A few pieces are part of the Blanden’s permanent collection. Much of it is his own, and for visitors who sit down for a chat, the front of his desk is a gallery dedicated to displaying the work of his children.

The “Eric’s Office Gallery” is a bonus for him.

“I get to surround myself with art work all day long,” he said.

Anderson joined the Blanden in September 2014. He was initially hired as their educator but quickly ended up working with Jim Volmer, then the City of Fort Dodge’s human resource director, to run the museum after former director Margaret Skove left the position suddenly.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Eric Anderson, director of the Blanden Memorial Art Museum takes a measurement while getting started on hanging a collection of Richard Black’s works in the east gallery.

“I was dropped in with both my feet running,” he said.

When Volmer left, Anderson was named interim director.

“I was doing everything I was doing before, but now it was with the title,” he said.

In March 2015, the board officially hired Anderson as the museum’s director. He celebrated the event by attaching something new to his office door.

“That’s when I went out and got my name plate and put it on the door,” he said.

Originally trained as an educator and having worked mostly in teaching positions, Anderson quickly adapted to his job.

“It’s been an interesting journey through the world of museums,” he said.

Anderson grew up in Estherville. He’s attended several colleges, including Mankato State, Drake University and the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. He holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts and painting and a master’s degree from UNL.

He enjoyed his college years — well, mostly.

When he was working on his master’s, he had to help teach.

“They get free labor for two years,” he said. “You get to teach a class — Art 101 to non-art majors.”

Anderson’s own work during his college years was a mix of mediums.

“I call myself a painter, but I’m more of a mixed media artist,” he said. “I dabbled in many areas; I was constantly cutting things, gluing things. I understood gluing.”

He’s pretty sure a career as a working artist wasn’t in his future.

“You need a huge ego, and you have to be self-centered, which I’m not. I love talking to people.” he said.

Anderson has several goals for the Blanden.

“I want it to continue to grow its connection to the community,” he said. “I want to make the citizens of Fort Dodge and the area more aware of what’s here. Many people know of the Blanden, but they may not know what we have. It’s about connecting and getting people active in the museum and becoming active participants.”

He wants to include Fort Dodge, as well as area artists, in that growth.

“My vision is for the Blanden to become a central Iowa art resource,” he said. “We want to be the hub of the creative wheel. We want artists to feel there’s a home for them here. We want to create a community of living artists within the state of Iowa.”

He admits that may take a while, but a while, he has.

“I’m in it for the long haul,” he said. “I’ve set up roots. I have a home here; my family is here. We’ve invested in Fort Dodge. We’re invested in the museum.”

He said that in the past, one of the things the Blanden lacked was consistent long-term leadership. Typically, directors would seldomly stay five or six years before moving on.

His job won’t be available for some time.

“We need a consistent leader to drive the mission forward,” he said. “I’ll be here in 30 years till you guys kick me out.”

Anderson said that making visitors feel welcome is an important part of the Blanden mission and his own work.

“We try to create the most welcome environment; we try to help them feel at home,” he said.

For those who might be a little intimidated by the art, Anderson is there to help.

“Don’t be afraid to ask us,” he said. “Part of our job is to talk with you. We both learn; we both experience something new.”

One of the events held monthly at the Blanden is a poetry reading.

“I used to read out of Charles Blanden’s books of poetry to honor his passion for the written arts,” he said.

That experience led Anderson to explore the medium himself.

“I thought,” he said. “I want to do my own. So I started sharing my own poetry about the art we have up.”

Anderson is married. His wife Rita is a fifth-grade teacher at St. Edmond Catholic School. They have four children ages 1 to 8 — three girls and one boy.

“They keep me busy,” he said.

The gallery of his children’s art work displayed on his desk is mostly from one of his children, Cora.

She got an early exposure to art.

“When we lived in Ames, I had built her a table and an easel,” he said. “She would come join me in the basement.”

Eric Anderson

Known for: Director of the Blanden Memorial Art Museum, responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Blanden, as well as long term goals and direction.

Hometown: Estherville

Fun Fact: Anderson won two gag awards from an instructor while working on his master’s degree at the University of Nebraska Lincoln — “Grad Student Least Likely to be Found in his own Studio” and the “Messy Studio” awards. “I still have at least one of them,” he said.

Guardians

By Eric Anderson

A reflection on works by Daniel Rhodes

Standing quite stillness

Heavenly tears wash down

Earth, mud and Divinities own breath

Forged in spirit and stress

The guardians left to rest

No eyes, no ears, no tongue,

No gasp for air

Marking a moment

Secured in time

Earthen creations

Eternally pausing

Become keepers of secrets

Whispering in air

Far from home

Yet in comfort they wait

Surrounded by quite ambient force

Sentinels of longing

Of the touch of the maker’s hand

Guardians of time.

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