Meet Marjorie Cranston, Kent Flora and Cindy Southway of Jackstraw Gallery in Grand Lake

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marjorie Cranston, Kent Flora and Cindy Southway.

Marjorie, Kent and Cindy, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I did design work for years in Denver and beyond including the entire front range plus nine parades of homes… I also did fine art. After coming to Grand Lake for a project, I fell in love with the small-town atmosphere. It took no time to convince my husband to move here and settle.

In a small town it is difficult to find work; so I took what little I had and put a down payment on a storefront. It has taken many years to establish a store for both my art and with home products that were unique. I began by setting up my easel on the boardwalk and painting for the tourists. I also started a design business working with builders in the area and clients that were interested in construction planning. I have since done projects all over the county but continue to grow in my art. Other artists are showing their work here now as well. Trying to be unique in the offerings, I began doing art on clothing and produced wearable art for hiking, biking, and casual wear, and now recently have produced some home goods with art of Grand Lake. The store began with a small 800 square ft space and now has expanded to 1700 square feet of product and art. My joy is producing art in front of people and children so they have inspiration for their own art form. Especially in this time of life, we need the arts, creativity and hope. I am a story of building a business with very little and staying with it thru both the good and hard times over 19 years.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Retail in a tourist town gives you about four months of business. I stay open year round but we have all been thru the first recession which was tough; now COVID 19 and the fires around us this year… It is always something with weather and storms of life. I have to look at it all as just that. The struggles are a test and the goal is just to be a good overcomer and to plan wisely. Always, always save to get thru the next obstacle. Being in business for yourself is awesome. It builds your faith, your stamina and your endurance. It is not for the fearful.

What else should our readers know?
I am humbled actually to specialize in God-given ability. That is what I sell. The business is just what I can produce in products and services.

What were you like growing up?
I was painfully shy as a child and spent many hours alone so Art was a refuge for me from the age of four on. I also loved being outside collecting things of interest and making things from rocks, wood, leaves, moss and natural things. I was constantly barefoot running thru the outdoors. As I grew up, I loved school and especially my art class. I also grew in high school to love fashion and did small jobs with illustration… My jobs included working retail thru college and then illustrating for the Mackinac State Park Commission drawing the artifacts from the excavations at Ft. Mackinaw. History has always been a love of mine as well and every opportunity as a child formed me for the future.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jackstrawgallery.com
• Phone: 970-627-8111
• Email: marjoriecranstonart@gmail.com
• Instagram: cranstonmarjorie

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