Grier Summer Art Portfolio Program

Laurie Cave, program director

Laurie Cave is a native of Pennsylvania and the head of Grier's art department. Her father was an artist and art professor and her mother was a costumer. Her childhood was filled with the scent of linseed oil and the crunch of taffeta. Long hours in studio were an early way of life for the whole family. Laurie's formal art study took place at the Ivy School of Professional Art.

 

Her first “art job” was art editor of the Seattle Sound News in the early 70’s. This was quickly replaced by the more adventuresome occupation of welder at Lockheed Shipyard. Discovery and life-long learning are important to Laurie. Workshops at the Torpedo Factory, College of Santa Fe, Bennington, and University of the Arts are a few of her favorite learning experiences.

 

Laurie was a three year Artist in Education resident at Tyrone Area High School, a Pennsylvania roster artist in the early 90’s, and started teaching at Grier in 1993. She is still professionally costuming and is a current working member of IATSE local 636 where she is senior wardrobe person. In the past eleven years, her work in professional theater has given her opportunity to work on great shows such as Les Miserables, Ragtime, Porgy and Bess, Cats, Peter Pan, and to work with great companies such as Bolshoi Ballet, Dance Theater of Harlem, American Ballet, Alvin Ailey, Ballet Met, and New York City Opera. Husband Michael, daughters Hannah, Ajia, and Shalah (Grier grad ’99), share her philosophy of life. Don’t be a spectator, be a catalyst!!