise, that creating art can open up a whole new world 
for me...one that I never envisioned...and so, here I am. You never know what's in store for you 
when you leave the hospital.  
V@I: Describe your work to our readers?
Henry: My work is modem fine art. My preferred mediums are acrylics and pastels.  
I paint landscapes, abstracts and still- life. My work is surreal.   
V@I: Are there any themes that appear in most of your paintings?
Henry:  Most of the works in my collection are generally part of a collection as well as the 
integrity of each piece can stand on its own particularly with the subject matter.  
V@I: Does the artist have a social responsibility?
Henry: Yes, I do believe that the artist should have some social responsibility. Art is a very 
useful tool in that it offers many mediums with which to communicate. ...in essence, we as artist 
convey messages, responding to the times we live. This form of communication must be encouraged.  
Another instance, I use my art to benefit certain foundations such as Faces of Our Children, Inc. 
to fight Sickle cell disease, a condition that affects only Africans and other people of colour. 
V@I:   What in your view is the purpose of Art?
Henry: The purpose of art is to communicate. ...the moment is captured.  
V@I: Who are some of your favorite artists?
Henry:  I tend to gravitate towards the masters of the impressionist period, the late 1800's 
and the early 1900's. Caribbean Masters such as Pissaro, Michel Jean Cazabon, John Benjamin, 
Canute Caliste etc etc...  
V@I: What are your plans for the next year or so?
Henry:  My plans for the next year is "of course" to paint, and possibly travel. I am currently 
working on a collection of architectural landscapes and still life for a fall collection. 
I exhibit twice yearly.  
V@I: Where in Grenada were you born?
Henry:   I was born at the Princess Alice Hospital at Mirabeau, St. Andrews.  
V@I : At what age did you leave Grenada and to which country did you migrate?
Henry: I came to the United States to live at the tender age of twelve.
V@I: Does Grenada/the Caribbean figure prominently in your consciousness?
Henry:  I really don't think that anyone who has lived their most formidable years in Grenada
could not at any point in their life not reflect on their experience there, particularly during the colonial 
period from which I left, so my reflections on my childhood have always remained with me, living
here in the United States, I always understood that I will always be first and foremost a West-Indian.
V@I:  Have you visited Grenada recently?
Henry:  I was in Grenada several years ago. I was happy to see lush greenery and the beautiful homes. 
I particularly enjoyed driving through the countryside taking in the local colour, and the aroma from all the
spices, and oh! the natural landscape, we do have a beautiful home.    


V@I: What was your impression?
 Henry: I was rejuvenated by the beauty of Grenada's landscapes, the Mediterranean feel of the 
juxtaposed houses of historic Romanesque and European influences in a landscape of lush tropical 
foliage and vistas.  I felt entranced by this beautiful setting, (e.g. red tiled roofs, arches, towers, 
winding roads gave me the inspiration to paint.)
V@I: John Benjamin and Canute Calliste. How have you been influenced by their work?
Henry: I got to know the family while growing up as a young lad in Grenville. I attended 
school with the Benjamins.  The works of John Benjamin and Canute Calliste is  representative of a time 
of self- determination, national pride and the epoch of a rich cultural identity and awareness for Grenadians.  
I recall the exhibits by these artist at the various church harvests and the Grenville festivals.  When I left
Grenada, I departed with that cultural identity.  It feels like I took that part of my history and kept it in a
sacred place that I would retreat to. In order for me to survive, I always had to rely on who I am and where
I came from and in that spirit connect with those who sacrificed for us.  In the works of these gentlemen, 
they spoke to the times they lived and I have been witness to their struggles....we all were a part of that society.
V@I:  Any plans in the future to return?
Henry:  Hopefully, I will spend some time in Grenada to do some Plein Air paintings  
V@I: Lastly, where can one view works by Henry Otway?
Henry: Samples of my work can be seen on exhibit at the Amalgamated Bank at K Street, N.W.,
Washington, DC for African History Month and other venues in the Metropolitan area.  
For information my email is jpotway@aol.com
V@I: Thank you very much.
Henry: This has been delightful. Thank You!!

Bill Bloersma

Christian Egemar

is from Norway, but he is a regular visitor of Carriacou. Many of his paintings have Carriacou , its scenery and the people as a subject.