We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Emmanuel Gillespie a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Emmanuel, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
During the summer of 2019, I was commissioned to create a life-sized sculpture for the city of Dallas of Mr. Ernie Banks. The Ernie Banks commission has been one of the most meaningful projects for me as a creative for several reasons. One being that this project has been a staple in our community due to its location in the city. This sculpture is housed at the Booker T. Washington High School of the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas, Texas. As an alum of Arts and a current resident and native to Dallas, this entity was extremely important in accepting this commission. In addition, Ernie Banks, an American professional baseball player who starred in the MLB for the Chicago Cubs was also an alum of Booker T. Washington High School. This positive Black role model allows young people to see the significance of representation displayed in a prominent space in Dallas. The sculpture enabled us to reflect on an important time in history and pay tribute to one of our own. This project also helped foster that love of creativity and artistic expression that our Arts school, Booker T. Washington continues to carry out.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I was born in Dallas and went to the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. For as long as I can remember, I have always had an interest in art. My foundation and who I am today lies within the fact that I went to a school that fostered a love of arts through the visual and performing arts. Booker T. Washington High School of the Performing and Visual Arts payed an integral role in who I am as an artist today. After high school, I found myself in the art world in various modalities. I carried out and was involved in various careers as such as working with art auctions, creating art, foundations of art, museums and galleries. Later, I decided to finish my undergraduate and masters degrees both in Fine Arts from the University of North Texas and University of Indiana of Pennsylvania . Now, I find myself more developed as an artist and creator that creates not only in the 2D world, but 3D world as well. Currently I am most proud of the fact that I am able to create art using various materials, but also that I am able to share my love of art and art education with my community.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect about being a creative is seeing a final work of art in its completion and the response of viewers to that work. The conversations that emerge and greater understanding that happens from art and its relation to our space and environment has always been intriguing to me. When meaningful discussions can come from art, I feel its beauty and relevance are revealed. I often feel a sense of pride of the stories I am able to tell and share through being an artist.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
I think because I started to create as child, and the notion that I am still creating today illustrates my goals of continuing, sharing, and thriving in my personal creative journey. From creating, to seeing and watching, and through my love of art, my mission has always been to provide harmony and balance in art. Knowing the importance of the arts and how it can change the outcome of one’s self, and the importance of this to the greater world, and how we see drives this journey as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://emmanuelgillespie.com/
- Instagram: @emmanuelgillespie2525
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmanuel-gillespie-9a9bab70
Image Credits
Zoe Gillespie