Eleanor Keller Brewer, an 85-year-old digital and traditional art teacher at Southmont High School, has retired after an illustrious career spanning 40 years.
Brewer, a trailblazer in art education, is celebrated for her innovative approach to teaching both traditional art forms and cutting-edge digital media, leaving an indelible mark on the school and the broader art education community.
Brewer’s journey in education began later in life, at the age of 42, after overcoming significant societal barriers. Despite graduating as valedictorian from Ladoga High School in 1957, she was initially discouraged from pursuing higher education. She was told girls just got married and had children. However, after raising three children and saving funds from her work as a secretary to the Director of Personnel at Allison Division, General Motors Corporation, she enrolled in and graduated from Herron School of Art, Indiana University. There, behind a locked door, she discovered a computer with a paint program installed, and later at IU Bloomington the burgeoning field of animation and computer graphics, which would become a cornerstone of her teaching career.
Brewer researched computer graphics at its inception with Dr. Guy Hubbard, who was called the Father of Computer Art, and was appointed to his Core Advisory Group, the CADRE, to develop elementary, secondary, and graduate course curriculum responsive to the needs and abilities of academic levels of instruction for the first computer graphics courses in the state of Indiana. Brewer co-wrote Indiana State Curriculum Guidelines for Computer Graphics, now called Digital Art and Graphic Design. She collaborated with Jeff Padgett, Indiana State Fine Arts Advisor and CEO at the Children’s Museum. Craig Wetli from Ladoga, who designed the dinosaur out in front of the Children’s Museum, director of all recent children’s world events there, and now senior designer, was one of Brewer’s first gifted art students at Southmont High School.
At Southmont High School, Brewer not only introduced digital art to students but also became a recognized leader in the field, teaching art teachers nationwide through the National Art Education Association Conventions. Her work with the CADRE revolutionized how art was taught, incorporating new technology into classrooms long before it became the norm.
“Eleanor Keller Brewer has been an extraordinary educator whose influence extends far beyond the walls of Southmont High School,” said Bob Sabol, former president of the National Art Education Association and director of Purdue University’s Visual Art Department. “Her contributions to the field of art education, particularly in digital media, have been transformative. She has not only equipped her students with artistic skills but also inspired countless educators across the country.”
When Brewer came to observe Sabol’s class as a student teacher, she remembers that he always began each lesson with a bit of art history. She does the same in all classes. In turn, in those early days Sabol took a computer animation and graphic design class from Brewer at Southmont in one of the three-week summer workshops sponsored by IU and the Indiana Department of Education. Brewer recalls Sabol was working toward his doctorate and Brewer’s class in digital art, the newest art medium, was on his agenda.
Brewer’s impact on her students has been profound. Her dedication to fostering creativity and her commitment to pushing the boundaries of art education have led to numerous success stories, including students securing prestigious scholarships, internships at leading companies like Disney and PIXAR, and acceptance into top art schools. Under her guidance, Southmont High School became a hub of artistic innovation, attracting educators nationwide to witness her unique approach to integrating traditional and digital art.
Throughout her career, Brewer published instructional materials, taught dual-credit courses in graphic design with Vincennes University, and served as an adjunct professor at Indiana University and Wesleyan University. Her professional memberships and active participation in various art organizations further exemplify her lifelong dedication to the arts.
As Brewer steps into retirement from teaching at Southmont High School, her legacy will continue to inspire both her former students and the broader art education community. The Art League of Montgomery County is exhibiting at the Crawfordsville District Public Library, after which the city of Crawfordsville will host the 12th annual Art Walk on Sept. 13-14. Visit either venue to see some of Brewer’s artwork or visit her art gallery and bed and breakfast in Ladoga, Renaissance Gallery and Towers, by appointment at 765-942-2408.
