The Freedom of Love & Art

ERIC LACHANCE

Eric grew up in a multigenerational household in Miami and Tallahassee, as an only child with both his parents and Cuban immigrant grandparents. His father went away to law school at Florida State University, but he and his mother remained in Miami. There he was free to explore, be free, and be creative. Though an only child, he did have the companionship of a young aunt and cousin to keep him company. As such, he had a lot of attention and love showered on him and his “rambunctiousness” was considered charming. 

Eric has always been a writer, beginning in middle school and throughout college at Florida Atlantic University where he studied British literature. One of his middle school teachers, Mrs. Desjarlais was a major influence on Eric’s love of the written word. He still remembers that her love of literature and writing sparked his interest. 

Creativity runs in the family. His mother was a photographer, created pottery, and was a penciler.  Eric shared a sweet story where he disassembled one of his mother’s cameras (a graduation gift), and that is when she knew that the tinkerer gene had been passed down. One of his earliest pieces is pottery built from clay that he collected from Tom Brown Park in his Happy Meal Boo Bucket/space shuttle. 

His father was a trumpet player and vocalist. Eric grew up with his dad playing in a college band. His paternal grandfather played the accordion, and his uncles also played instruments.  And his grandfather, Israel Ramos, was a wrought iron metal worker and tinkerer.

I just read somewhere that giving a child access to a library of books at home can increase their reading levels by a year or more. It makes me wonder how exposing your child to different arts practices advances them in their craft. After hearing about Eric’s and Cole’s upbringings, it makes me think: growing up in those kinds of creative atmospheres leaves no surprise that both men have grown into such strong members of their respective arts communities.

Eric was one year behind Cole in high school and knew of the upperclassman due to Cole bringing the Word-of-the-Day message each day on the Gator News Network (GNN). Eric and Cole formally met in 2007 at a friend’s (shout out to you, Sarah Ludwig!) Ro-Bat Mitzvah (you have to ask them! LOL!). No more time was wasted. Cole became immediately smitten, and things progressed quickly.   

With Cole’s encouragement and prompting, Eric participated in and explored the creative community around their community college. Per Cole, “It might have been a short-lived experience, but it burned bright.” They both had the opportunity to work with an amazing family – The Ludwigs (Dad – fine art restorer and conservator, Mom – commercial artist, and Sarah – Cupid).

While Cole headed to Miami, Eric decided to pursue an English degree at FAU (North Campus), closer to home, impressed by their renowned program and faculty like Roxane Gay.  This may be where the pattern of Cole and Eric being able to love each other with open hearts began.  Both of these men being independent and secure has allowed for a beautiful 20+ year relationship. Cole thinks that probably contributes to the freedom that they allow each other with time and space. He attributes that to one factor of their longevity.  They also agreed that the space to fulfill dreams was modeled by their respective parents. So, going to different colleges and taking jobs where they would only be able to see each other on weekends was something they both accepted to make their relationship work. 

Eric’s multifaceted career has been shaped by a wide range of creative and professional experiences.  He served as a personal assistant to Alice Ludwig, gaining valuable organizational and interpersonal experience.  His early involvement in the arts began as a gallery assistant at PBSC, where he also explored experimental photography during college. He further honed his design skills as a graphic artist for various other college departments. Eric spent several years at the Kravis Performing Arts Center, working first as a valet runner for four years, and eventually advancing to the role of captain.

When Cole was offered a job in Sumter, South Carolina, to take a position at the Sumter County Gallery of Art as Curator and Assistant Director, Eric pursued entrepreneurial ventures, running an eBay store and collaborating with Barry on a YouTube video series that included a game show channel and a celebrity face morph project. And, as Cole’s unofficial assistant, he helped mount and de-install exhibitions, pick up and drop off art, as well as patch and paint walls – all of the above being less glamorous sides of the business of art.

Fast forward to 2022, when Cole had decided that he wanted to move back to Florida to be closer to family. Eric was invited to apply for the Curator position in Sumter by the Executive Director. The thought was that no one else would know the intricacies of the position quite as well as Eric, since he had literally been by the last Curator’s side most of the time and had a bevy of experience of his own. It was an unexpected opportunity, but one that has opened many more doors since.

