BIO

Merry Curran Gregg is a mixed media artist living and working in Benicia, California. Following several decades as a graphics production artist, Merry has shifted gears, incorporating her love of Japanese art, design and fabrics in her mixed media work. A long time collector of vintage Japanese obi and kimonos, Merry loves incorporating them in her art. For many years Merry transformed them into wearing apparel and home décor items.

Her extensive background in graphic arts has had a strong influence on her work and is expressed in her use of composition, detail and space. Equally important is balancing color, form and texture. Merry works with paper, paint, fabric and rusty steel. By bringing modern colors and historical images and objects to her work, Merry hopes to evoke memory and a personal narrative in her observers.

Merry is a member of Arts Benicia, and is currently mentoring with artist Carl Heyward and studio practice with Diane Williams and Chuck Potter.


RESUME
 
Personal
  • Native of California
  • Born 1946
  • Educated in Southern California
  • Mother of two sons
  • Goal:  to continue my art education and support my artist community through engagement, participation and encouragement.
 
Education
  • Mixed Media Workshops taught by LorriMarie Jenkins, 2015-2019
  • Mixed Media Workshops taught by Carl Heyward and Akiko Suzuki (founders, Global Art Project), and Margot Hartford       2018-2019
  • Mentoring with Carl Heyward (founder, Global Art Project), 2018-2019
  • Painting Workshops and Studio Practice taught by master painters Diane Williams and Chuck Potter, 2017-2019
  • Encaustic Workshop taught by Margot Hartford (member, Global Art Project), 2018
  • Printmaking Studio taught by Rona Leon,                                       Arts Benicia Workshops, 2019
  • Mixed Media Workshops a d Studio Practice taught by Colleen Gianatiempo, 2019
  • Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut, CA
  • Pasadena City College, Pasadena, CA
Memberships
  • Member Arts Benicia
  • Member Concord Art Association
Two Person Exhibitions
  • Double: S O L O, Gallery Cavallo, Benicia, CA Exhibit with Akiko Suzuki
 
Juried Exhibitions
  • Uplift: Celebrating the Sierra Nevada, National Juried Exhibition, Juror: Jeanne Lorenz, Arts Benicia Gallery, Benicia, CA, 2019
  • Under Pressure 2, Juror: Diana Zed, Lamorinda Arts Alliance, Main Street Arts Gallery, Martinez, CA, 2019
  • The Crow Show, National Juried Exhibition, Juror: Patric Stillman, The Studio Door, San Diego, CA
  • In The Fields: Botanical Lore, National Juried Exhibition, Juror: Jennifer Perlmutter,
  • Arts Benicia Gallery, Benicia, CA, 2018
  • Gems IV, Juror: Donna Seager, Arts Benicia Gallery, Benicia, CA, 2017
  • Mapping As Source, Juror: Katharine Harmon, Arts Benicia Gallery, Benicia, CA, 2017
 
Recent Group Exhibitions
  • Painted Ladies, Etsey Gallery, Benicia, CA, 2018
  • Art of the Community, Arts Benicia, CA, 2018- 2019
  • Letting Go Art Exhibit, (students of LorriMarie Jenkins),             Once Upon A Canvas, 2018
  • Art of The Book, Juror: LorriMarie Jenkins, Gallerie Renee Marie, Benicia, CA
  • Festooneries Fete, Private home group art exhibit, 2019
 
Benefit Auctions
  • Arts Benicia Art Auction, Benicia, CA, 2017-2019
 
Open Studios
  • Benicia Artist Open Studios, Benicia, CA, 2019
  • Benicia Arsenal Artists Holiday Open Studios Benicia, CA, 2018
 
Awards and Honors
  • Marin County Fair, Blue Ribbon, Altered Book, 2018
  • Marin County Fair, Red Ribbon, Altered Book, 2019
  • Alameda County Fair, Silver Ribbon, Assemblage, 2018
 
Publications
  • “Amazing Grace” Somerset Apprentice Magazine (Autumn 2017, Vol. 9, Issue 2)  Mixed Media Coptic Bound Book feature and Mixed Media Tutorial