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East on Central
Judith MK Tepfer
The source of creative inspiration. What is it that inspires an artist to convert an
observed landscape into a painted canvas or to words into moving prose? Would
bringingvisualartistsandcreativewriterstogetherformutualinspirationgenerate
an enhanced dimension within their work? Such were the thoughts of Sumner
Garte, who was a VA Hospital therapist and a painter. He and four writers served
as the catalyst behind the creative exchange now known as East on Central.
Back in 2001 when Sumner Garte took early retirement from the VA Hospital, it was to devote more
time to his art and his ideas. As a member of the board of the Suburban Fine Arts Center in Highland
Park (now The Art Center), Sumner had a suggestion for a new program that would bring visual artists
and writers together for an experiment in mutual inspiration: how can cross-genre discussion within the
artistic community generate an enhanced dimension that artists could bring to their work?
Sumner’s inspiration was put on hold because, initially, the only people to respond to his call were
writers; apparently artists tend to see themselves as even more solitary in their work than do writers.
But four of us—Sandy Strauss, Emma Kowalenko, Judith Bernstein and I—met as a writers’ workshop
for a year while contemplating where to go from there. We all were aware of the difficulties in getting
work published. We all were interested in bringing the work of local writers to the community.
Recalling how we had been brought together, we asked Sumner to join us for a brainstorming session.
As an experiment, he brought one of his
paintings from which the rest of us could draw
Creation
inspiration.
by Judith Bernstein
Three poems and a short story were written
in response to Sumner’s painting entitled
Biting tongues
“Survivor,” a depiction of the Hancock Building
Crossing arms
rising from the ashes of the Great Chicago Fire.
Staring out into distant space
That painting and accompanying literature
How we concentrate
became the Creative Exchange section in a
When we create.
fledgling publication and the core concept for all
future editions: That every artist’s work can be
A dot of paint
enhanced by experiencing the art of others.
A swift sure line
That was the genesis of East on Central, a
Jotting down the perfect phrase
Journal of Arts and Letters from Highland Park,
Illinois. Our group reached out to the City of
What to do next
Highland Park for a modest grant; that was used
When we create.
to publicize and print the work of 39 local
artists and writers in a 64-page, black-and-white
The thrill of inspiration
paperback. And the title? The knowledge that at
The vision realized
one time in our city’s history, Central Avenue
Community appreciation
had been a one-way street heading east inspired
What we crave
Judith Bernstein, a former member of the board
When we create.
of the Highland Park Historical Society, to come
up with the title for the journal.
22
/ Holiday 2008
Judith also recruited Georgann Humphrey, a
professional graphic designer who has been the
creative mind behind the journal’s bold look and
impressive production values. Georgann has
designed all seven of the journals, in addition to
creating a new East on Central website,
www.eastoncentral.org. The board of East on
Central was completed with the addition of
local writer and screen-writing instructor Paul
Max Rubenstein and artist Sam Bernstein, who
serves as treasurer.
Over the years, East on Central has
expanded its list of artistic contributors, as well
as its database of supporters and its source of
grant funds. We are fortunate to have been the
recipient of grants from the Illinois Arts Council,
the City of Highland Park Cultural Arts
Commission, the Park District of Highland Park
and, most recently, the Highland Park
Community Foundation. While much of the
grant money is used for publication, some is
used for programs called “Creative Encounters,”
which take place several times a year. It is often
from these programs that we draw new
contributors and new creativity for the journal.
For example:
~ Don Meyer, a professor of music history at
Lake Forest College whose very personal
poetry and prose has been featured in more
than one East on Central, is also a composer.
He was invited to play an original piano
composition at one of our events, while
writers and artists listened and created original
pieces of their own, inspired by Don’s music.
~ James Krauss, chairman of the art
department at Oakton College, has come on
more than one occasion to hold a
“Constructive Critique,” where visual artists
bring their work to receive the benefit of his
expertise. His comments are presented in a
very positive manner and are always well
received.
~ Ina Beierle, on the staff of The Art Center,
assembled a still life to which artists and
writers responded. The resulting pieces,
which included poetry (see left), prose,
photography and paintings (see right). All of
the pieces were published in the 2008-2009
journal as a Creative Exchange entitled
“Still Life as Inspiration.”