We recently connected with Ernest Shaw and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Ernest, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I adopted my work ethic from my parents, primarily my dad. My father worked full/swing shift at the local steel mill. My brother and I would go on to work there as well. I would watch my dad leave for work on holidays, during bad weather, work doubles on weekends, and the environment was one of the most unsafe work environments in the world. But, my dad never missed work, not even when he was ill. My father would dedicate time to his family, church, and community even during work days. My dad also worked very hard to stay in shape by exercising, running, biking and playing sports with his three sons. My father worked braving the elements and hazards to provide for his family in inner city Baltimore.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I consider myself an artist-educator, not an art educator. There is a difference. I am an artist who has an art practice that informs his approach to being an educator. I never considered myself an art teacher, though there is nothing wrong with being an art teacher. For over two decades, I had, at minimum, two full time careers. They were related and informed each other but were separate and served different roles in my life. My work as an artist depicts aspects of the lived experiences of Afro-Diasporic people. I paint and draw people who can be defined as Black primarily. My subjects have historical and culture significance to the lived experiences of Afro-Diasporic people, or Black folk. I utilize that historical and cultural context in the classroom. The academic setting is where I seek to develop a de-colonial place and space for learning. It is in that space and place that art informs the cultural worldview of my students. It is with art and education that I highlight the humanity of my subjects and students.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three most impactful aspects and/or factors of my development are compassion, humility, self awareness/knowledge of self. I learned from my biological children and my students that leading with compassion fosters deeper understanding in all situations. Leading with compassion negates the influence of the ego and allows for consideration of multiple perspectives, which often expands knowledge. Humility also prevents the ego from stunting maturation and evolution to becoming a higher spiritual being. As an artist, it is sometimes hard not to compare your work and career with other artists. “Comparison is the thief of joy.” I believe Teddy Roosevelt said that. Knowledge of self/self awareness allows me to assess, or see, life as it actually is, not as I wish life to be. This clarity cultivates a sense of peace and assurance that I am on the correct path. I suspect that knowledge of self is the key to transforming knowledge into wisdom. My advise to young people is to always remain a student. Learning promotes humility, knowledge, and kindness. Keep studying, reading, researching…
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
There are several books that have assisted me on my journey. The first one to jumpstart my development is, The Autobiography of Malcolm X. This book illustrated one persons transformative process in a language that was very familiar to me. It was the first book I finished from cover to cover. My love for reading and quest for knowledge began with this book.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.eshawart.com/
- Instagram: @eshaw_art
