Amanda Grove ’10

Growing up in the Rogue Valley, many local high school students head to college to get away from home. From the start, Amanda Grove ’10 knew she would study locally at SOU. “I loved art and Ashland so the fit was perfect for me from the beginning. SOU was my only choice,” she said.

On campus, she was able to live with her sister in family housing and did not live in any of the residence halls. The art facilities had undergone a complete revamp a decade earlier so it was a very welcoming and comfortable fit for Amanda and her classmates. “I loved the hands-on aspect of art: painting, drawing and printmaking,” said Grove. A photography course taught by Erika Leppmann got her into another aspect of art and she ended up taking two years of those courses. She also loved Cody Bustamante’s courses in the art department. “It was fun for a bunch of us to simply hang out in the department and Cody also made things interesting with his critiquing style and mentorship,” she said. “Our core group of friends stuck together all four years and never went home to work for the summer. We attended shows and hosted our own little shows and had a great time. I miss those days.”

After graduating in June of 2010 with her bachelor’s degree in art, she moved to Portland and immersed herself in the art scene there. After working at Starbucks in Ashland for three years, she was easily able to transfer to the same employer in Portland. From Portland she moved to Rhode Island to attend the Rhode Island School of Design. After attending for three years, she moved back to the Rogue Valley and could not stay away from Ashland. She and her husband Ange opened Golden Grove Collective, a small gift shop in downtown Ashland. The shop offered a variety of products, made locally by members of the creative community. They also offered a wide range of workshops and events, often hosted by local vendors. The shop closed in 2023 as she transitioned to focus more on events and markets.

“We host our own local goods markets around town as well as larger events like the Ashland After Dark Market and Rogue Makers Holiday Fair. We get a ton of local vendors and customers from Yreka to Grants Pass. The After Dark Markets at the Armory are shoulder to shoulder for attendance,” said Grove. They are excited to reconnect with SOU and help to feature SOU art students as often as possible. “It’s our hope to help get current SOU students connected with the downtown area and help them to feel comfortable showcasing their art. It’s a great first exhibit location outside of campus because of the number of tourists and visitors that Ashland has.”

“SOU gave me the freedom to explore many different art forms and really hone my focus. I always felt supported and encouraged to pave my own way and discover what I love most about creating and viewing art.” 

Learn more: Golden Grove Collective