Abstract
In this 2025 interview, artist, educator, and community advocate Mr. Edward E. Parker discusses his move to Cleveland in the 1960s and the experiences that shaped his parallel work as an artist and entrepreneur. He reflects on purchasing and developing the Edward E. Parker Creative Arts Complex in East Cleveland, detailing the classes offered, his mentorship of young artists, and the evolution of his sculptural work. The interview also explores his travels to Africa, his major artistic themes, and the placement of his work in museums and cultural institutions.
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Interviewee
Parker, Edward (interviewee)
Interviewer
Mays, Nicholas S. (interviewer)
Project
East Cleveland
Date
10-9-2025
Document Type
Oral History
Duration
49 minutes
Recommended Citation
"Edward Parker interview, 09 October 2025" (2025). Cleveland Regional Oral History Collection. Interview 757003.
https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/crohc000/1403
Transcript
Nick Mays [00:00:01] Okay, Mr. Parker, can I have your attention? The interview is starting. I am super excited to be here with you, sir. All right, so I have a statement I’ll start with. My name is Dr. Nicholas Mays, and today is September 16, 2025. We are at the Edward E. Parker Creative Arts Complex in East Cleveland conducting and an official oral history interview. [00:00:29] For the East Cleveland Oral History Project, I am joined by Mr. Edward E. Parker, artist, educator, community advocate and founder of this arts complex. This interview will become part of our Historical Archive initiative to preserve the stories and contributions of past and present East Clevelanders. It will also serve as a historical source that will inform the production of a scholarly historical article and digital documentary. [00:01:08] Okay, let’s start off by asking you, Mr. Parker, what is your name, your age and date of birth?
Edward Parker [00:01:19] Date of birth? [1941]. My age? 84. And your name? Edward E. Parker. Edward Everett E. V, E, R, E. Double T Parker.
Nick Mays [00:01:34] Yes, sir. Thank you for that. Okay, so my very first question, Mr. Parker, is where were you born and where did you grow up?
Edward Parker [00:01:45] I was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Bentley Drive, on an ironing board. From a couch to an ironing board. Kind of excited about that.
Nick Mays [00:01:58] Where did you grow up?
Edward Parker [00:02:00] Where? Pittsburgh, until I was 8, and then we moved to Toledo. On our way to California, my mother stopped by her sister’s house in Toledo, got a job the next day, and that’s how the story went.
Nick Mays [00:02:19] Thank you. What do you remember most vividly, sir, from those early years in Pittsburgh or Toledo, your childhood years?
Edward Parker [00:02:29] Both of them. Toledo, because I started art school in Pittsburgh because of the heels, you know, Rather than playing cowboys and Indians, we played Commandos and come out of the hills.
Nick Mays [00:02:48] Can you describe what the game Commandos was?
Edward Parker [00:02:54] Commandos, like army. Army. We used to roll down the hills in ground bus tires, get inside the tires, and somebody pushed you down the hill. So if you hit the tree or something, you just bounce off, you know?
Nick Mays [00:03:17] Mr. Parker, you mentioned art school as a young child. Can you talk about Saturday? Art school.
Edward Parker [00:03:25] Every Saturday morning, get up and go to art school at the Toledo Museum of Art. Most people don’t know, but Toledo has a fine museum. Second, I think, in terms of wealth. Yeah.
Nick Mays [00:03:45] Can you talk about your father and mother?
Edward Parker [00:03:49] Yeah. My father was a hell of a tailor. My mother was a hairdresser. I have a hair shop upstairs here. Two beautiful people. I think of them every day.
Nick Mays [00:04:04] Did you play sports?
Edward Parker [00:04:06] Yeah, I was a fighter and I played basketball, football, but that wasn’t unusual. Everybody in my neighborhood did that. Was a fighter. You had to play sports, you had to go to church and they checked on you to make sure you did that.
Nick Mays [00:04:27] Can you talk a little bit about your introduction to arts and being creative when you were a young child?
Edward Parker [00:04:35] From what I remember, I had the talent and I had a teacher who wrote or called my parents and said, he has a talent. If you let me, I will send him to school. So they paid my way to go to first year and paid my way to go to school every Saturday morning. [00:04:58] And this is, I remember, so racist. They used to help the white people and never tried to help me. But I survived. I survived.
Nick Mays [00:05:17] What was it about arts for you as a little kid? You know, some kids, some. Some kids would be playing football, some kids would be running outside. But do you like doing art? And you like being creative?
