Today we’d like to introduce you to Eddy Efaw
Hi Eddy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I came to Memphis in 1995 to do graduate work at Harding School of Theology. I had been an Art teacher in my home state of West Virginia for two years after undergrad and decided to go another direction for graduate school. Memphis was my first choice over another school in Nashville. While in graduate school I was introduced to Harding Academy and took a job teaching there in the 1997-98 school year. This year marks my 27th year teaching at Harding.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Along the way, the biggest challenge for me was keeping my own personal art practice alive while being a full-time teacher. In the early stages of my teaching career, it was especially difficult to find time and energy to create my own art after a long day of facilitating art making for my high school visual art students. The early years of teaching are quite time-consuming as you’re learning the craft of teaching and there’s not much energy left at the end of the day for much else. That’s also true about being a parent. During those early year’s at Harding, my wife and I were also raising two small children. During those years, I had to work very hard to keep my creative juices flowing and to keep making art. Then as our children got older, my margins opened up and I was able to dedicate more time to my own creative process. Purchasing a pottery wheel to have at my house helped out immensely as well. After my home studio was established I was able to work in the art making after school and on the weekends much more effectively.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I love to create in various media but my main love is ceramics. I specialize in making utilitarian items like coffee mugs, teapots, spoon rests, match strikers, candle holders, etc. I also enjoy making decorative vases and bottles that I adorn with intricate geometric designs. I’m most proud of pieces of pottery that convey a meaning though their designs. I enjoy illuminating biblical themes in my art and find that it helps me express my faith through my art.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I attribute my ability to persevere over time to be what has allowed me to succeed in both my art practice and as a teacher. Being from West Virginia where being hard working is a deeply held trait, I have found that I apply that characteristic time and time again as I have worked to hone my crafts over the years. There are many times when it would have been easier to quit teaching or to give up on a particular work of art but the value I place on working hard and not stopping until a job is done to the best of my ability wouldn’t let me stop.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.eddyefaw.com/
- Instagram: @eddyefaw
- Facebook: EddyEfawArt
