“What’s good about me is I have a deep connection to my imagination.
I’m able to understand that in-between of when someone tells you something and not totally knowing how to move forward and then having to figure it out on your own. That’s what I excel at most in my life. Knowing this is possible, but here I am not knowing how to get there, but having the confidence to figure it out. Confidence and also knowing how to research and find the information on my own.
In high school we moved from the city to Elgin. My parents, they’re the reason for who I am, were very focused on the future. They grew up in the projects and didn’t want that for me. When we lived in the 2A Street building on State Street in the middle of downtown Chicago, I felt like Richie Rich, but we weren’t rich.
I never thought about it until I got older. My parents where always focused on the next step to reach their goals. Which was always to move to the suburbs and get a house and get a dog. I remember when we got a golden retriever. My dad was super happy about it, like the world had just opened up. It was a thing he had wanted as a kid that he couldn’t have.
I grew up with that dog not knowing it was a big deal. But now, looking back, I can see and understand what a struggle it was and all the steps they took to make the life they wanted.
Moving right before high school was the hardest time, because I was no longer in my little city bubble, and now there were so many more people. I really wanted to fit in, be cool. What helped me thru that was art.
My first art teacher was Ms. Searcy. In that class was a girl named Cassidy and a guy named John - who’s now my best friend in all the world - and they were both really great artists. I was like “Wow! How can you be so good?!”. It felt like they’d been honing their craft hard style their whole lives, while I’d just been dabbling, making Ninja Turtle drawings for lunch money. But I like a little competition and I did feel like I was pretty good too. I wanted to prove my worth and catch up.
I got curious to how they got so good and saw how people had invested in them - Cassidy’s father was an art teacher at the Art Institute, John had painted four murals at the school. So I decided I’d start investing in myself and my art. Buying books and supplies and doing art all the time. I got really focused and started to get a lot better. I felt like I’d made a place for myself and had my people.
The thing about art is, though, it can be lonely too. I have so many ideas and so much creativity, it’s hard to not get lost in it. I can start creating and the ideas just keep going deeper and deeper. And then suddenly I realize I haven’t talked to people in weeks. It can be hard to find balance once I’m in it. That’s why it’s good for me to have non-art related work to do too. To be a part of the community in not only an artistic way. It keeps me connected. Keeps me balanced-ish.”
—Fred Wimms
Fred Wimms has been the creative engine behind many of Elgin’s artistic endeavors and events: Nightmare on Chicago Street, Little Park of Horrors, “Black Then, Black Now, Black in the Middle” Art Exhibit at Side Street Studio which was honored by the Cook County Board of Commissioners, to name a few. “If it’s art happening in Elgin, I’m probably involved.”
Fred is also the Community Resource Coordinator for the City of Elgin and helps run Elgin Allies, a local volunteer group.