Edward Parker [00:05:29] Stayed inside and created till tomorrow’s end. That’s what I want to be stored in this mind of mine. Some short hours old is a galaxy of untampered ideas. So hurry, old man, and be creative.
Nick Mays [00:05:46] Do you remember painting or drawing as a young child, Mr. Parker?
Edward Parker [00:05:53] Oh, yeah, all the time. I go to my room and draw as I say, creating til tomorrow’s end. I remember painting mural on the ceiling, you know, of my house. My parents pushed that, you know, and me, they thought that I could do anything I wanted to do. And you can’t. You just gotta work at it steadily.
Nick Mays [00:06:31] So both your mom and your dad encouraged you to be artistic?
Edward Parker [00:06:36] Oh, yeah, yeah. My mother was a hairstylist. That’s why I put a hair salon upstairs. And Ms. Austin runs that hair salon. And my old man was a tailor. He made clothes. We were the sharpest two kids in the neighborhood. I got suits every holiday, Christmas, birthday, all of them. I got a suit for.
Nick Mays [00:07:04] Mr. Parker. We’re gonna pivot here and I want to talk about your educational process. Can you talk about your undergraduate education? Where did you get your–receive your bachelor’s?
Edward Parker [00:07:19] Undergraduate was from Central State. Central State in Wilberforce, Ohio. I went to graduate school at Kent State and then I started working toward a doctorate at Illinois State. So I’ve been around for a while, creating. Hopefully I’ll be around a little longer. Creating.
Nick Mays [00:07:49] What did you receive your bachelor’s in?
Edward Parker [00:07:53] In art Education Administration from Central State. You’ve been to Central?
Nick Mays [00:08:01] I have not, sir.
Edward Parker [00:08:02] Oh, you owe it to yourself.
Nick Mays [00:08:06] Why did you pursue that education?
Edward Parker [00:08:10] Why? It was. Oh, man, you know, I went to him or for some reason he told me you’d be the first one in this family to get a degree. So that kind of gave me a boost. Yeah.
Nick Mays [00:08:28] What was your purpose in obtaining that degree? What was your purpose?
Edward Parker [00:08:33] I was going to teach one day. That was the purpose.
Nick Mays [00:08:38] Did you always want to be a teacher since you were a young child?
Edward Parker [00:08:42] Not necessarily. It just went that way, you know, it went that way.
Nick Mays [00:08:47] You know, If I may back up a little bit, how was Mr. Edward Parker in high school? And what high school did you go to?
Edward Parker [00:08:57] I went. Everybody heard of Scott, right? Toledo Scott. We used to come to Cleveland and beat up on all the better teams. Yeah.
Nick Mays [00:09:08] What were you like in high school?
Edward Parker [00:09:10] What was I like?
Nick Mays [00:09:11] Yes, sir.
Edward Parker [00:09:12] A hell of a guy. That’s what I was like. Yeah. I’ve had a great, great, great life.
Nick Mays [00:09:22] I guess. What I’m wondering, sir, were you creative and doing a lot of art work in high school?
Edward Parker [00:09:29] Oh, yeah, no doubt. Used to win all the contests.
Nick Mays [00:09:36] These contests were in school or outside of school?
Edward Parker [00:09:40] In school. Amongst all the schools, yeah. From Libby to Scott, DeVillas, Maycombe, all those different schools there.
Nick Mays [00:09:56] Did they have art classes in your school for you?
Edward Parker [00:10:00] Yeah, they don’t do that anymore.
Nick Mays [00:10:04] Oh, yes, sir, in some schools, in some districts, they do have art class. Do you remember anyone encouraging you at that age?
Edward Parker [00:10:16] Anybody encouraged me. Everybody in my family. I’ve had a teacher, something. You gonna be a heck of a guy.
Nick Mays [00:10:26] So they believed in you?
Edward Parker [00:10:28] Yeah, they paid my way. Started out, had a couple teachers, paved my way.
Nick Mays [00:10:37] When you say pay your way, what does that mean?
Edward Parker [00:10:41] What does that mean? Pay your way, Give you the money to go to school.
Nick Mays [00:10:48] So they were investing in you?
Edward Parker [00:10:50] They invested in me, and obviously their investment came true.
Nick Mays [00:11:00] So you went to Central State Art Education Administration for your bachelor’s?
Edward Parker [00:11:08] Kent State.
Nick Mays [00:11:09] What about for graduate school?
Edward Parker [00:11:11] Kent State, right down the street.
