The Reader

Until 2008, Mary Lou Gresham always worked her calling as an artist around her primary commitment to her family. Although her BA was in English, she took as much art as she was able until she earned her degree in 3½ years. She married Henry Gresham in 1971 and over the next 4 years, the family lived in Georgia, New Jersey and West Germany before returning to Edmond, OK, where she accumulated over 40 hours of ceramic and sculpture credits at the University of Central Oklahoma.

An instructor there once told me I liked to "push the envelope" in my work," recalls Mary Lou. "People frequently use adjectives like humorous, whimsical, joyful, beautiful and serendipitous to describe my work. I am particularly gratified when they tell me something I made makes them smile, recall loving moments or helps them praise God. God has blessed me with a great deal of love, joy and beauty in my life, and in the end, that is what I want to share through my art."

In November 2004, Gresham completed an intensive one week class in forensic sculpture taught by the co-author of the text, Mary Pat Gatliff. She was commissioned to sculpt Edmond, OK's Centennial Sculpture, "Leaping into History" (2007) and World War II Memorial, "Dawn of Hope" (2009). She is currently focusing on bronze work and raku animals.

Gresham values the many weeks she traveled in England, Germany, Austria, France, Italy and Cost Rica and the many friendships she made with international students (she taught ESL and was a homestay mother for several years); but her time at home is equally rewarding.

Her studio is located in the country outside Edmond, OK where she and her husband live. She's been playing bridge and tennis with local friends for 35 years, and also teaches water aerobics at the local Golds Gym. The horses they rode as kids all around Edmond are long gone, but they have lots of wildlife to watch from their dining room table; deer, turkeys, possums, armadillos, raccoons, bobcats, coyotes and lots of birds. They even raise guinea hens (to eat ticks and snakes) and a few chickens (for the eggs).