“Surround a thought with a pencil,” Eugene Hoffman said. It has been with me since the fall of 1990, my freshman year of college at the University of Northern Colorado. Gene was full of inspirational words. He was not one to let a student fly under the radar, either you participated or you simply didn’t show up. If you showed up you didn’t want to disappoint him, you wanted to impress and that was not easy because he’d seen it all.
For Gene’s graphic design class we were required to order a subscription to Communication Arts. Like the pages of Rolling Stone in high school, I read and re-read each and every article of Communication Arts, turning each thick, white page with anticipation of the inspirational image I might find on the next page. I even ordered a back issue from 1988 in which my professor was featured. He was like a rock star to me… in plaid flannel and suspenders. Gene had really lived it – he was part of the history of graphic design, winning prestigious awards as an illustrator. He even earned a lifetime ski pass to all Colorado ski resorts by designing promotional posters back when the ski industry in Colorado was not doing well.
"Plastic Indian," 25" x 37" by Gene Hoffman as shown in Communication Arts Magazine, January/February 1988
Gene used found objects, paper, glue and cardboard to build amazing sculptures but also he offered perspective. Everything is art. You make it art. If you think about it, if you want to do it, make it happen. You are in control and are responsible for what you do. Nothing is impossible. Words are inspiration.
He said if you get stuck, make it fly, give it wings. “Time flies like an arrow, but horseflies like a stable,” Gene said. Look at things from a different perspective and a solution will come to you. Based on perspective, there are infinite solutions to the same problem. Some of his favorite words were “sycophant”, and “obsequious.” Because of the way they felt rolling off the tongue and the images and feeling they produced in their simple syllables (after you looked them up in the dictionary). Words and images evoke feeling, memories, ideas. They are the tools we use as designers to make products fly off the shelves, to connect everyday people to a brand.
In 2004, working at Citizen Printing in Fort Collins, Colorado, I ran into Gene at the front counter. He was having a show at a gallery in Loveland and needed posters. I don’t know if he really remembered me out of all of the students he had over the years but he took time to talk and was truly interested on how my life had been and where I wanted it to go. In school, Gene had said, “Be careful how you choose your hat because your hat is you.” I had chosen my hat well, it fit me and I loved wearing it every day. The opening of his show on October 16 went as I expected. Surrounded by his works of art, Gene was talking energetically to visitors, telling stories as only he could. Sadly, he passed away a few short months later on February 24, 2005. He made such an impact on so many. Thank you Gene, for your words and inspiration.
Hi Tara,
Sometimes when I’m particularly missing Gene, I google him to see what comes up… and this time your sweet tribute to him here floated up. I so enjoyed reading this and about your business. Gene would be so proud of you! You look really familiar to me – so, of course Gene would have remembered you.
I was married to Gene for 25 years. He cared so much about his students, and yep, took it personally when folks were not engaged. And when students were engaged, he was very devoted. I’m still in touch with a number of his former students.
At some point, I’d like to find a home for Gene’s art. After he passed away in 2005 there a few more exhibits of his work – bur really, it would be wonderful for more people to get to experience it.
A project that I’ve been trying to get to is to establish a website so that people can see Gene’s art. A lot of the professional photos of Gene’s exist as film transparencies, which I’m hoping – soon – to have digitized. I mention this because I wonder if you might be interested in working on, or collaborating on, a website design for Gene. A couple of other former students (Ann Martinez, in particular) have expressed interest, too. I don’t know what kinds of costs I’m looking at, but would like to start exploring this.
So… whether you might want to chat more or about this, or not, it was such a treat to run across your sweet tribute to our Eugene!
Cheers and congratulations to you and your successful business!
Sue Tungate
Hi Sue,
I’m another of the legions of Gene Hoffman admirers. I’d love to talk to you about his work and what will happen to it.
Best,
Bill Starke
Sue & All, I am so happy to finally be able to track something for Gene Hoffman. I come from a slightly different perspective, I was not a student of his. I spent a couple of years with him as a friend. I was a bartender in Denver when I first met Gene, what a wonderful person he was and all the conversations we would have during that time. Actually it was him talking and me listening. He also became friends with my girlfriend at that time who then became my wife. We will forever have a remembrance of Gene as it is hanging in front of me now. It is the wedding present he gave to my wife, Gail and myself. It will live forever and Gene will live forever with me.
Ned Peterson
Springfield, PA
I am an Ebay seller and have come across a piece or art by Mr.Hoffman at a thrift store of all places. I will be putting it up on Ebay soon. I have read a bit about Mr. Hoffman in researching the art and am very impressed by all the nice articles and comments. i can only hope I have a legacy like that.
Thanks,
Mike
Hello –
I was another of Gene’s students. If the project to photograph his work is still active, I would be happy to donate some time towards getting it accomplished. He was such an inspiration to me – I still have the card he gave me for my graduation.
Please let me know.
~Brandie
BEAUTIFUL and (in my experience–accurate) memory of Gene. I only worked with him for about a week as a student in a grad program at Syracuse, but he left a lasting impression. He seemed like a wonderful guy and a true Artist with a capital “A”.
Sue, If you should see this, I would also love to help make Gene’s work more “known”. Please contact me via my website or San Jose State University.
Lasting impression and got me on the right track, I haven’t looked at McDonald’s stir sticks the same ever since…what he could do with a army knife and a pepsi can…well, you all know…
It would be great if someone created a wikipedia page about Gene. I’d never met him but from everything I’ve read he was a truly inspirational and multi-talented artist. I suppose Sue would be an ideal person to do this or to at least supply the historical information.
Nice tribute. I graduated in the winter of 1989 with his wife (who I had no idea was graduating the same semester as I was) who I met on the floor of the Hall in UNC during graduation. That was the last time we all talked unfortunately. My degree was Art with a Graphics emphasis so he factored into a lot of my classes and was a mentor of the highest degree. He designed the logo to Keystone Resorts if I’m not mistaken and had a lifetime pass which was transferable to the family.
I was a student of Gene’s from 91 to 96? I think I had taken nearly all of the Graphic Arts classes. He was truly inspirational and very interested in his students. What a wonderful man. I have used many, many times his “free association” technique which bailed me out of many sticky situations. I never finished my degree but was able to apply my education to various artistic aspects after UNC and Gene. He was a fine man and he spoke of Sue in class. I will always be forever grateful to Gene Hoffman and the artistic energy that he poured into the classroom.