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Learning to slow down, because life's too short ~ ~ ~

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Grantview Studio Spring Newsletter

04.25.2025 by Barbara Grant //

grotto in garden with angel statue
Greetings from Grantview Studio!

Last year’s trip to Belgium generated some good things 🌷

It has been one year since our family travelled to Belgium to visit the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery where my husband’s birth father is buried. Sgt. Robert Grant was killed at the Battle of the Bulge in 1944. Since returning Bob has created a grotto in our back yard to remember his dad, and we’ve stayed in touch with the woman who volunteered to visit the cemetery on our behalf.

She recently emailed photos of her latest visit to place a bouquet of red roses and reported removing bird droppings from the top of the cross.

drawing of Kestrel sitting on cross

This prompted Bob’s comment, “Must have been a bird resting there.” Things like this make it into my journal – possible ideas for compositions.

If my journal entry is difficult to read, it basically records that I learned the common Kestrel is the national bird of Belgium, so I made a quick sketch of Mr. Kestrel perched on the cross of Sgt. Robert Grant.

My brother-in-law Paul, a writer, became fascinated by the account in my last newsletter about the reuniting of father and son after 80 years. It inspired him to write the story, spending countless hours digging into legal documents, letters, telegrams, photos, newspaper clippings, researching locations and interviewing anyone who might help fill in the gaps of a life almost forgotten. Our pingpong table was piled with artifacts, and he and Bob created a timeline on an adjacent wallboard. The source of my husband’s yearning for most of his life was being unearthed and finally taking shape after all those years. Paul’s sensitivity to the emotional roller coaster this caused in our family is something for which we cannot repay.

He titled the story Grant’s View and invited me to create the artwork for the eBook & Paperback. On the front cover I incorporated the use of a drawing that is not mine. It is a portrait of Bob’s dad in uniform. Martin Balow is the artist who sketched him from life. (His tiny initials can be seen on the lower right side.) Sgt. Grant then lovingly addressed the drawing to his wife Marie. We found this original drawing in her box of letters.

From the first time I laid eyes on this gem, I understood what a precious record it was. Any trained artist would note the choices made: the variety of pressure of pencil point to paper, the economy of line, the tenderness rendered – a meditation of truth transferred to the page. I marvel that the facial features depicted are recognizable in Robert’s offspring, the men and grandchildren in my life.

I hope someday we may learn the whereabouts of this thoughtful artist’s family to share our stories.

drawing of Sgt. Robert Grant

Grant’s View is now available on Amazon.com. Just click this link Amazon.com …or search “Paul Turelli books” on Amazon.com

🌷🌷🌷

As for Grantview Studio, I’m still connecting with my OddBall artist group in Illinois. Many of us participated in the Looking In Looking Out windows exhibit organized by Sara Peak Convery (Arts Alive Chicago). My contribution was a painting on an old window frame called Dance Studio.

Dance Studio painting

I am gifting this one to my dear friend Peggy who suddenly became my impromptu model. It was such an intense collaboration, an important experience for both of us about the anguish of war.

You can learn more about it on my Grantview Studio blog: (that’s https://grantviewstudio.com/blog)

Peggy's modeling pose in anguish

Most Saturday mornings I’m with my Milwaukee sketch group, drawing points of interest in and around our fine city. I’m always open to learning from other artists about new art supplies, techniques and soaking up their various views about…everything. There’s a good vibe that feeds my soul when I’m with my friends.

* Here we are hamming it up for the photographer at Mitchel Park Domes.

* Here we are hamming it up for the photographer at Mitchel Park Domes.
Bell playing with Roxy & Ringo

The most recent highlight for Roxy and Ringo was a whole week’s visit with granddaughter Bell, who hopes to someday â€ślive out in the country and take in ALL the rescue dogs that nobody wants.” Bell is the youngest of eleven grandchildren in our blended family.

Our great-grandchild David was born last August! Here he is galloping on his rocking horse!

David wearing cowboy hat riding rocking horse
We thank you for your interest in our Grantview Studio endeavors & projects, along with a few family updates. 
And we always love hearing back from you!

Wishing you peace and happiness
 
🙏

Bob & Barbara Grant

🌷🌷🌷

See contact page to stay in touch ~ ~ ~

p.s. I continue to create new work and manage my websites, where I post other things beside our newsletters.

(Most of what I share are stories about the creative process.)

