Why Grover Cleveland?

Hi Artists! My name is Eric and I’m the “founder and curator” of the Grover Cleveland Art Appreciation Society (and Occassional Pop-up Museum). It lives virtually on Instagram and, very occasionally, out in public view at a Fourth of July picnic or other community event in Colorado.  If you’re reading this, I probably sent you a link because I like your work and/or you wanted more info when I asked if you’d consider making a picture of Grover Cleveland. The Grover Cleveland Art Appreciation Society was created to 1) support young and/or developing artists and 2) to keep alive the memory of America’s Most Average President.  As a result of his averageness, I’m perhaps the world’s only collector of original Grover Cleveland Themed Art.  We started 2019 with about 10 pieces and we’re always (casually) looking for more. We like to add 5-6 new pieces per year.  We know it’s kind of weirdly charming, but we also believe this is part of its oddball appeal and exact...

From the collection of the Grover Cleveland Art Appreciation Society, this is “Grover Cleveland” by Arist Mandy Bond, acrylic on canvas board (c) 2018 Obviously, you can find a more thorough, real biography online and in many very good published biographies. The following is my quick rendition, to give you a brief outline of the man and some of the highlights that I’ll return to in coming weeks. This was written mostly* from memory, foreshadowing the things that I like. *Dates, locations and ‘facts’ have been confirmed for accuracy. Interpretation is all mine. Stephen Grover Cleveland was born in Caldwell, New Jersey, on March 18, 1837, son of a well-to-do mother and a somewhat itinerant preacher father. In 1841, his family moved to New York, first to Fayetteville near Syracuse, then nine years later 50 miles east to Clinton, near Utica.  Average from the start, he was a middle kid, fifth of nine children, four older siblings, four younger.  Grover was sc...

Before we get too deep into Groverland, I should probably say a word about the Grover Cleveland Art Appreciation Society (and Occasional Pop-up Museum). This blog is a companion project and friends of the Grover Cleveland Art Appreciation Society. I created the Grover Cleveland Art Appreciation Society on July 4, 2018. The Society is inspired by Grover’s quote: “Someday I will be better remembered.” It is dedicated to supporting young artists and keeping alive the memory of America’s Most Average President.  Here’s how it came to be. I’ve attended the Denver Pop Culture Con for several years now and happily wander Artist’s Alley looking at cartoons and drawings made by hundreds of cartoonists. Many offer commissioned drawings during the weekend, meaning for a price they’ll draw your picture or a picture of you in your cosplay outfit, or a mash-up of favorite characters and super heroes in their own style. I’ve watched them and wanted to suppor...