To step into Kerry Wood and Grant Wood’s home in Signal Mountain is to enter a veritable art gallery, as well as a family history expressed through its members’ own creations. Every wall holds pieces by one of Kerry’s family of origin, Fuge (pronounced like huge), or by the Wood family. Both these families were blessed with artistic talents and the most recent generations were too, the proof evident in every room. A remarkable oil painting done by Kerry’s mother hangs in the living room. An original done by her maternal granddaddy, Eddie Ryan, hangs on an opposite wall, an illustration of his unusual skill. Eddie, who worked in a carpet factory in Dalton, had a natural ability to figure the size and colors of a design so they would transfer in correct proportions to the actual finished broadloom carpet.
In 1967, when Kerry was in the fifth grade, her family moved to the mountain from Connecticut, and her dad opened a carpet factory in Dalton, which later was bought by a larger company. She still lives in her family home. In the late 1970s, Kerry met Chattanooga native Mark Wood at work where both were making use of their artistic talents. Mark was one of five brothers, all of whom were artistic, and among his family pieces are beautiful pencil drawings created by Grant’s uncle John Wood. Married in 1981, the couple had three children, May, Jack, and Grant. Together, the couple started the Wood Group in 1986, providing consulting, marketing, and design, including Kerry’s graphic design services, to businesses. Later she became vice-president of sales and marketing at Moon Pie and was instrumental in opening the Moon Pie stores.
Mark passed away in 2017, and Kerry decided it was time to pursue her lifelong enjoyment of “making things.” She currently owns and operates Daisy and Dukes Gifts, making and selling a handmade, quality product line of barbeque sauces, rubs, and dry goods, as well as distinctive handmade candles that “embody the true essence of the South,” scented with a variety of therapeutic grade essential oils and floral fragrances.
The unique extra: the Candle Gram. Accompanying the candles are whimsical cards designed by Kerry for birthdays and other occasions. An additional line of candles features Grant’s art on the labels. Her love of folk art, created by featured artist Who Keres, is evident in a delightful array of handmade “Okra Art” ornaments: Santa, of course, and angels with wings to appeal to different interests. All are available on her website daisyanddukesgifts.com. and at the Sunday Chattanooga Market.
Her son Grant is a third generation Fuge-Wood artist. Gifted with innate talent, he began drawing at a young age. Surrounded by his artist uncles, he watched as they worked and copied what they did. His uncle, John Wood, an artist and illustrator for the Chattanooga Times Free Press, was a major influence. After Grant graduated from Baylor School, he started at UTC where he learned from the internationally famous Russian artist Daud Akhriev. A year later, at age 19, he won a full scholarship from the Bentwood Foundation to the Florence Academy of Art in Italy to study. Returning to UTC, he earned a BFA in Painting and drawing.
His heart took him to England where he lived in New Romney in Kent, a market town on the edge of a marsh. There he became fascinated with and very fond of the fishermen, who provided a rich source of subjects for his work. Having appeared twice on “Landscape Artist of the Year,” a Sky Arts program in England, Grant became known in the UK and was invited in 2016 to show his work at the juried Royal Art Exhibition sponsored by Queen Elizabeth.
Once back in Chattanooga, he exhibited his work in 2018 at the Townsend Atelier, showing both landscape and figurative pieces. He has subsequently shown in various local galleries, participated in art shows all over the country, and produced commissioned pieces.
While Grant’s work reflects both the Russian and European art traditions, as he continues to paint, his work is evolving in both style and tone. The subject matter is diverse and conveys a range of emotions, inviting viewers to experience each piece, to go from simply looking to feeling. Extremely talented and accomplished, Grant paints predominantly in oils, but also creates work in gouache, mixed media, and pencil, and is available for commissions. A wide selection of his work can be viewed on Instagram @ grant.e.wood or on grantewood.com.
Contact him at [email protected]. Like all our local artists and artisans, the Woods have contributed to our community in so many ways and deserve our support. They all have earned it.
By Carol Lannon
In 1967, when Kerry was in the fifth grade, her family moved to the mountain from Connecticut, and her dad opened a carpet factory in Dalton, which later was bought by a larger company. She still lives in her family home. In the late 1970s, Kerry met Chattanooga native Mark Wood at work where both were making use of their artistic talents. Mark was one of five brothers, all of whom were artistic, and among his family pieces are beautiful pencil drawings created by Grant’s uncle John Wood. Married in 1981, the couple had three children, May, Jack, and Grant. Together, the couple started the Wood Group in 1986, providing consulting, marketing, and design, including Kerry’s graphic design services, to businesses. Later she became vice-president of sales and marketing at Moon Pie and was instrumental in opening the Moon Pie stores.
Mark passed away in 2017, and Kerry decided it was time to pursue her lifelong enjoyment of “making things.” She currently owns and operates Daisy and Dukes Gifts, making and selling a handmade, quality product line of barbeque sauces, rubs, and dry goods, as well as distinctive handmade candles that “embody the true essence of the South,” scented with a variety of therapeutic grade essential oils and floral fragrances.
The unique extra: the Candle Gram. Accompanying the candles are whimsical cards designed by Kerry for birthdays and other occasions. An additional line of candles features Grant’s art on the labels. Her love of folk art, created by featured artist Who Keres, is evident in a delightful array of handmade “Okra Art” ornaments: Santa, of course, and angels with wings to appeal to different interests. All are available on her website daisyanddukesgifts.com. and at the Sunday Chattanooga Market.
Her son Grant is a third generation Fuge-Wood artist. Gifted with innate talent, he began drawing at a young age. Surrounded by his artist uncles, he watched as they worked and copied what they did. His uncle, John Wood, an artist and illustrator for the Chattanooga Times Free Press, was a major influence. After Grant graduated from Baylor School, he started at UTC where he learned from the internationally famous Russian artist Daud Akhriev. A year later, at age 19, he won a full scholarship from the Bentwood Foundation to the Florence Academy of Art in Italy to study. Returning to UTC, he earned a BFA in Painting and drawing.
His heart took him to England where he lived in New Romney in Kent, a market town on the edge of a marsh. There he became fascinated with and very fond of the fishermen, who provided a rich source of subjects for his work. Having appeared twice on “Landscape Artist of the Year,” a Sky Arts program in England, Grant became known in the UK and was invited in 2016 to show his work at the juried Royal Art Exhibition sponsored by Queen Elizabeth.
Once back in Chattanooga, he exhibited his work in 2018 at the Townsend Atelier, showing both landscape and figurative pieces. He has subsequently shown in various local galleries, participated in art shows all over the country, and produced commissioned pieces.
While Grant’s work reflects both the Russian and European art traditions, as he continues to paint, his work is evolving in both style and tone. The subject matter is diverse and conveys a range of emotions, inviting viewers to experience each piece, to go from simply looking to feeling. Extremely talented and accomplished, Grant paints predominantly in oils, but also creates work in gouache, mixed media, and pencil, and is available for commissions. A wide selection of his work can be viewed on Instagram @ grant.e.wood or on grantewood.com.
Contact him at [email protected]. Like all our local artists and artisans, the Woods have contributed to our community in so many ways and deserve our support. They all have earned it.
By Carol Lannon
RSS Feed