We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Caleb Kerkman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Caleb below.
Hi Caleb, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
A meaningful project of my recent career was a painting I made of two fishmongers I saw in Galway, Ireland. I attended the Burren College of Art for the spring semester of 2024. The school was located just south of Galway Bay. Every other weekend we would take the hour-long bus ride into the city to explore, restock on art supplies, and eat good food. There was a market set up in the morning every Saturday in the square selling ceramics, honey, knit goods, foods from all over the world, and fresh fish. These two charismatic fishmongers caught my eye. I asked them if I could take their photo and they were more than happy to show off their catch. Handling the fish, they moved with care and respect, letting the crowd see the details of the fish up close, stacks of meat, fish on ice, blood, and bone. The expressionless faces of the fish and everything else stood out to me. I thought about the men’s roles, towering over these fish and from life to death, then being prepared for their afterlife, to their last judgment before the fish reach their eternal destiny, which will most likely be next to some chips. This painting helped me investigate my internal narratives and showed me what knowledge can be learned through painting.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
In high school, I was convinced that college or any continuing education was not for me. However, I’ve always liked to make things, so when I had the opportunity to attend a college to make things, I thought I would give it a try. I am very fortunate to have found a place where I feel welcomed and supported to make whatever I want to make and challenged by my professors and peers to keep getting better. I am proud of the relationships I’ve built here at MCAD and the range of work I have produced. Looking back, I realize that taking that leap into college not only helped me develop my skills, but also showed me new perspectives, allowing me to grow both as an artist and as a person.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
A lesson I had to unlearn was to quit comparing myself to others. The first few semesters of college I found myself competing with everyone else in my classes in my head. I would worry less about making it the best I could for myself, and more about making it better than the next person. This led to joyless producing instead of fulfilling making. I learned that it was okay to compare my current work to my previous work. Also, progress is not linear and it is just as important to experiment and fail as it is to succeed. Embracing this mindset has allowed me to appreciate my own growth, rather than constantly measuring my worth against others.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
Whenever I tell someone I’m a painter I get one of two reactions. The first reaction I get from other painters or creatives is immediately talking about mediums, concepts, current projects, and future plans. The second reaction I get is they ask me if I sell my work, how I make money from painting, and what my long-term plan is for providing for myself. I don’t think a lot of people understand what it means to be a painter. They have this idea that painters want to paint just to make money and have this grand vision of the multi-million Picasso painting or the incredibly famous and political Warhol. That’s just not how it works, at least for me. For me, painting is about personal expression and the process of discovery, not just the end product or how much I can sell it for—it’s a passion that exists beyond financial success.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @may.contain.cadmium
