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Mary "Ross" Strudwick ( -[[November 20]], [[2008]]) Visual artist living and working in Birmingham, AL.
[[Image:Ross_program_complete.jpg|right|375px]]
She was a painter, sculptor, installation artist and created elaborate altar pieces. She is best known for the altars which were very time consuming sometimes taking many months to accomplish a single piece. Ross died in the fall of 2008 and her memorial service was held at [[Bare Hands Gallery]] in Birmingham's [[Southside]]. Many consider Ross an artists' artist.
'''Mary Ross Strudwick''' (born [[1951]] in St Johns, Newfoundland, Canada; died [[November 20]], [[2008]]) was a painter, sculptor, and installation artist, best known for her elaborate altar pieces. She was known to her friends by her middle name, Ross.  


Ross was a true free spirit and Bohemian in the best sense of the word. Ross was an active member of the creative culture that pervaded [[Southside]] during the peace movement, Kerouac & the Beats, Henry Miller & Anais Nin.  
Born in St Johns Newfoundland, Strudwick lived in Chaumont, France; Athens, Greece; Mobile, Alabama; Dayton, Ohio; Birmingham and Tuscaloosa,, Alabama; and New York City. She studied painting at Salem College, University of North Carolina School of the Arts and at [[UAB]]. She received a fellowship to study in Asola, Italy, in conjunction with the Accademia of Venice and the North Carolina School of the Arts. Her first one-woman show was in Birmingham.  This was followed by a group show, "Rooms & Figures," at the National Art Center in New York City.  Her work has been exhibited in the [[Birmingham Museum of Art]] and is in private collections throughout the United States.


Memorial Service for Ross Strudwick according to [[Craig Legg]]
Strudwick is said to have been one of the first artists in [[Birmingham]] to take installation art seriously. In the 1970's, she had an art studio above the [[L & N Cafe]] downtown.  At the time of her death, she was married to [[Jimmy Griffin]], a longtime employee at [[Charlemagne Records]]. She had one daughter, Sonia, with her first husband, [[John Kellermann]], and two grandchildren.
It was a great service today for Ross, held at [[Bare Hands Gallery]], perhaps the greatest collection of old-time [[Southside]] bohemians gathered under one roof since the death of [[Gene Crutcher]]. A packed house, SRO, at least 200 in attendance, probably ... more, out the door. No preacher, thank God, hah! [[Johnny Coley]] led off the testimonials, telling a story of how he first met Ross, when she was living in a house with [[Karl Schaeffer]] (I think you know him). Funny story. Next, daughter Sonia spoke, giving heartfelt testimonial of growing up with Mom, visiting Museum of Modern Art in NYC, seeing young Baryshnikov, the dancer. Her sister spoke, saying how she "couldn't have been more different from Ross." [[Jonah Schaeffer]] told funny story of how his brother Karl was always "kicking me out of house where he lived with Ross, while Ross was always inviting me back in." Others spoke including [[Tommy Carr]], [[15th Avenue]] neighbor.


Strudwick's memorial service, held at [[Bare Hands Gallery]], drew over 200 well-wishers, including many long-time residents of [[Southside]]. Eulogies were delivered by [[Johnny Coley]], her daughter [[Sonia Kellermann Warfel]], her sister JoAnne, [[Jonah Schaeffer]], and [[Tommy Carr]].
==References==
* Artist biography on exhibition program, [[Eileen Kunzman]] Galleries at the Symphony,  October 7-8, 1988
* "Mary Ross Strudwick" obituary (November 24, 2008) {{BN}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
*[http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=48492508145 Ross Strudwick Fan Club]
*[http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=48492508145 Ross Strudwick Fan Club] on facebook.com
*[http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30008490&id=1383275990#/profile.php?id=684506441 Memorial Service by Craig Legg]
*[http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30008490&id=1383275990#/note.php?note_id=35519914823 Remembering Ross] by Dorah Rosen
 
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Strudwick, Ross}}
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Latest revision as of 13:58, 8 April 2016

Ross program complete.jpg

Mary Ross Strudwick (born 1951 in St Johns, Newfoundland, Canada; died November 20, 2008) was a painter, sculptor, and installation artist, best known for her elaborate altar pieces. She was known to her friends by her middle name, Ross.

Born in St Johns Newfoundland, Strudwick lived in Chaumont, France; Athens, Greece; Mobile, Alabama; Dayton, Ohio; Birmingham and Tuscaloosa,, Alabama; and New York City. She studied painting at Salem College, University of North Carolina School of the Arts and at UAB. She received a fellowship to study in Asola, Italy, in conjunction with the Accademia of Venice and the North Carolina School of the Arts. Her first one-woman show was in Birmingham. This was followed by a group show, "Rooms & Figures," at the National Art Center in New York City. Her work has been exhibited in the Birmingham Museum of Art and is in private collections throughout the United States.

Strudwick is said to have been one of the first artists in Birmingham to take installation art seriously. In the 1970's, she had an art studio above the L & N Cafe downtown. At the time of her death, she was married to Jimmy Griffin, a longtime employee at Charlemagne Records. She had one daughter, Sonia, with her first husband, John Kellermann, and two grandchildren.

Strudwick's memorial service, held at Bare Hands Gallery, drew over 200 well-wishers, including many long-time residents of Southside. Eulogies were delivered by Johnny Coley, her daughter Sonia Kellermann Warfel, her sister JoAnne, Jonah Schaeffer, and Tommy Carr.

References

  • Artist biography on exhibition program, Eileen Kunzman Galleries at the Symphony, October 7-8, 1988
  • "Mary Ross Strudwick" obituary (November 24, 2008) The Birmingham News

External links