Throughout high school, Urbana resident Eric Steffenson, born in 1951, demonstrated talent and skill beyond his years. Alongside Rob Fisher, a University professor in FAA, Steffenson prepared his high school art portfolio with aspirations of majoring in art at the University. He graduated a semester early from Urbana High School with a promising future in the arts ahead of him.
His life was cut short on the corner of Race and Michigan in Urbana when the car Steffenson was riding in was hit by a drunk driver. After ending up in the intensive care unit, Steffenson died several days later.
As recalled by 40 North executive director Kelly White, Eric won several awards for his incredible artwork, such as being a Hallmark Winner for The Scholastic Art Show.
“It really did help him and validated his work, and (he) knew that he was on a level to motivate him to continue with his art,” White said. “His artwork from high school was definitely beyond high school years, so he won a lot.”
Following Eric’s passing, his father, Dale Steffenson, approached 40 North, an organization representing the art community in Champaign County, and curated an art show established in 2010 featuring high school students’ art to honor Eric’s legacy.
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“What we found is when you’re an athlete you might get awards,” White said. “There’s academic awards, if you’re making good grades, but then it’s really nice if your choice of skill is art, to be able to be validated and rewarded for your artwork.”
The exhibition, with over 160 pieces of student artwork ranging from photo transfers, ceramics and watercolor to mixed media and earthenware, sits in the Illini Union Art Gallery through April 5.
For many students, including Trinity Everett, a junior at Judah Christian School, this gallery was their first time showcasing their art to others.
“I was excited because I’ve never drawn anything for an event, I just kind of draw for fun,” Everett said.
Everett made her art show debut with a piece titled “Dove,” inspired by her passion for animation. Everett only used colored pencils and completed this piece in two days.
Although the room was relatively quiet, the atmosphere in one corner of the gallery captured what this art show is all about, as Everett’s mother, Tamala Everett, celebrated her daughter’s work and shared the experience with Trinity Everett’s grandmother over the phone.
“It just makes my heart feel good that she’s so passionate about something she has a talent for,” Tamala Everett said. “This is making me feel like all the hard work is not for nothing.”
Although “The Eric Show” is a juried art show, Tamala Everett sees this as an opportunity for students to showcase their passions and talents.
None of these students ever got to meet Eric Steffenson. These opportunities and his story continue to inspire the young art community and 40 North, even 56 years after his death.
“I would have loved to have met him and just talk to him, find out more, because his artwork was pretty fascinating,” White said.
Dale Steffenson knew how impactful Eric Steffenson’s participation and experience in art shows were to his development as an artist. After Eric Steffenson’s passing, he hoped “The Eric Show” would help not only fill the void the death of their son left but also contribute to the lack of local preliminary art contests for young artists in the area.
“I think they felt like that was the best way to then provide that experience for other high school artists — to be able to show their work like that and celebrate them and let the community see how talented they are, because they knew what it did for him,” White said.
The gallery showcased an array of art pieces, but there were some innovations that set this year’s show apart.
White recalled a piece titled “On Display” by Ashton Hetherington, a senior at the University of Illinois Laboratory High School. According to White, what made this piece stand out was not only the skill set displayed through the acrylic but also the complex use of embroidery on canvas. This art piece won the Best in Show award at this year’s show.
“I was profoundly impacted not only because of the meaning behind it, because I believe she was feeling judged and transparent, so she kind of almost made her body kind of see-through,” White said. “I would be proud to make that now as someone of my age. So the fact that a high school kid not only has that skill set, but came up with that concept and made all those little decisions, I was beyond impressed by that piece.”
Every year, 40 North showcases how Eric Steffenson has inspired not only young, talented artists to create and flourish within the art community, but also adults who see how art shows can inspire young artists and push them towards that next step.
“Validation in art is so critical, and it could be a very scary thing to create a piece of art and display it for anyone to look at,” White said. “When it’s accepted, when it’s celebrated, when it’s validated, that is such a huge element to creating art, it’s letting people see it and then knowing that people love it.”
So, 40 North puts on many galleries and events throughout the year. Despite working on other projects, White said “The Eric Show” is particularly special to her because of the impact she’s seen this have on the younger generation.
Every year, “The Eric Show” welcomes new and returning students with a passion for art. The art that decorates the Illini Union Art Gallery changes, but White believes that, aside from these artists being talented, they also show bravery. Displaying their art can be intimidating and vulnerable, especially if it’s being done for the first time.
“Just to thank them for the bravery of even creating art, number one, and having it displayed for the first time, because I do think if you’ve never done it before, it is a very interesting experience,” White said. “Especially if it’s a piece that you really worked hard on or you might think you’re revealing something about yourself. It’s really almost like hanging a piece of you on the wall.”
