Senior Kelly Eberhardt’s art show, “Sculpture and Culture,” explores the ways in which the art of sculpture and a person’s culture intertwine. Writer Kathryn Bloch interviewed Eberhart to learn more about her process and inspirations as an artist.
Kathryn Bloch: When and how did you start making art?
Kelly Eberhardt: My parents told me I was born with a tool in one hand and a paintbrush in the other. I have always loved the challenge of making something out of a variety of different materials and doodling on anything I could find. I manage the obstacles of life by the creative outlets that surround me.
KB: How did you come up with the inspiration for your current gallery show?
KE: I recently moved to Naperville after living 12 years overseas. In the four countries that I lived in I navigated new cultures and languages by exploring local art and meeting local artists. I was involved in promoting local artists and initiating art exhibits to build a bridge between cultures. A person can learn so much more about a culture if they only explore how that culture expresses itself through a variety of art forms. The inspiration of my art exhibit at North Central College was to share all of the beautiful places I have seen and the incredible people I have met. The photographs in themselves are a work of art. The work I have completed during my two years at North Central have all been inspired by the places I have been, the people I have met, and how they have influenced me to dig deeper into how I see the world around me.
KB: What is your favorite piece that you’ve ever made?
KE: There are several pieces that have resonated with me for various reasons. Many of my paintings were donated to raise money for groups overseas. One of my paintings, in particular, went for $800 at a silent auction in Kenya and helped raise money to open a small school for young children in one of the biggest slums in Nairobi. I was able to witness the pride, hope, and smiles on the children’s faces when they were given their first school book. Art can be powerful enough to change the lives of others, this I can attest too.
KB: Who is your biggest artistic inspiration?
KE: There are many famous artists that I am impressed with but the biggest inspiration comes from the unknown artists that pour their heart and soul into their work and put it out into the world. I am inspired by the little old ladies that would sit on the side of the road in Kenya all day making baskets; the roadside artisans that literally work their fingers to the bone making furniture out of wood that they carried for miles on their back; to the children that leave their families at a young age to study art and have to beg on the streets for money so they can buy art supplies (because there is no funding). It takes an incredible amount of passion and courage to direct these unknown artists to make art, and they literally rely on their artwork to feed their family. It is very moving and incredibly powerful.
KB: Where do you see your artistic career going in the future?
KE: I would like to continue working in the art field to build bridges between cultures and differences. Art is more than a painting on a wall or a sculpture in a museum. It is an opportunity to create dialogue and put those differences aside. I am interested in pursuing a position with a public art commission so I can use art to engage a community. A dream job for me would be to work for the Art in Embassies (AIE) program in Washington, D.C. AIE exhibits American artwork overseas at American Embassies and Consulates, as well as in the representational spaces at American Ambassador residences. The artwork is an important facet in diplomatic communications as the soul focus is to express the similarities between culture through art.
