Local Artist Ben Edwards Credits University Programs for 'Jumpstarting' His Art Career

Provided by Ben Edwards

Local artist Ben Edwards has parlayed his education and experience at the University of Arkansas into an art career as a visual artist, art educator, and advocate for the arts.

Edwards (M.F.A.'06) served as the University Programs Anne Kittrell Art Gallery coordinator from 2004-2006 and he credits his time with the programming board for helping him get started in his art career.

"University Programs gave me essential professional experience that was entirely relevant to the world of non-profit arts management," Edwards explained. "Without the experience from UP, I would not have spent the next five years working for galleries and museums, ultimately joining the inaugural staff of Crystal Bridges Museum. I have developed, organized, and installed many art exhibitions that have been seen here regionally and around the country, and would have never even understood that as a career possibility without University Programs."

Edwards' exhibit, "Mountain Mysteries," is on display on campus through March 16 at the Jim and Joyce Faulkner Performing Arts Center.

University Programs is the official programming board of the University of Arkansas. UP student leaders and volunteer committee members plan cultural, educational, recreational, and entertainment experiences that are free to the student body through the student activities fee. Eight committees along with committee chairs and their executive officers select, schedule, and produce events such as concerts, movies, lectures, fine arts performances, and gallery exhibits. This event selection process is one of Edwards' favorite memories about his time on the board.

"The favorite memory I have of University Programs was the time spent with the entire team discussing our respective plans, and programs in development," Edwards said. "We had diverse leadership, and each brought an essential point of view to the process. It was one of the most effective programming teams in which I have participated. We did really great programs! UP still does!"

Students can get involved with University Programs throughout the school year by applying to join a UP committee. Edwards encouraged students to get involved in student organizations such as UP that plan and execute events.

"Working in a student organization like UP requires a student to accept, and adapt to the pace of business, and the associated deadlines," he said. "It is an excellent experience in what will become a new norm for them as they enter the professional world. It is a time commitment, but any student who is willing to put in time to get better at anything they do will be well served by their UP experience. The experience for me jumpstarted so many things that I wouldn't have the skills to achieve otherwise."

Edwards has developed a unique art style involving scavenged, saved, or recycled materials. Rather than generate waste, his artwork salvages it, adding "visual and kinetic energy as well as details to enhance the viewers' understanding of each piece." His style has been influenced by artists such as Robert Rauschenberg, Barry McGhee, Katherine Bernhard, and Serge Attuckwei Clottey.  Describing his creative process, Edwards said, "Often times my process involves using discarded packages, or other scraps from my own household garbage. I like to use my garbage for art materials, it reduces the amount of materials that I send to the landfill, and I am intimately connected to its story. Yes, even empty bags of chips and frozen pizza boxes have stories to tell. I am currently saving all used chips and snacks bags that my family uses to make collages, so my creative process today looks like a big pile of empty chip bags. The time I spend on each painting or sculpture varies. Whether I spend 12 hours, or 120 hours to make something, chances are I thought it through for an even longer period before I attempted it."

Edwards previously served on the inaugural staff of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art as its exhibition programs coordinator. His work is contained in the Kesher Collection at the State University of New York, Genesee; the Gann Museum collection of Arkansas Potter; and the University of Arkansas; as well as numerous private collections throughout the United States and Europe. Examples from his series of paintings titled #Redacted have been exhibited by 21C Museum Hotel in Bentonville and Bottle Rocket Gallery in Fayetteville. He received his BFA in Studio Art from Louisiana Tech University and his MFA from the University of Arkansas. He has been married since 2000 to playwright Ashley Edwards. They have four children and live in Bella Vista.

Edwards' exhibit, "Mountain Mysteries", is on display on campus through March 16th at the Jim and Joyce Faulkner Performing Arts Center.