Charles Herndon went to Western Reserve University, taking classes like jurisprudence in action and geology, a lifelong passion, and graduated in '68 with a degree in art history. He was also a full-time student at the Cleveland Institute of Art, where he spent six years, the last three doing graduate work in art history in conjunction with The Cleveland Museum of Art. From '71 to ’73, Charles did graduate work at Syracuse University and received an MFA. He taught classes in drawing, design, and foundry.
In ‘73, Charles started a 34-year career at the Columbus College of Art and Design. He taught drawing and sculpture. He ran the Sculpture and Dimensional Studies Departments until a few years before he retired.
Charles also taught the senior thesis class, preparing students for grad school or for being artists in the world. They prepared portfolios and wrote thesis papers. Charles read each paper thoroughly, thousands of them. Charles believes, “If you can write and talk about your work, you think more about your work, and it then gains in sophistication.” Charles built a studio in 1980 and galleries in 1998 and 2002 on Kelleys Island.
He retired from CCAD in 2007 but continues to run a Sculpture Gallery and Gardens on Kelleys Island. Charles has missed his contact with an art community and students, young and evolving ideas. Herndon welcomes students to the gallery to visit or work.
