JOAN | REFLECTION

Richard Hunt – The Man and The Artist by: Guest Writer – Joan E. Schenk

More than three decades ago, I became an Art Educator and joined the prestigious organizations National Art Education Association (NAEA) and Illinois Art Education Association (IAEA). The meetings, workshops and conferences almost always included the well-known Illinois sculptor Richard Hunt. He had graduated from the School of the Art Institute in 1957, and by 1973 had established his reputation in the art worlds of Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and Europe. Knowing him professionally was an honor. Getting to know him personally was a privilege that I will never forget.

In 1987, I was invited to the 100^th year celebration of the Young Artists’ Studio by Carolyn Howlett, Professor Emeritas at the School of the Art Institute. Carolyn was Chairperson of the event, and as we walked around the pre-Gala festivities, she insisted on stopping to say “hello” to Richard Hunt, her former student in Art Education at SAIC. He was most gracious and arose from his table, greeting us with a warm hug and inquiring how Carolyn was doing with her book Arts and Craftmaking, where one of his early works was featured. I told him briefly about my venture into jewelry design along with my Art Education position, and we left our conversation at “we’ll talk later.” For us, “later” was 1993, when he was featured with nine Chicago artists at a first-ever event at the Union League Club of Chicago. From then on there were gallery collaborations, museum contacts at IMMA Irish Museum of Modern Art in Dublin, and many other adventures that proved to be the beginning and end of my career in art.

When I assumed the position of Librarian for Chicago Public Schools in 2001, he wrote a lovely recommendation for me, saying both his mother and sister had been librarians. It is now 2013, so it will be forty years come September that I first met Richard. In those forty years I have witnessed his career highlights, his many shows throughout the United States, and I have photographed, on location, many of his works.

The ones I remember best were Growing Forward, Flintlock Fantasy, and Landscape Variation. Growing Forward was completed in 1994. It consists of a smaller figure being protected by a larger figure, yet it is allowed to step into life on its own. Flintlock Fantasy, now in a private collection in Detroit, shows Man and his fantasy with guns–Flintlock being the name of a gun maker. Of course I cannot fail to mention the puzzle Landscape Variation, which comes in bronze and silver. I was fortunate to own one of the solid silver editions which I have treasured for over 20 years. It found a permanent home on my coffee table, and everyone I’ve hosted has tried their skill at reconstructing the amazing intricate design. The list can go on and on by naming all his pieces and acknowledging their new homes, from The Sculpture Garden at the White House, to The Mountain Top, a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee.

I suggest you look him up online and be amazed by his accomplishments! See the man he became in 1957 at the age of 21, to the handsome, refined, distinguished gentleman he is today, captured by photographer Shannon Wright. Richard has allowed me to work on my jewelry in his studio on Chicago’s Lill Street, and I have visited his Benton Harbor, Michigan Studio on several occasions.

When I see him on television, I am still awed by the fact that this great guy is a best friend, and so down-to-earth. Richard and I acknowledge each other’s birthdays–as well as our close mutual friend Jerome Hausman’s–every year. He is so prolific, meaningful, intelligent, well-read and well-versed in all things political on the local, national and world-wide front, and finally, so special, witty and great that the English language does not have the word I am looking for, so I will say it in Spanish: MAGNIFICO!

Thank you, Richard, for being such a good man and great citizen of Chicago and America, loyal friend and treasured artist.  Joan E. Schenk, Chicago, IL. Feb. 4, 2013

Filed under: FEATURE ARTICLES, FEATURE SHOOTS, LATEST NEWS! Tagged: RICHARD HUNT