Nick Mays [00:11:15] What did you focus on or major.
Edward Parker [00:11:18] In for your master Art Education Administration.
Nick Mays [00:11:24] What was the purpose of going Back to school, Mr. Parker? Getting a master’s to gain more money–In the end.
Nick Mays [00:11:35] Did you. Did you also want to teach at. Just kind of thinking about what informed your decision. More money. Did you have any intentions on teaching at the college or university level as well?
Edward Parker [00:11:49] Well, I knew that it made it easier when you taught at a college or university. I know it made it easier. The more education you get, the easier it is. You’re finding that out aren’t you?
Nick Mays [00:12:09] Somewhat.
Edward Parker [00:12:10] Yeah.
Nick Mays [00:12:11] Do you recall. Can you recall some of your experience at Kent State University?
Edward Parker [00:12:18] Yeah, I was floating around there when the National Guard came down there and shot up everybody. Yeah. I had one of my teachers tell me, in undergraduate school, you know I got faith in you, but if you hang around these girls, you’re not going to get nowhere. Densmoor.
Nick Mays [00:12:50] Mr. Parker, when did you come to Cleveland. And what drew you to move to Cleveland?
Edward Parker [00:12:57] I think a bunch of friends from Central was here. I said, well, let me go up there and see what’s happening. And so what? I did come to visit a friend or two and they rubbed off. And some of those people were still friends? Yeah. In fact, I’m sure one of them will be by here today.
Nick Mays [00:13:29] Where did you move in Cleveland? What area?
Edward Parker [00:13:32] Oh, I rented a space. 3931 Woodland. All that’s changed down there now. Longwood Apartments. You heard of that? I have. It used to be the place. It used to be the place.
Nick Mays [00:13:54] I read that you moved to Cleveland in the 1960s. Does that sound about right?
Edward Parker [00:14:01] 66. I graduated in 65. 66.
Nick Mays [00:14:11] So you graduated with your bachelor’s in 1965 from Central State. From Central State, okay. I moved to Cleveland a year later.
Edward Parker [00:14:22] Went home first to help, you know, with my mom and stuff.
Nick Mays [00:14:27] What was your first job when you moved to Cleveland?
Edward Parker [00:14:31] I taught at a junior high school. Audubon. I heard of Audubon. They tore down. Not tore it down, closed it.
Nick Mays [00:14:47] Did you spend a lot of time teaching? A lot of years teaching at that school?
Edward Parker [00:14:51] At least 10. And then went to Tri C. Western campus, right down the street from you.
Nick Mays [00:15:04] Is Audubon the only public K to 12 schools school that you taught at?
Edward Parker [00:15:10] Yeah, they tried to have me go to another school and the principal took charge and said, I’m not letting you take my man. You can’t take him nowhere. He’s staying here. Leo Clayton. Anybody heard that name? He used to be the principal.
Nick Mays [00:15:35] So after Audubon, you began teaching at Tri C?
Edward Parker [00:15:39] Yeah, I think I taught it all about seven, eight, nine years. And then what you Tri-C.
Nick Mays [00:15:48] What did you like about teaching at the college level or what do you remember about teaching at Tri C?
Edward Parker [00:15:54] You know, you don’t have the headache that you do in junior high or high school. I could do that again. I could do that again.
Nick Mays [00:16:05] Did you spend a lot of years teaching at Tri-C?
Edward Parker [00:16:10] Maybe 10. I think I said that. Maybe 10.
Nick Mays [00:16:17] Sir. Moving on and shifting here to talk about East Cleveland or if I may go back. Did you own homes in Cleveland? Yeah. Can you talk about that?
Edward Parker [00:16:37] Yeah, I had a house on Forest Avenue, which is right around the corner from Audubon. So that made it very convenient to go to school, you know, always there. 11:25, I think that was. Yeah, hard to remember.
Nick Mays [00:17:03] Did you own multiple homes in Cleveland?
Edward Parker [00:17:06] Did I where?
Nick Mays [00:17:06] Where did you own multiple homes?
Edward Parker [00:17:10] Yeah, I had four in a row. Oh, yeah.
Nick Mays [00:17:19] So would you say you were an Entrepreneur?
Edward Parker [00:17:20] At a very young age? Yeah, I had 11, 17, 1121. I can’t remember. 11, 17, 11, 21, 18 on side Street. 18 something.
Nick Mays [00:17:43] Do you. Can you recall what inspired you or who gave you information to own homes?
