Ed Charney, Associate Professor of Art

As Edward Charney, associate professor of art and department chair, looks back on his life, three people stand out as personal inspirations.

“I was most inspired by my high school art teacher and both of my parents. They were extremely industrious people who never wasted time and found beauty in their world through the arts,” Charney said. “Their positive energy and willingness to try new modes of expression gave me inspiration and confidence in my own efforts and allowed me to experience a rich cultural mixture of human activities that are the cornerstone of my adult life.”

Students in Charney’s classes can attest to that cornerstone, having witnessed his appreciation and understanding of the creative process as well as his commitment to professional growth. Since joining the faculty in 2000, Charney has had his work exhibited in numerous galleries, including the Muse Gallery in Columbus, Ohio, Gallery 100 at Cape Girardeau, Mo., Union Street Gallery in Chicago Heights, Ill., Gallery Alexy in Philadelphia, Pa., and Chatahoochee Valley Art Museum in LaGrange, Ga., among others.

Yet, it’s inside the classroom, especially in the liberal arts setting at Wittenberg where so many academic interests are represented in his classes, that Charney feels most at home.

“Students bring their unique perspectives to the studio and classroom, and that diversity adds an interesting dimension to the learning experience,” Charney said. “I hope that my own students are able to take from my classes a passion and energy that stimulates their imaginations and creativity. I hope that they, my students, will learn that there are numerous paths to follow through their lives and that art can supply them with stimulating and interesting perspectives on our human enterprise.”