Meet John Grant, PCA Member Artist
John Grant
Genre/Medium: Photography
Where are you from? What brought you to (or back to, or kept you from leaving) Charlottesville? I grew up in McLean, Virginia—came down this way to go to UVA. My mother was born in the area, and my brother lived here, so I had some “roots”—made sense to stick around and see what I could stir up.
What are your favorite things to do around Charlottesville? I’m a late starter in my artistic career, so I like to do things that complement my interests in the visual arts. First Fridays, openings, lectures, movies come to mind. I love to be outside, hike in the mountains, take pictures, do my work and visit with my friends.
What inspires your creativity? Good question. It’s not always obvious—seems to come in waves. I feel almost addicted to expressing myself in visual ways. I like to get at the core of things. Sometimes I see my work as a form of visual poetry.
What do you love most about what you do? Among other things, I’m inspired by the potential of using relatively new “tools” (digital technology) along with my inner instincts to express things in ways that have impact and may be somewhat unique.
What are the challenges and opportunities you face as an artist? Much contemporary art today seems neurotically hyper-clever—going to almost any length to be conceptual and intellectual. Sometimes seemingly inane work gets notice. Pleasing aesthetic is severely underemphasized. This is an unfortunate trend for me. Also, I find as most artists do, that integrating business with art requires a delicate balance. Sometimes it’s very difficult to switch gears from one realm to the other, and the money side can easily affect the creative side for the negative.
What are your favorite ways to stay connected with the arts community in Charlottesville? I’m fortunate to have a lot of artist friends. I try to keep up with them, go to openings, gatherings of all sorts, and participate in group shows when it makes sense. Having been at McGuffey for a while, I still enjoy seeing what’s developing there and visiting with many of the artists. We’re lucky to have such a mutually supportive community.