Edward Parker [00:17:54] My family. You know, I could see what they did. So I said, this is what I won’t do. One is rent to relatives, you know.
Nick Mays [00:18:03] So when you were young, your parents owned their home?
Edward Parker [00:18:07] Yeah, I remember my old man told me, you go to school, young man, you be one of the only one that graduated from. In your family, you know. So I did.
Nick Mays [00:18:22] What are some of the things that your mom or your dad taught you, Mr. Parker, that helped you in your life?
Edward Parker [00:18:33] Well, I had to go to summer school every year. I failed six times between the first grade and eighth grade. Had a speech impediment, went to summer school and overcame all of that.
Nick Mays [00:18:47] Yeah, so they were really encouraging.
Edward Parker [00:18:51] And not only that. Made you study? Yeah, made you study.
Nick Mays [00:18:59] Did they make you go to church?
Edward Parker [00:19:01] Yeah, they used to. My mom used to take me. Then all of a sudden, she stopped going. So my brother and I kept going. That’s where the fun is. I don’t know why people run away from church, especially men. And that’s where the fun is.
Nick Mays [00:19:21] Well, thank you for that, sir. So you own home, you lived in Cleveland, you owned homes in Cleveland. What led you specifically to East Cleveland? What led you to move to East Cleveland?
Edward Parker [00:19:44] That’s a good question. I was riding down Euclid and saw this building here with that green stuff all around it.
Nick Mays [00:19:56] And that’s the building we’re sitting in today.
Edward Parker [00:19:58] That’s right. And I was coming around Emily. And in my mind, Emily meant early money is like yeast.
Nick Mays [00:20:09] What is Emily? Is that a street?
Edward Parker [00:20:12] Right across the street. So that gave me some more interest. I saw there was an old man about my age now across the street. He said, what’s wrong, son? I said, I’m bewildered. He said, you look that way. What’s the problem? I said, I’m thinking about buying that building, but I’m intimidated. He said, how old are you? [00:20:35] When I told him, he said, buy the building because you young enough to start over if you mess up. Which was another boost. So I bought the building, and it’s paid off. I have three apartments in here. Hair salon.
Nick Mays [00:21:00] Can you talk a little bit about what existed in the complex before then. Before? Yeah.
Edward Parker [00:21:08] It was a nursing home for the wealthy alcoholics. A nursing home for the wealthy alcoholics.
Nick Mays [00:21:19] Interesting.
Edward Parker [00:21:20] It worked in conjunction with Huron Hospital around the corner, which they closed. You familiar with that?
Nick Mays [00:21:28] Yes, I am.
Edward Parker [00:21:30] Did you see my mural right around the corner? Did you pay attention to that?
Nick Mays [00:21:34] I did.
Edward Parker [00:21:36] Good.
Nick Mays [00:21:37] I want to talk a little bit about that, sir.
Edward Parker [00:21:42] I’ve done murals all over, everywhere.
Nick Mays [00:21:45] So moving on. I would. I would love and appreciate you, sir, to talk about the Edward E. Parker Creative Arts Complex. Why did you establish this complex, sir?
Edward Parker [00:22:06] Why not? Why not? I needed a place I was away from, but near to my home. So I was, as I say, coming around Emily, and I said, there it is there. And I found out who was the owner. A William Seawright who was a hustler in the streets. I looked him up and invited him by. [00:22:37] He said, I’m going to see that you get my place. And he did. He said, if anybody mess with you, come get me. And he did. You know, years ago. Years ago.
Nick Mays [00:22:57] Can you talk about what you built in this complex, sir? As I look around, there’s a lot of great works in history.
Edward Parker [00:23:09] I built everything from the floors. We had to redo the floors. Everything. I got a couple scars on my body from those buildings.
Nick Mays [00:23:24] Can you talk about some of the classes that you had here and your work with students?
Edward Parker [00:23:29] Down here?
Nick Mays [00:23:32] Yes.
Edward Parker [00:23:32] Well, I let seniors come free, every Tuesday and Thursday. We have classes from six to eight. I even have somebody come in and take my class to teach them what they think they know. Is Herman, not that guy named Herman, started teaching.
Nick Mays [00:23:56] What about your work with students? Your work with students here in the complex?
Edward Parker [00:24:01] What about. I have them do busts of themselves. Hands, feet. Yeah.
Nick Mays [00:24:10] Did you charge or was it free?
Edward Parker [00:24:12] Free programs. Free. Do you have to bring their own supplies? But we always getting. What is it called? Money for the kids during the summer.
