“Bloom where you’re planted” is Candiss McFarland’s personal motto. From her fashion career in Manhattan to her role as director of the Grand Bohemian Gallery in Mountain Brook, she brings creativity and warmth wherever she goes. A SCAD-trained designer and Atlanta native, Candiss previously worked as a visual merchandising manager at Saks Fifth Avenue in Birmingham. Now, she’s channeling her design savvy into the art world and ensuring every gallery guest feels not only welcome, but inspired.
How has your fashion background informed your art career?
I’ve always been creative, and art is a wonderful expression. It’s a wonderful tool for communicating and bridging people, cultures, and lots of different things that unite people. Fine Art encompasses so many mediums and styles and tells a specific story about the artist or moment in time.
For me, fashion was the same type of discipline — a three-dimensional art form where I could express myself, utilize my talents, educational training, and creativity. Those skills have been essential to my success here as the gallery director. I’m using my entire toolbox in my artist development and the curation of the shows that we exhibit here in the gallery.
What kind of exhibits are you looking to curate for the gallery?
The Grand Bohemian is a brand in and of itself. It has its own individual culture and feeling, and it’s wonderful when I can look out in our community and see artists who have incredible talent and align with that …
I’m always looking to do fresh and innovative things that really speak to where we are as a city and a creative community, whether it’s a moment in time that we’re celebrating, a holiday, or an overall movement in the city. The biggest shift I’ve experienced since I moved to Birmingham in 2015 is seeing the creative culture be reignited in a really great way — in fine arts, music, and the food scene. Every city has its own vibe, feeling, and personality, and I love being able to showcase that through the artists.
What do you hope the gallery conveys about art in general?
Galleries have a reputation of being stuffy places that are not welcoming if you don’t have the budget or are not well-versed in different styles or mediums of art. Art is a very personal, wonderful thing. It’s something I feel we should all have a personal relationship with.
When you see a painting that makes you smile, takes your breath away, or even makes you angry, that’s something! If a piece of art evokes a response from you, lean into that and explore the connection. You don’t need this incredible art education to connect in that way, just an open mind.
In what ways does Southern art stand out?
Many of the artists I work with — their talent, inspiration, things that drive them and make them unique — are very much rooted in family. Also, the honoring of the things that make the South the South – the picturesque landscapes, the beautiful sunsets. The environment here is uniquely beautiful. When you think about Birmingham as a city, it’s gorgeous. There are mountains to the north, beaches to the south … There’s a boldness to Southern artists, and a lot of storytelling, too.
Tell us how you live out your motto of “Bloom where you’re planted.”
I take every day as it comes. I set my intentions, approach each day with a very large amount of gratitude, and look at every day as an opportunity to do things better and get closer to the goals I have set for myself, personally and professionally.
If you bloom where you’re planted, you will make a pathway for yourself to be successful if you utilize what you have. If you do that, ultimately, you will cultivate the things you need on your own, or you’ll realize you didn’t need them in the first place. There’s a lot of power in saying, “If I’m going to bet on anybody, I bet on myself.”
Can you share one of your goals?
I would love to illustrate a children’s book, and I would love for my co-authors to be my children.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
I love being outside. I also enjoy catching up on mindless Netflix things to escape. I enjoy going to the movies even more than my Netflix time because, during this season, going to the movies is a whole family affair — it’s all the popcorn, all the snacks, and trying to see if we can all vote on the same movie. That’s a lot of fun for me. I’m also a pretty big foodie, so I like trying different restaurants. When I have a block of time, I love planning trips.
What are some of your favorite Birmingham spots?
The best burger I had in my life was at Chez Fonfon. And my family and I go to Pizzeria GM a lot.
Where do you like to go to spend time outside?
My favorite place in Birmingham to be outdoors is the Botanical Gardens. I can spend the entire day there. I often go there to just have a walk and my lunch. I’ll take my sunglasses, pick a spot, enjoy the sun on my face, and take it all in. I love it!
I also really like Railroad Park. I go there and do the walking trails — by myself, with a friend, or I bring the family.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Give yourself grace. I am a high achiever. I love processes and can be a very strong critic of myself. I accomplish something and move on to the next thing.
As I’ve gotten older, I have learned that it’s really important to lean into those wins because there are going to be moments where you don’t achieve things. Give yourself grace and understand that some things don’t work out for a reason. Accept that and move on.
Name three things you can’t live without.
Coffee, my self-care routine, and having something to look forward to.
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Southern women are doing remarkable things. Meet more of them in our FACES archives!
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