Richard (Tai) Grove
Richard M. Grove A.O.C.A, known to friends as Tai, was born into an artist family in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada on October 7, 1953. With both parents being artists and art collectors he had a unique and early introduction into the world of visual art. His first experience with art was with photography when at the age of thirteen he purchased, with his father’s enthusiasm and help, his first single lens reflex camera. Over the ensuing years, after leaving high school, he studied pottery at Mohawk College, design and pottery at Sheridan College, leading to his graduating in 1984 from the Experimental Arts Department at Ontario College of Art. In 1994 he graduated with honours from the Humber College, Arts Administration diploma course. In 2002 he returned to school to study computer courses relating to publishing.
Since graduating from Ontario College of Art, Richard, has exhibited in more than twenty, solo and group exhibitions in Hamilton, Toronto, Boston, Calgary and Grand Prairie. He has his art in over thirty corporate collections across Canada. The most prominent of which are: Esso Resources, Continental Insurance, Alberta Energy Corporation and Calgary District Hospital Group. These four companies alone represent a collection of well over twenty-five pieces of his work. Among the many corporate collections are six commissions of different styles and mediums ranging from pastel on paper to acrylic on canvas.
Along with his visual art, Richard has been writing poetry seriously for many years and has had over 100 of his poems published in periodicals and has been published in over 20 anthologies from around the world. His first book of poetry titled “Beyond Fear and Anger” was released in 1997. His second book titled “Poems For Jack” was released in 2002 with “A View of Contrasts” soon to follow. His book of digital paintings and poetry entitled “Sky Over Presqu’ile: Fragments of Time” was released in 2003. His collection of digital paintings “Substantiality” was released in 2006. His collection of short stories “Family Reunion”, as well as two books of photography “terra firma” and “Oxido Rojo” were all released in 2007. You can reach him at writers@wetinkbooks.com. He is also the author of numerous books with a metaphysical themes including “The Mind–Body Connection” and “Metaphysical Healing For a Secular Age”.
He is an editor and publisher and runs a growing publishing company called Hidden Brook Press from which he publishes poetry contest anthologies and books of every genre for authors around the world. Aside from being a published poet Richard has also exhibited his poetry in acrylic on paper paintings as well as in audio sculptures. For his poetry Richard has won a number of prize and honourable mentions as well as a finalist spot in two contest anthologies.
Richard is also the founder of the Canadian Poet Registry, an archival information website that lists Canadian poets including: biographical information, their book titles and awards. One can view this website at – http://www.wetinkbooks.com/Registry.htm. He was an active member of the Canadian Poetry Association for almost ten years serving on the executive for seven years including five as President. He is the president of the Canada Cuba Literary Alliance – www.CanadaCubaLiteraryAlliance.org and the founding member of the Brighton-Quinte and area Writers Group.
Richard has also been a public speaker, presenting topics on poetry and publishing internationally. He has also been MCing poetry readings and speaking as feature reader in various locations around the world including Cuba, New Zealand, Germany and Canada. He was the Feature Author as publisher/poet in the October 1998 issue of “The Treasure Chest” published out of Virginia, USA and Feature Poet in “Poetry Canada” in 2004.