Nick Mays [00:24:28] Like grants.
Edward Parker [00:24:29] Yeah, but I’ve had Greyhound buses pull up outside and let off 85 people. Need more of that.
Nick Mays [00:24:39] Was that one of your passions, like working with students and mentoring?
Edward Parker [00:24:45] Is that one of my.
Nick Mays [00:24:46] Who Was that one of your passions to teach.
Edward Parker [00:24:48] No, not really. I really stopped liking to teach kids because the parents would drop them off and think it’s a babysitting service. This ain’t no babysitting service you learn here.
Nick Mays [00:25:05] What kind of work did they develop the kids here?
Edward Parker [00:25:07] Some good? Yeah, yeah, some good. Some of these pieces here I brought back from Africa. Reach over there and grab that hat for me, mama. See the Head right there. Yeah. Reach over, reach over. Can you reach it? Where’s. What’s happening? It’s getting stuck right here. All right, here we go.
Nick Mays [00:25:44] This one?
Edward Parker [00:25:45] Yeah. Awesome piece.
Nick Mays [00:25:49] Oh, there’s a face in it.
Edward Parker [00:25:51] Holding it.
Nick Mays [00:25:51] Okay.
Edward Parker [00:25:54] You can sit it right there. Is that awesome or what? I bought that back from Africa. I bought the talking drum back from Africa.
Nick Mays [00:26:05] What do you remember about Africa?
Edward Parker [00:26:07] Everything.
Nick Mays [00:26:08] Where did you go in Africa?
Edward Parker [00:26:10] Nigeria. Ife, Benin. Daomi Abedicuta Summers in that book right there.
Nick Mays [00:26:19] Talk about what you remember in Africa.
Edward Parker [00:26:23] What did I remember? If you don’t know anything about the ghetto, you don’t have no business being in Africa. You’ve seen roaches fly. You know they have wings, right? They get big enough where they can start moving them.
Nick Mays [00:26:44] Did Africa inspire your creativity?
Edward Parker [00:26:47] Not really. They called me Akilah B. Akandi. That means somebody special, and I am. All praises go to the heavenly Father, God Almighty, and peace will prevail in the end when the lion and lamb lay down together. Wow.
Nick Mays [00:27:16] Were you able to do any pieces in Africa?
Edward Parker [00:27:20] Did I do pieces?
Nick Mays [00:27:22] Yes.
Edward Parker [00:27:22] While I was there?
Nick Mays [00:27:23] Yes, sir.
Edward Parker [00:27:24] Yeah, that’s where I got the name from. Somebody special? Akilah Be. I used to wake up in the morning, they’d be out there singing my name.
Nick Mays [00:27:36] Before I move on from the arts complex and the work that you did here with adults and children, were there any people or young kids or young adults that you mentored or you taught that went on to do great things?
Edward Parker [00:27:57] There’s a Willie Bonner. I have his photograph back there. He went on, and still going on is a Hilton Smith. You saw that piece with the cardboard in my house?
Nick Mays [00:28:13] Yes, sir.
Edward Parker [00:28:13] Yeah. He was one of my students.
Nick Mays [00:28:17] What does that mean to you, sir, that you. That you were able to mentor teachers?
Edward Parker [00:28:22] Man, it’s precious. It’s precious.
Nick Mays [00:28:27] Why is it precious?
Edward Parker [00:28:28] Because it never will be forgotten.
Nick Mays [00:28:32] Was that your goal? Was one of your goals to mentor and to teach, to help folks build?
Edward Parker [00:28:40] Yeah. Creating till tomorrow’s end, Unfortunately. So many people die, you know.
Nick Mays [00:28:54] Moving on. Sir, how would you describe your art, especially the sculpture? How would you describe it?
Edward Parker [00:29:06] Better than most. Better than most. I describe it as museum quality pieces.
Nick Mays [00:29:15] Was there a philosophy that informed the work that you did or how you did the work?
Edward Parker [00:29:24] I’m confused. Is there a philosophy?
Nick Mays [00:29:26] Yeah. Was there a philosophy? Meaning, you know, in other words, what was your intentions in terms of with the creativity.
Edward Parker [00:29:44] To get into these shows and get in. Basically, flat out you can tell if you got a talent.
Nick Mays [00:29:54] You know, in other words, What I meant to say was, what informed your creativity?
Edward Parker [00:30:01] What? What?
Nick Mays [00:30:02] What informed your creativity?