Categories // Art for worthy causes, Creative Process, Limelights on my friends, Newsletters, Reading Tags // art community, artist friends, inspirational friends, Story telling

A Momentous Week in March

04.22.2024 by Barbara Grant //

On Passion Sunday this year we traveled for the first time to Belgium to visit the grave of my husband’s birth-father, Sergeant Robert G. Grant. He was killed during the Battle of the Bulge on December 17, 1944. We viewed the battle grounds and climbed around blown up bunkers. As we followed our guide, it did not seem like WWII happened more than 80 years ago. History came alive as we experienced being where lines of enemy tanks barreled through the forests, their explosions snapping and splintering tree tops creating additional shrapnel-like projectiles, and scarring the land.

A drawing of Sgt. Robert Grant by his friend Martin Balow
Damaged forrest & bunkers near the Battle of the Bulge
Brussels Bunch (family group) in front of bunker

Our initial accommodations were in the historic city of Aachen, Germany at the Parkhotel Aachen Quellenhof, which was largely destroyed during WWII but has since been magnificently restored. Our family (a group of eight able to make this trip) took a short morning drive to experience a private tour, specifically curated to educate us on what Bob’s father experienced as he fought for our freedom. I would like to publicly thank our guide Joël Lamberty (guideardenne44.com). His devotion to helping families like ours visit the graves of their loved ones, his passionate interest, detailed research, professional approach, respect and care were such a blessing. He led us through the forest walking where Robert Grant’s regiment, the 78th Infantry Division, was fighting the day he was killed.

I love walking Roxy & Ringo through the woods around our neighborhood, but there – even with the soft breeze in the trees and chirping birds in the gray sky – I believe all of us were individually imagining in our own thoughts what it was like during the attacks. Especially Bob, who was only 9 months old when he lost his father during this battle.

Bob's parents Marie (O'Neil) & Robert G. Grant
Letter from Sgt. Grant to Marie inquiring about Bobby the day before he was killed

Looking forward to this journey we didn’t really know what to anticipate in the coming days of exploration. I think it was a powerful experience to view the maps and actual battlegrounds before visiting the Henri-Chapelle Cemetery. The cemetery is kept immaculately clean; an enormous field of green with white marble crosses in orderly rows. Joël was our escort toward where Bob’s father was laid to rest. As we approached the cross he gave way for us to gather around together. Then my husband moved closer and reached out his hand to touch the smooth marble.

Barb & Bob at the grave of Bob's father
Bob touching his birth-father's cross for the first time

These were sacred, precious moments none of us present will ever forget. Photos were taken to share with those who could not be with us.

Joël Lamberty, Bob & Barb
The "Brussels Bunch" photo by Joel Lamberty

Following this we lunched with our guide at one of his favorite spots. Then we enjoyed his friends’ invitation for a private tour of their “Remember Museum 39-45”. This is a museum that Marcel and Mathilde Schmetz have built and curated for over 60 years. It contains more than 100 mannequins, several dioramas within an area 700 square meters, a Sherman tank, and many personal souvenirs.

One of many rooms in the Remember Museum
Sgt. Robert Grant bookmark remembrance created by Bob

Mathilde thankfully accepted our memory cards with pictures to add to their display cases. The video tour on their website is worth watching if you’re a history buff: Remember Museum Mathilde speaks English, but her husband speaks French. Though I couldn’t understand his every word, it was to nice see him tell about the museum. During our visit he was in ill health and not present. The video is about 20 minutes long, and I urge anyone to view it to the end to realize how much our country’s help is appreciated in this part of the world.

They don’t forget – and they don’t want us to forget – how grateful they are for the Americans who sacrificed for their freedom. While the the rest of our group was waiting outside to drive to our next appointment, I had a private moment with Mathilda in her kitchen. She emphasized these sentiments to me again and gave me her contact information and a big hug as I was being called to join the others.

At the cemetery’s info office we learned of this cemetery’s program for “adopting” graves. Bob’s father’s grave was adopted by Inie Blokland, a woman living nearby in the Netherlands. She and Bob have since communicated via text, email and photos. She is thrilled to finally learn about Sgt. Grant’s surviving family and recently placed a bouquet of roses at the headstone.

Ms. Blokland who adopted Sgt. Robert Grant's grave placing roses in April
I think this was Ghent?

Emotions buried long ago began to surface more and more during our travel, so it was good to experience it with the comfort of family. We were able to relax from some of the intensity of our feelings during the rest of the week. We had private tours in Ghent including a canal tour, in Brugges (beer and chocolate tasting), and a “beer tasting” tour in Brussels.

Everywhere we experienced delicious food at delightful restaurants.