Most recently, Eric was selected as a guest curator for ArtFields and served as a judge for their En Plein Air contest. His leadership and artistic talents also found a home at the Sumter Little Theatre, where he worked as a director, set designer, and actor.  

His tenure at SCGA continues the tradition of bringing rich and thought-provoking shows to the gallery. Shows like: TAYSK, Christopher Lane – Circle of Life, Roni Henderson – Solace, and Jerry Siegel – Rooted in Place: Images from the Black Belt, just to name a few.

GARDNER COLE MILLER

Cole, also an only child, grew up on a Naval base in the Bahamas, with parents who were DoD contractors. He spent a lot of time on his own, wandering and exploring his one-square-mile, sailor-protected domain.  He used that time canvassing all the available terrain – from beach to forest, in the company of neighborhood dogs at times (yes, this story needs to be written and made into the next streaming series).

At home, Dad was a mechanic and tinkerer, teaching Cole the difference between a wrench and a ratchet, while his Mom was always in the middle of a project. As a creative and a quilter, she stayed busy every weekend gardening, canning, painting headboards, or making halloween costumes. 

Cole shared a delightful story of how the Base community would come together annually to convert the nature trail that ran through the local woods into a haunted experience, where people could ride through on golf carts. When looking back, Cole can see that those jack-o-lanterns and decorations probably influenced his love of installations and providing immersive experiences through his art. 

Cole moved to the States when he was about 13 years old. During that tender time of adolescence, he was uprooted from the Base and replanted in Florida. He describes the arts as a refuge for him when bullying and feeling out of place as a queer person became his new reality. He was allowed, if not encouraged to “do your own thing” within his peers of ‘othered’ or outcasts.  

Coming from the Bahamas where there was no K-Mart or Mall, there was a culture of making what you needed – from clothes to curtains. Once he touched down back in the States, he was told that was an artform. Not only that, but also all of the other skills that he previously took for granted as a necessity.  External identification and validation came with that – Cole was an artist, and a good one, at a time when he was vulnerable. He gives thanks to the educators who cultivated his talent and encouraged him to continue to explore and experiment.

Always aspiring to teach, Cole selected Florida International University for its research focus and notable faculty, not to mention the school being in a cultural hub that reminded him of his hometown. Once in the program, he was convinced that visual art was calling to him and committed himself to a career of guiding students into their purpose and careers as artists. 

Cole confessed that he was under the misconception that someone had to be ‘the best-of-the-best’ to be an art major in their post-secondary experience. After experiencing the reality of college, he knows better. And with that knowledge, he is a better educator for his students. 

Cole’s parents were always super supportive, but they were concerned with the practicality of being an artist.  However, after Cole was awarded some scholarships following positive critiques, exhibitions, and selling some work, they saw the viability. 

Fast forward to Cole, after finishing grad school and while working both as an adjunct professor and in art restoration, he applied to the Sumter County Gallery of Art. He had visited South Carolina a couple of times and loved how communities in South Carolina were close-knit. It also reminded him of his time in the Bahamas. After much research, he appreciated the Gallery’s exhibition record and how deep and diverse their past artist roster was. When the job was offered, he happily accepted. 

With many notable exhibitions, including Norman Rockwell: American Chronicles,  The Supper Table, and Maria Britton’s Dream Bodies, as well as two of my personal favorites, Carolita Cantrell – Spirited Vision and Shanequa Gay – I Come As Us, Cole definitely added to the heritage of bringing great talent experiences to the region. 

After the unexpected loss of his father in 2015 and the deep reckoning brought on by the pandemic (the reality that his aging mother and grandmother lived more than eight hours away) became impossible to ignore. In 2022, he decided to return to Florida. Since then, he has served as an adjunct professor at Broward College and was recently appointed Director of their gallery of art.

What a special experience, not only be able to share a love for art, but to have your life partner mentor you in such a position. Eric, following Cole as the curator at the Sumter County Gallery of Art ensured that the position Cole helped cultivate would continue to bring amazing art to Sumter and to treat artists amazingly after his departure.  That is the story of Cole and Eric.

Follow the Sumter County Gallery of Art to see Eric’s curatorial journey continue to unfold.

Follow Cole’s website to keep up with all that he is doing in the world of art.

And, if you are in South Carolina, come see both artists showing in Columbia at RocBottom Studios the entire month of August.