Edward Parker [00:30:04] What informed it?
Nick Mays [00:30:06] Yes.
Edward Parker [00:30:06] I’m confused.
Nick Mays [00:30:07] I was repeating that for. For the camera.
Edward Parker [00:30:10] Say what?
Nick Mays [00:30:11] I was repeating that for the camera, so you don’t have the answer.
Edward Parker [00:30:13] Oh, okay. I mean, as an example, if you look at something like this lady here, she looks alive, you know? You can feel it, can’t you? Yeah.
Nick Mays [00:30:30] Sir, there’s a process. There’s an intentionality, meaning when one creates or writes a book or writes an article or creates a sculpture, there’s intention. Right. Can you talk about some of the sculptures that you worked on and why you did it? So, for example, there’s one on Chicken George that you did. There’s a piece that you did. [00:31:15] Why Chicken George?
Edward Parker [00:31:19] He created his own image. And why not?
Nick Mays [00:31:27] And Chicken George comes out of a famous movie, Right.
Edward Parker [00:31:32] And you saw it right around the corner here.
Nick Mays [00:31:36] Did you ever meet Chicken George?
Edward Parker [00:31:39] Yeah.
Nick Mays [00:31:39] Or the actor who played the character.
Edward Parker [00:31:42] I’m in the picture with him. He wanted me to give it to him. I said, what have you given away lately?
Nick Mays [00:31:53] And the movie is, of course, the Roots. Roots. You also did Elephant Man.
Edward Parker [00:32:00] Yeah, that’s in there, too. Hell of a story about the Elephant Man. Elephant man was a player, you know.
Nick Mays [00:32:11] What was your. What were the most important pieces to you?
Edward Parker [00:32:16] Chicken George. I think that’s about the one I enjoy. The two pieces in the front, the man and the women in the front. All I pray for is energy. Takes a lot of energy, man, to do what I do.
Nick Mays [00:32:35] How about the piece you did on President Obama?
Edward Parker [00:32:39] What about it?
Nick Mays [00:32:42] Why’d you do that? What made you do.
Edward Parker [00:32:45] Oh, he deserves that and more. You know, he deserves that.
Nick Mays [00:32:52] Is that one of your favorite pieces?
Edward Parker [00:32:54] What? Chicken Joy.
Nick Mays [00:32:56] Well, Obama. Obama.
Edward Parker [00:32:59] All of my work is my favorite piece. Take a look at that piece. That woman, Monkey woman going to Chicago. Sorry, but I can’t take you. Ain’t nothing in Chicago that a monkey woman can do. You ever heard that? If you haven’t you heard of it.
Nick Mays [00:33:18] Now, what about poetry? You like poetry?
Edward Parker [00:33:22] Yeah. The piece behind you, I think, is on the wall has to do with poetry. They go hand in hand, you know.
Nick Mays [00:33:33] How many years have you spent building these. These sculptures and pieces?
Edward Parker [00:33:39] How many years? Years. Years.
Nick Mays [00:33:43] More than 20.
Edward Parker [00:33:44] Oh, yeah. Get from his line, like, can we have him say, like, more than 20 or. Yeah.
Nick Mays [00:33:59] Mr. Parker, can you. Can you say for me, I spent more than 20 years working? Yeah. How many years, sir?
Edward Parker [00:34:10] How many years have I been doing art?
Nick Mays [00:34:13] Yeah. In this complex.
Edward Parker [00:34:15] I guess ever since I bought it.
Nick Mays [00:34:17] Okay, so that was. Let’s do the. It was in 82 that you bought this. This in 1982, right, sir?
Edward Parker [00:34:28] I can’t remember.
Nick Mays [00:34:29] It’s a 1982. I did the research. Research. Okay, so it’s. It’s about, let me see. More than 30 years, is it? Yeah, more than 30 years.
Edward Parker [00:34:42] How many.
Nick Mays [00:34:43] 30 years?
Edward Parker [00:34:44] Easy, easy.
Nick Mays [00:34:50] So can I have you say it, sir, that you spent more than 30 years working?
Edward Parker [00:34:53] I spent more than 30 years. I spent more than. You are old. Yeah, a long time. That’s what I say. I pray for energy.
Nick Mays [00:35:17] Sir. How have you connected your art and your talent with East Cleveland? In other words, supporting programming, contributing to the community?
Edward Parker [00:35:40] Well, I used to be on the board of East Cleveland Library. Board. I was on a school board.
