Lopez artist, carpenter and builder Jerome Marshak was recently awarded a residency grant by the Marie Walsh Sharpe Art Foundation.

“In the world of contemporary art, a Sharpe Foundation residency grant is considered an honor, recognition of the artist’s past accomplishments, and his or her potential for continued innovation and creativity,” said Jerome’s brother, Bob.

Jerome is one of just 17 working artists selected from over 1,100 applicants, and the first Washington state artist to be awarded a grant by the Sharpe foundation. The grant will provide Jerome with a art studio in Brooklyn, New York for one year.

Jerome received the Sharpe award due to an exhibit he created last year at The Drawing Center in New York, one of the world’s premier showcases for contemporary drawings.

He and two other artists were invited to showcase drawings representing the sea; his contributions were inspired by Lopez Island landscapes.

“Shows at The Drawing Center are rigorously chosen, and museum curators, critics and collectors come from around the world to see the shows that are mounted there,” said Bob.

Jerome has worked alone in a small studio on the South End of Lopez for the last six years. He came to Lopez in 1981, working as a carpenter and fine home builder while raising five children. When the last of them went to college in 2004 he was able to spend an increasing amount of time drawing.

Jerome will depart for New York in late August. To defray the costs of renting a room in Brooklyn and to pay living expenses, he is offering original drawings for sale to the community.

“The pieces are abstract images of how drawings interpret and expand our knowledge and understanding of the environment around us,” said Bob.

Jerome will be working with a group of artists, art teachers and scholars from around the country, and will share his experiences with the Lopez community when he returns. He may be reached at 468-3010 on Lopez or at marsh@rockisland.com