Interdisciplinary designer recognized with 3Arts Award
Eric Hotchkiss is an interdisciplinary designer, engineer, and educator. He is one of 10 artists who have received the 3Arts Award. Photo provided by 3Arts.
Eric Hotchkiss grew up making things, letting his imagination help him create items like toys and buggies. It led to him getting a degree in engineering and moving into industrial design. Hotchkiss attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and studied design. He always wanted to do more artistic design.
Hotchkiss, an Englewood native, is one of 10 new recipients of the 2023 3Arts Awards. 3Arts is a nonprofit grantmaking organization which has supported more than 2,000 artists since it was founded. The recognition comes with $30,000 in unrestricted funds. The goal of providing the support is that over time, the artists who are recognized will build momentum in their careers.
Hotchkiss also considers the intentionality behind design. The way he designs for the masses was different than the way he saw people use things. He felt his work had a much more personal connection to his neighborhood. In 2018, Hotchkiss co-designed the Douglass 18 Project, which was a community-led, youth-designed initiative that included a conservation-themed mini golf course in North Lawndale.
Hotchkiss founded Made in Englewood, with a partner, because he wanted to make things that were relevant to the community and as a way to pay homage to the trade schools that were in Englewood at one time.
The funding from the grant will take some of the stress off Hotchkiss. Whenever he designs or makes things with his community, he always pays people. In running a business, there is stress and tension, because while he knows there are things the neighborhood wants, he also has to consider projects that will make money.
“This allows me a little bit of flexibility to be a little bit more experimental with what we do,” Hotchkiss said.
Hotchkiss is the Englewood INVEST South/West Artist-in-Residence. He is creating a mural that will be on the Go Green Fresh Market, which is located at 1207 W. 63rd St. He also is creating seating for the Englewood POP! Plaza. The hope is that the mural will be completed in the Spring of 2024.
Another project Hotchkiss is working on are power stations. He wanted to create monuments to the people who live in Englewood. The totems which will include images and faces that will be interactive and provide solar-powered energy. The hope is that the totems will be completed in Summer of 2024.
Hotchkiss was awarded a vacant lot by the Resident Association of Greater Englewood (RAGE) and the Cook County Land Bank in 2022. He wants to create an outdoor kitchen space, which will feature grills and cooking methods that are unique to the African Diaspora. He also wants it to a beautiful engagement space in Englewood.
“I’m really excited to start on some of these larger initiatives in the neighborhood,” Hotchkiss said.
On Nov. 13th, 3Arts will host the celebration for the awards at the Harris Theater, located at 205 E. Randolph St.
For more information about 3Arts, visit www.3arts.org. For more information about Made in Englewood, visit www.madeinengelwood.com.
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