Nick Mays [00:35:51] What about your work? Can you talk about your work with Shaw High School and students at Shaw?
Edward Parker [00:35:59] They didn’t do what I think they should do. They don’t come down here. You can walk down here, you know, if that’s what you’re speaking of.
Nick Mays [00:36:10] Well, no, just your support, your. Your mentoring. And your programing.
Edward Parker [00:36:15] You can’t mentor if they don’t let you. As I mentioned earlier, I had Greyhound bus pull out. Talk about art. They could do that very easily. They’re in walking distance.
Nick Mays [00:36:36] Sir. You’ve been building a legacy for a long time. What do you think your legacy is?
Edward Parker [00:36:44] What is my legacy?
Nick Mays [00:36:45] Yes, sir.
Edward Parker [00:36:46] You’re sitting in it. It’s right here, developing. You must remember this building was empty 20 years. Took another 20 years to put it back together.
Nick Mays [00:37:12] How many pieces or sculptures or artwork you would say exist in this building? And just in general, I’ve done over.
Edward Parker [00:37:20] I know 3,000.
Nick Mays [00:37:26] It’s a lot of work and a lot of history. A lot of art, sir.
Edward Parker [00:37:29] A lot of work, a lot of history. And they’re all over the world.
Nick Mays [00:37:43] Outside of this complex, where’s some of your work at today?
Edward Parker [00:37:47] California, New York.
Nick Mays [00:38:02] Anywhere in Ohio or Cleveland.
Edward Parker [00:38:05] Yeah, I think I got a piece of the museum up there. Can you get up and look at that picture up there, my man? Yeah, yeah. You see me in there? Start at the bottom right and go over about 9 inches. I see there. There you go. Did you. Where? Hit it again? [00:38:42] No, next to that. Next to it. The other way. Right there. That’s you. Yeah, Go above that. Put your hand back there and go above that. Up, up to your left. See a light skinned person up there? Yeah, that’s Ben Amin. You heard it? Ben Amin.
Nick Mays [00:39:08] I have not.
Edward Parker [00:39:10] Can you touch that? Piece up there, since you tall enough. Which picture?
Nick Mays [00:39:18] We can take a look at it once the interview’s over, sir.
Edward Parker [00:39:23] Touch me again. That ain’t me. Down, down, down. Over. Right, right. No, down to your left. Little bit more. Right there.
Nick Mays [00:39:36] This one.
Edward Parker [00:39:37] No, next. That don’t look like me.
Nick Mays [00:39:42] That’s you cheesing like that.
Edward Parker [00:39:46] So. And then Ben Amin. Put your hand on mine again and go up, up, up. Right there. Who is that? Ben Amin? He was. He took X amount of people to Israel. They supposedly had walks.
Nick Mays [00:40:11] What are some of the recognitions you have received that you’re proud of?
Edward Parker [00:40:20] What are some of the recognitions that I have received? They’ve given me honors at the art museum here and in Toledo. They brought people through here. I live a royal life, if that’s what you mean.
Nick Mays [00:40:42] I was told that Case Western Reserve just recognized you.
Edward Parker [00:40:48] Yeah, they recognized that piece of John Patterson Green. In the cultural garden.
Nick Mays [00:41:03] Did you do a sculpture on Booker T. Washington?
Edward Parker [00:41:07] Yeah, that was out in the garden. I think.
Nick Mays [00:41:13] So. Moving on. Sir, in East Cleveland we see some revitalization efforts and some development efforts. First of all, before we talk about that, can you recall how East Cleveland changed over time? Like when you first got here versus now?
Edward Parker [00:41:38] Not really because I know it’s changed and it was going to continually change. You can’t do nothing but get better.
Nick Mays [00:41:49] What was East Cleveland like when you first came?
Edward Parker [00:41:53] You couldn’t hardly walk down the street without the man chicken on you.
Nick Mays [00:42:01] So you’re saying it was like safe was.
Edward Parker [00:42:04] Yeah.
Nick Mays [00:42:08] What about the homes in the streets?
Edward Parker [00:42:11] They about you must you could was developed in 1900 size streets. 1910, if that’s what you’re speaking.
Nick Mays [00:42:28] Well, no, no. When you came in the 1980s and you moved here. Just interested if you can recall, you know, the streets and the community and the homes.
Edward Parker [00:42:40] Well, they were in a little bit better shape. The streets and stuff. Stuff, you know, they got all kind of potholes in them now. Cause people are greedy, you know, the administration greedy.
