The “ART” Of Boxing - Edner “Cherry Bomb” Cherry

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Edner “Cherry Bomb” Cherry is known for being a fierce competitor in the ring, knocking out opponents and winning championships, 5 to be exact.  Though boxing is an art form, he understands that art comes in many shapes and forms. We caught up with the champ in Sebring, Florida as he was about to have his face cast by our “Featured” artist Lynn McCray for a custom piece of pottery. Edner was eager to do an interview with us on his view of art and how it plays a part in our community.

Edner, what does art mean to you and how do you think it impacts our community?

A. Like boxing, it takes a lot of skill that not everyone can do.  It takes hours of training and vision.  It’s an expression of one’s thoughts put to life.  When the art is complete, and on display, it will impact the community by showing the artist’s viewpoint, it can change someone’s life and it improves the look and feel of where ever the piece is being displayed.

Art and education go hand in hand.  How important is education to you and why?

A.  Education is very important to me.  With sports you never know when an injury will end your career.  Its important to have a good education so you have something to fall back on, start a business, manage finances stuff like that. Stay in school and make the best of it, that’s the best advice I can give.

You are here today to have your face casted by Lynn McCray, are you doing this to help her out or do you just admire her work enough to want it done?

A.  A little of both, I have known Lynn for many years through our church so she is dear to me; but I also wanted to have a piece of her pottery with my face in it for my home, something to be proud of.

Like boxing, artist have dreams and inspirations, what advice do you have coming from a 5 time champion to give to those attempting those dreams.

A. Keep your head up and don’t give up.  There will be times when it seems like your goal is far from your reach, like everything is against you.  Keep pursuing it, believe in yourself and fight till you get what you set out for.  It may take longer for some than others, but hard work and dedication will lead you to the end result.

Artists like sports heroes need strength to keep going, Where do you find your inner strength to keep going?

A.  I believe in myself and my abilities. As a young kid, people pushed me to do what i do, and so friends and family are my biggest strength to keep striving to be the best I can be.

What is your greatest accomplishment to date, it can be with your boxing career, it could be with something else, but when you die, what do you want to be most known for?

A.  I would say being a good husband to my wife, being a great father to my children above all.

Following the interview, I watched Edner have his face casted, the first step, to be forever immortalized in clay.  It was an amazing experience to not only watch this amazing fighter work with our featured artist for July, but to get to know him as a person and see his views on art.  This just proves that art does touch our lives no matter what we do, it impacts us in more ways than we know and art is often taken for granted.

When the final product is complete on Edner Cherry’s face cast pottery we will bring it to you live in our gallery!

Please visit his web site www.ednercherry.com for history, bio, and video of the champ in action.