Good Luck, Eva Hunter!

For years, Eva Hunter has been one of Central New York's most recognizable artistic voices: Painter, teacher, mentor, and champion of creative vulnerability. Now, after building deep roots in Syracuse's art community, she's preparing for a new chapter in Southern Ohio!

 

The decision wasn't an easy one.

 

"This past winter reminded my husband and I that we've always said we wanted to live someplace with milder winters," Hunter says. "We considered staying and riding it out because climate change may eventually create the exact weather we're looking for. Imagine a subtropical Syracuse!" she laughs.

 

Behind the humor was a difficult choice. "We struggled with the decision. We have great friends here and strong connections in the art community. It's been an agonizing decision."

 

While her address may change, the landscapes that have shaped her work will always travel with her.

 

"The natural beauty that surrounds us has always lived in my art," she says. "Quiet places near the water, or deep in the woods where I can listen to the trees sing are the places that have nurtured my art and soul."

 

She's also taking something far more personal than canvases and paint.

 

"Once upon a long time ago, I found a blue marbled 'hag stone' in a dried riverbed. It called to me and showed me how to see hidden things. It's coming with me, and I'm excited to see what it shows me next."

 

Asked what she'd say if Syracuse were sitting across from her, Hunter's answer feels like a love letter.

 

"Oh, Syracuse, you beautiful, misunderstood lady. Thank you for the weird and wonderful. Thank you for the artists and the art lovers that are nourished, loved, and embraced by you."

 

As for what she's leaving behind?

 

"Goodbye to the naysayers."

 

Hunter isn't looking to reinvent herself in a new city. Instead, she's embracing the excitement of discovery.

 

"I kinda like who I am and the art I create," she says. "I'll always be ready to experiment and try new things. I'm curious about the local art scene and where I'll find new connections."

 

Becoming "the new artist in town" again is both exhilarating and intimidating.

 

"Seeing the reaction to my art as I make new connections and put myself out there is both exciting and terrifying," she says. "Maybe there's something liberating about starting over because my skill has developed over the years. My new peeps won't have to suffer through all the old mistakes."

 

For the countless students she's taught over the years (including here at The Art Store) Hunter hopes her greatest legacy isn't a painting hanging on a wall, but a lesson carried forward.

 

"I hope all my students remember never to fear their ideas, to experiment and try something different, and to allow their vulnerability to inform their art...not prevent it."

 

Her definition of home has evolved, too.

 

"Being comfortable in my own skin, acceptance, and giving myself permission to be me- that is home. My family and their love and support is home."

 

She also believes artists never truly leave the places they've loved.

 

"I like to believe that I belong to Syracuse and to the places where my art is hung: galleries, private homes, and beyond."

 

Looking back, Hunter says one of Syracuse's greatest strengths has always been its people.

 

"The cultural diversity of the people that call Syracuse home has always impressed me. It's a hidden gem that many don't realize we have. Our differences are rich in opportunities to grow and learn, to embrace and love, to belong and to share."

 

When she imagines where Syracuse is going, and what it might look like 5 years from now, she has hope:

 

"I hope with all my heart that the growth and support of artists continues—that there are more galleries, more artisan markets and shops. I hope more people flock to the city to shop, live, and nurture one another."

 

Finally, when asked to distill her Syracuse journey into a single work of art she'd never actually create, Hunter didn't hesitate.

 

Its title would be:

It feels like a fitting farewell. It's not an ending, but the next brushstroke in an artist's story.

 

Thank you, Eva- for helping so many of us find OUR voices! Good luck on your new adventure!  

 

XOXOXOX,

Your Friendly Neighborhood Art Store 

 

Follow Eva On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ehunterartist

Follow Eva On Instagram: @evahunterart 

Eva's Website: https://evahunterart.com/