Canal tour
Seafood platter

And soon it was Easter, a day to rest and wander freely before our return home. Bob had a strong desire to begin this day by attending a Catholic Mass, the religion of his parents. It was celebrated in French. He understood more than I could, but the priest’s soft melodic message communicated love and peace to me. The rest of the day he and I roamed the streets, anonymously absorbing the vibe of this foreign country and letting our psyches begin to process the enormity of what our hearts and minds had experienced during this trip.

Church in Brussels with market

Remember the final scene in The Graduate? Dustin Hoffman and Katherine Ross are sitting in the back of a bus having just escaped the wedding where she’s about to say “I do” to a man her parents preferred. They have big smiles on their faces like they just accomplished something amazing!

Bob & Barb sitting side by side riding on train

This photo of us makes me think of that. But ours is more than just the feeling of accomplishment. It is also of deep gratitude, because our kids interrupted their normal lives and requirements to make this happen. It was for Bob’s 80th birthday celebration.

As for the impact on the rest of our family, I will quote Bob’s older son:

It took all of our lifetimes but we finally managed to visit the man responsible for it all. We visited my Grandfather’s grave site in Belgium. He died a hero defending our country in WW II at the famous Battle of the Bulge. To see my Father, see his Father’s tombstone for the first time in his 80 years, was deeply moving. We brought three generations to show him how much his life meant. To the original Grantpop and all of those who serve, our deepest thank you for your service and the ultimate sacrifice. Your name and memory live on. Forever Young.

Links:

  1. Joel Lamberty’s website link: https://guideardenne44.com
  2. Remember Museum website link: http://www.remembermuseum.be
  3. Finally for your listening pleasure, the lovely cantor at the Mass we attended in Brussels, mezzo-soprano Aveline Monnoyer seen here on YouTube performing Sposa son Disprezzata: https://youtu.be/CwGaWseIPtI?si=5n23JSzpK6IJNhPb
Aveline Monnoyer, mezzo soprano living in Brussels

Categories // Art for worthy causes, Just felt like sharing :), Limelights on my friends, Newsletters Tags // American cemetery in Belgium, Battle of the Bulge, European Travel, remembering honoring sacrifice for freedom, WWII veterens

Liking Your Own Shape

05.16.2022 by Barbara Grant //

It took the scenic view of a beach in Hawaii to provoke me to action with my artwork. It wasn’t the beauty of the sand, sea and sky. Not this time. It was 30 years ago…

I was sitting on a hillside in the shade to protect my fair skin, a tablet on my knees, sketching families enjoying the open air. I noticed a woman enter the scene like walking skin and bones. She carefully set up her space with her beach towel. I could not avert my eyes, capturing poses quickly as if she was a model in a live drawing session. I was riveted!

Afterward… holiday over, I did my homework. I knew what I’d witnessed did not seem healthy. It had been an intense experience for me. I immersed myself to learn all I could. Back then the research was just beginning to come out regarding eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. I learned about body image and how difficult it is to escape the social influences that teach us to look in the mirror with critical eyes. I acquired an understanding of how control issues can intertwine with eating disorders and mental illness. And sadly, I became aware of the deadly consequences in many cases.

Anorexic Sunbather

What resulted from my immersion in this fact-finding exercise was a small body of artwork from my studio – an installation* displayed in an exhibit, which included an Altar piece, drawings of The Anorexic Sunbather and my 20-page illustrated booklet entitled Liking Your Own Shape.

It was a long time ago, but I still remember that at the opening reception various women approached me about the subject of eating disorders. Several quietly wrote notes in my comment book sharing their feelings. I specifically remember one woman, a friend of a mother who’s daughter suffered from anorexia; her sad eyes met mine after reading through my booklet, which was displayed on a music stand. Those are the kind of connections you don’t forget.

My Altar piece, was destroyed by water damage in storage some years ago, but the drawings survived. I came across a yellowed copy of the booklet in my files recently. Paging through I mused at the illustrations that flowed out of my psyche with such force. And I realized this subject is still relevant. I decided to have copies printed to bring it back to the present and into the future. It is available in my shop in three sizes.

Liking Your Own Shape
Liking Your Own Shape
Liking Your Own Shape
Liking Your Own Shape

* I’ve learned the Gallery is no longer exists at 1633 N. Damen Avenue in Chicago. But during the summer of 1991 it was Gallery 1633 Show 8: Artists: Aimee Chappell, Barbara Grant, Joseph Rodeder, Robin Bresemann, Micheal Hopkins, Charley Whittle, Wendle Yudis, Paul Lorenx Gallery Artists: Bill Boyce, Montana, Leslie Lenz, Kirk Smith

Categories // Art for worthy causes, Creative Process Tags // art community, art therapy, beach scenes, body image, eating disorders, view of self

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