Artist Statement by Marion McCrea

This information was provided courtesy of the Vancouver Art Gallery Library.

Born in Edmonton, Alberta 1920, came to Vancouver in 1931. Won first art prize, a box of water colours at age of 8. Was student at Kitsilano High school where Jack Shadbolt encouraged artistic endeavors + under whose direction assisted in painting murals on the school walls. Attended Saturday morning classes at the Vancouver School of Art, during this time until winning a scholarship at 17 to the same school, there became a student of design under Grace W. Melvin. Upon graduation received post-graduate scholarship having won W.S. Murrin scholarship in 3rd Year for Design.      First commission was for murals for Children's Ward at Vancouver General Hospital, followed by illustrations for Dr. C. McLean Fraser, Professor Emeritus of Zoology at U.B.C. Post-Graduate study at California College of Fine Arts 1944, under Spencer Mackey + Carlton Ball followed by further murals at Vancouver General Hospital + local restaurant. Returned last September from studies in London, where concentrated on Ceramics under Jacob Dew of Camberwell School of Arts & Crafts & W.L. Bateson of Wimbledon School of Art.      Has exhibited with Canadian Guild of Potters & B.C. Artists. While in London was one of the two Canadians to exhibit in the Foreign Students Exhibition, sponsored by the British Council.      Has taught pottery at Vancouver School of Art for three years as well as maintained own studio also doing free lance designing for various firms.      In this exhibit has tried to emphasize the relationships of pottery & fabrics as utilized in the beautification of the home, having used various techniques in the pottery to compliment the silk screen fabric designs.      * MM is one of the original members of the Art in Living group.