Mark Schwing
b. 1957 Ann Arbor MI";
var paragraph1="
Mark Schwing early on showed an interest in art. As a student, artists such as Rosanne Vihos, Ruth Janes, Norman Stewart, Clinton Koupus, Ken Wade and Daria Dorosh among others were inspirational and supportive. He won a scholarship to attend Parsons School of Design in New York City and a scholarship for an Art Study Tour in Europe in 1975. He found New York City a great place to go to school because besides a great school there were plenty of Museums and Art Galleries, only dropping out because he made the "mistake" of thinking he should devote more time painting in his studio on the Lower East Side. This didn't really work out as planned and he returned to Michigan (1981) and eventually Detroit (1983)."; var paragraph2="
Mark Schwing has always found "day-jobs" (grocery stores, retail, house-painter, etc.) interesting but since they were more a "means to an end" it was hard for him to really be committed to them. However, he later realized much of the experience was invaluable and of course a necessary part of life."; var paragraph3="
He was introduced to Detroit's Art Scene via Detroit Focus Gallery, showing beginning about 1983 and eventually joining. In 1986 he won a "Creative Artist Program" grant from the Michigan Council for the Arts. However, (he does not explain) he declined the award perhaps because of a conflict of interest. He showed with artist Bob Downs separately but at the same time at Urban Institute for Contemporary Art, Grand Rapids MI in 1989. He also showed at the Detroit Artists Market, Sixth Street Gallery (Royal Oak MI) and the Willis Gallery (Detroit) among others. He became involved with The Artist's Cooperative (A.C.,T.)-(1997-2006), Swann Gallery and Sherry Washington Gallery-(1996- ), all of Detroit and also showed elsewhere. The cooperative proved to be supportive and he enjoyed being with fellow artists."; var paragraph4="
An unfortunate fire in October most likely 1995 at the building his studio/apartment was located in the New Center Area Detroit eventually forced him to relocate closer to downtown and the Wayne State University area. At first he rented a room, sharing an apartment and in 2003 he got his own place in the same building. The area is improving for the arts, the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit opened in 2006 and the Detroit Institute of Arts completed their renovation in 2007."; var paragraph5="
He still wonders how artists are supposed to make a decent living and maintain their freedom. He considers Universal Health Care an answer to many of society's problems. He continues to paint and draw showing mostly in and around the Detroit area.
"; var biography=part1+paragraph1+paragraph2+paragraph3+paragraph4+paragraph5; document.write(biography); document.body.style.background="black";