When Casey Eskridge attended Herron in the mid-1990s he majored in sculpture. He developed his talent and skill, learned the history of his art form, paid attention to the contemporary work emerging at the time, attended lectures by his accomplished professors and visiting artists, and pushed himself. Since graduating from Herron Casey has established a successful career as a productive studio artist.

Among the artists Casey Eskridge learned about while at Herron was nationally recognized contemporary sculpture and painter Audrey Flack.

Less than a decade later Casey found himself in Flack’s company—literally and professionally—when both artists were finalists for sculpture commissions at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, Tennessee. They each received one of four commissions, along with Marton Varo and Ray Kaskey, from among 150 proposals.

In short, Casey Eskridge’s work rose to international prominence.

Eskridge says he was in awe when he realized who some of his competitors were, including Kaskey, who created the architectural sculptures for the massive National World War II Memorial on the Mall in Washington DC, and Flack, known for her extraordinary photo realism and who Casey had started to admire while he was at Herron.

“It was a moment of self-actualization to be included on the same stage with these world renowned sculptors,” Casey recalls. “In the opening statements of the orientation presentation, the architect explained that the project goal was to build the best concert hall in the world and they were confident that the artists selected were the best figurative sculptors in the world.”

“The planners were interested in representational art, and they expressed an interest in mythological concepts. I was inspired by the passion expressed by both the architect and the people associated with the symphony. I first had an image of the Birth of Apollo design during this initial meeting. It was one of those rare moments when you know something is destined to happen.”

Today The Birth of Apollo reaches skyward in strong, graceful bronze from the center of a fountain outside the symphony center while Casey Eskridge works on a number of projects, including his extensive series of sculptured portrait heads of newborn infants modeled in wax, which he has created from his visits with women and infants at the Salvation Army Women’s and Children’s shelter in his home city of Philadelphia.

Some people think college is a single romantic moment in time, but an art and design school works best not when students exist in some academic holding pattern in anticipation of post-graduation life, but when faculty artists, designers, visiting artists and scholars, and students all interact in ways that truly initiate a life in the arts—from day one.