Nick Mays [00:42:54] So you own homes in East Cleveland?
Edward Parker [00:42:57] I own four. Three right here. Yeah, three right here.
Nick Mays [00:43:05] Sir, I need to go back. Because you was recognized with the Edward E. Parker way. What is that?
Edward Parker [00:43:17] That’s the name of this street. The council people put that on me. Isn’t that great to see your street named after you as you are alive? I do. I think it’s great.
Nick Mays [00:43:34] Yeah, I agree. Congratulations.
Edward Parker [00:43:37] Yeah.
Nick Mays [00:43:37] What does that mean to you, sir?
Edward Parker [00:43:39] What does that mean? That I’m a bad boy, that’s what it mean. Yes, indeed.
Nick Mays [00:43:51] Did they Have a celebration for behind the street?
Edward Parker [00:43:55] Yeah. They had pictures and stuff. Didn’t I show you a red book or the labs? Did I show you a little red book?
Nick Mays [00:44:05] I think you did when I came to visit you.
Edward Parker [00:44:08] Yeah. That was all out of the art museum.
Nick Mays [00:44:11] Going back to my question about development and revitalization efforts, do you support the revitalization of East Cleveland?
Edward Parker [00:44:24] Of course. Of course it’ll happen if I support it or not.
Nick Mays [00:44:29] What do you mean by that, sir.
Edward Parker [00:44:31] If I support it or somebody else come to support it, it will change.
Nick Mays [00:44:36] Do you support that?
Edward Parker [00:44:38] Yeah, I like to see it change. Yeah, I like to see it change.
Nick Mays [00:44:46] Which means investments in East Cleveland.
Edward Parker [00:44:49] Say what?
Nick Mays [00:44:50] I said, which means there’s some investment in East Cleveland. In closing, what guidance would you share with younger East Clevelanders about art or education or just the future?
Edward Parker [00:45:09] Whatever you choose, Whatever. You got to stick with it. Because when you think you’re losing, you’re winning if you stick with it. I couldn’t always do a head. I can do one now. I remember when I was in graduate school, the teacher came by. I was trying to do a hand. The teacher come by and say, you can’t do no hands. [00:45:43] I said, ah. Before I could get it out, he said, Do 50. After I did 50, I could do a hand. We got to spend the time to get better.
Nick Mays [00:45:56] What do you mean by hand? Do a hand.
Edward Parker [00:45:58] Hand.
Nick Mays [00:45:59] To draw it.
Edward Parker [00:46:01] Sculpt it.
Nick Mays [00:46:02] Oh, sculpt it.
Edward Parker [00:46:03] Yeah, I was trying. He said, you can’t do no hand. Do me 50 or 100 or whatever it was once you did as many as he said you can do a hand because you would have broken it down. And look at these fingers as phalanges. You heard that word before?
Nick Mays [00:46:25] I have not.
Edward Parker [00:46:27] That’s what these mean, phalanges. You can break it down, each finger. Then you’ll be able to do a hand.
Nick Mays [00:46:40] Sir, I didn’t. I didn’t ask you where your ancestors are from. From the South. In the South.
Edward Parker [00:46:46] Where what?
Nick Mays [00:46:47] Your ancestors. Where are your ancestors from?
Edward Parker [00:46:50] My mother was from the South. My daddy was from Sandusky.
Nick Mays [00:46:56] Do you know where in the south where your mom came from? What part? Say what do you know what state in the south did your mom come from or her parents?
Edward Parker [00:47:09] I don’t know why. Kentucky stuck in my mind. I don’t know why I can’t remember these things.
Nick Mays [00:47:18] No problem, sir. It’s okay. Sir, where would you like to see your art go in the future?
Edward Parker [00:47:25] To various museums. That’s where it should be. So little black kids can say, I can do that.
Nick Mays [00:47:37] Do you have any particular one in mind? In Ohio?
Edward Parker [00:47:41] Yeah. Cleveland and Toledo, you must remember there’s a difference between a museum of art and an art museum. And the difference is a museum of art has a little bit of everything. Art museum, specialized.
Nick Mays [00:48:05] Well, Mr. Parker, thank you for your time.
Edward Parker [00:48:08] Oh, thank you.
Nick Mays [00:48:09] Your art, your service to East Cleveland, your story adds a vital chapter to the East Cleveland story and our East Cleveland oral history project. This concludes today’s interview. Thank you, sir.
Edward Parker [00:48:30] Thank you so much. It was exciting.
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