Gene Hatfield: A Lifetime of Distinction, Achievement, and Emeritus was on display from July 24 – August 25. The show featured sculptures and paintings from throughout Conway artist, UCA alumnus and UCA Department of Art Professor Emeritus Gene Hatfield’s life, with dates ranging from 1946 to 2000. A closing reception was held Friday, August 25, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm.
Gene Hatfield, UCA Department of Art Professor Emeritus, created a large collection of multi-media collages, paintings, and sculptures. Gene incorporated aspects of surrealism and folk art into his unique sculptures, made from discarded objects and found materials. Old hubcaps, gears, sewing machines, farm implements, and other machine pieces would turn into figures with different personalities and aesthetics. These sculptures weren’t just for fun. Much of Gene’s work made a statement about his feelings toward the wastefulness of contemporary society. Several of these pieces are registered with the Smithsonian Institution’s Save Outdoor Sculpture program, continually adding value to the art community.
Gene visited Europe frequently throughout his teaching career. He studied with Henri Goetz in Fontainebleau, France; with Leo Marchutz in Aix-en-Provence; and at the Fuller Art Studio of Saint Ives, England.
The French countryside inspired Gene’s artwork, as did the picturesque streets of Paris. He created hundreds of beautiful paintings on location, capturing the essence of the light, space and time around him.
Gene was awarded medals in French art competitions, and some of his work hangs in the Musée d’Art Le Touquet, as well as with local collectors.
Early Life
Gene was born November 23, 1925, in Conway. Growing up during the Depression, Gene had to learn to be frugal. He also learned to see beauty in clutter from his grandmother whose yard was known as a “treasure chest of junk.”
In November 1943, at age 18, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. Gene was injured on April 22, 1945, while fighting in Germany. The muscles under his left eye were severed when he was struck by shrapnel from an anti-tank grenade. Already a professed artist, he was afraid he would lose his sight, but an army surgeon in England saved his vision and his life.
Gene was honorably discharged from the Army, having received a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star, and a Medal of Meritorious Service. He earned a BSE from Arkansas State Teachers College, (now the University of Central Arkansas) in 1947. In 1948, he earned his Master of Art Education from Colorado State College, (now, the University of Northern Colorado) in Greeley, CO. He then returned to Conway to teach at ASTC, (UCA). Spanning both the art and theatre departments, Gene taught Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Crafts, Design, Art History, Art Appreciation, and Stagecraft until he retired in 1985.
Family Life
In October, 1956, Gene met Nicole Wable, a native of Montreuil-sur-mer, France, while she was visiting friends at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. They were married August 17, 1957 in Nicole’s hometown. After their wedding, Gene and Nicole lived in Conway where Nicole became a professor of foreign language at UCA. They had three children, Hadrian, Marc, and Mathilda.
Late Life
Gene Hatfield was named Professor Emeritus by UCA in 1995.
He received the Arkansas Arts Council 2010 Governor’s Award for Lifetime Achievement, and in 2013 was featured by AETN in their documentary series: Arkansas Men and Women of Distinction.
Hatfield’s art is represented in public and private collections in France; England; Washington DC; New York City; Little Rock, and Conway. He has donated a large body of his own work and works by other artists to the University of Central Arkansas Foundation.
Gene Hatfield died February 18, 2017. It is estimated Gene created over two thousand pieces of art, much of which was ephemeral and temporary by nature. But what remains of his life’s work is enjoyed by those who knew and loved the man as much as his artwork.