Joe Erdman: Steward for the Arts

Last night at The Rotunda, the University of Virginia honored Joe Erdman with a moving tribute and the unveiling of his photographic portrait. The event, held in the presence of UVA President Jim Ryan and Vice Provost Jody Kielbasa, celebrated Joe’s unwavering commitment to the arts across the University and beyond. As co-trustee of the Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation, Joe Erdman has been a steadfast supporter of our work at Heritage Film Project. His generosity has helped bring to life films such as Black Fiddlers, Daniel Chester French: American Sculptor, and most recently, The Piccirilli Factor. His impact, however, extends far beyond our documentary efforts. Joe’s deep engagement with the arts has helped make possible vital initiatives at UVA including the Virginia Theatre Festival, The Fralin Museum of Art, the Charlottesville Symphony, and the Virginia Film Festival—where many of our films have premiered over the years. The Cornell Foundation, established through the estate of artist Joseph Cornell, has long championed cultural enrichment by supporting nonprofit artistic endeavors. Its reach includes institutions like the Metropolitan Opera and the Charlottesville Opera, which have likewise benefited from Joe’s thoughtful leadership.

Joe Erdman

Joe Erdman: Steward for the Arts

Erdman arrived at the University of Virginia on a cold winter day in 1953, one of a couple dozen mid-year transfer students. There was no orientation, no handholding, no welcoming ceremony. The kid from Brooklyn found himself in small-town Charlottesville at a prestigious—but still somewhat insular—Southern institution. Still, he knew he was in the right place. “This university—which I love—was a different cultural experience for me,” he once said. “It was an all-male school, coat and tie, traditional. And yet it was right because I loved history and politics. I was admitted to Dartmouth and Columbia, but I didn’t want to stay in New York, and Dartmouth wouldn’t take me until the fall. So here I was—bingo.” Erdman also loved the arts. His older brother had taken him to see the Broadway production of The Member of the Wedding, adapted from the Carson McCullers novel, in 1950. “I was mesmerized by the experience of being in a theater,” he recalled. At UVA, he attended productions by the Virginia Players, a student-run theater group that later became the Department of Drama. He also joined the Jefferson Society, the University’s oldest student-run organization, where he enjoyed the art of debate. He spent a long, hot summer in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, as part of an ROTC program—an experience made bearable by weekend escapes to Nashville. “Boy, I remember the streets in Nashville,” he said. “You’d go to one little music place after another. Those were the days where Elvis Presley would be playing in some club, and then you’d have Brenda Lee in another club, that kind of thing. It was an important stage for pop music, early rock, country music.” Last night’s tribute was more than fitting. It was a reminder that the arts don’t flourish without stewards—those who believe, quietly and persistently, in the transformative power of culture and community. Joe Erdman is one of them. And we’re all the better for it.

Referenced Notes: University News