Cross Country Star's First Passion is Art

Carnegie Mellon University junior cross country star Emily Wobb doesn't have much time between breaking school records and putting on her first solo art show.

Early on in high school, she knew that she wanted to pursue art in college.  Wobb took a roundabout way to art after taking the class just to fill up her schedule.

Art, along with cross country, played a role in where she would attend school.  She wanted to attend Carnegie Mellon, but at first, did not think she would be accepted.

"It (Carnegie Mellon) was my top choice," Wobb said.  "I didn't think I'd get in.  I wanted a university setting.  I didn't want to be stuck in an art bubble.  Cross country played a role too.  I have everything at my fingertips here."

 "Art is something that my family members are passionate about," Wobb said.  "I followed in their footsteps.  I'm happiest when painting. "

The Carnegie Mellon junior attended a Governor's School for painting in high school, and that is when she realized that her passion was in art.

"About halfway through high school I wanted to try it," Wobb said.  "I took art to add to my schedule.  Next thing I attended a Governor's School to paint.  Then I thought, I could make this work."

Wobb's first solo show was early in October at The Frame on Carnegie Mellon's campus.  The Frame defines itself as "a non-profit, student-run art space. It is committed to showcasing the artistic work of Carnegie Mellon students and to promoting ambitious and experimental art within our community."

Her first solo show included some of her work from this past summer.  Amongst her artwork were three-dimensional fish that were the stars of the show.

 "I made these huge fish, like 10 feet long," Wobb said.  "They were wild ways of making a narrative.  The fish included a lot of things that do not go together, like faux fur on the fish."

She struggled to find a single word to describe her artwork, but finally came to the conclusion that it is "absurd".

"It is random content, bright colors on a large scale," Wobb said.  "It's absurd."

With the support of her cross country teammates, the opening went well and all the nerves were gone once the show was ready to kick off.  To say the show came without any nervousness, however would be an exaggeration of the truth.

"The show really made racing seem a lot less stressful," Wobb said.  "I spent any waking moment the week before at the gallery."

The connection of putting on her first solo show and running in a cross country race was surprisingly clearer than expected from two opposite ends of the spectrum.

"At first I was really nervous about the show, but once it started I had no regrets," Wobb said.  "It's equivalent to a race.  I have the same feelings once I get ready to start a race.  There's nothing I can do now."

Wobb's high school coach often used a quote from legendary runner Steve Prefontaine that connected art to running, and it still sticks with her.

"A race is a work of art that people can look at and be affected in as many ways they're capable of understanding," Prefontaine said.

Wobb can make the connection between her two activities when she looks at a disappointing race or a piece of artwork that she feels she could have done better on.

"Each race is similar to a piece of artwork," Wobb said.  "You learn from bad art and races.  They are awful in the moment.  You know you slacked off on that sculpture or during that race."

Despite all the pressure of running, she uses her time on the course as time to clear her mind.

"Racing relaxes me," Wobb said.  "I'm not constantly making a to-do list.  In a 6k, I have 22 minutes to relax.  I don't have to worry what's next, and I'm not planning for the future."

Clearly Wobb races better with a clear mind.  She has advanced to the Division III NCAA Championships her first two years.  The Tartans' cross country star improved from her 120th-place finish in her freshman year to a 62nd-place finish as a sophomore and shaved more than a minute and a half off her time.

"With experience, big races make me less intimidated," Wobb said.  "I just have become less intimidated the more involved I get."

Wobb, despite her own personal success, is focused on her team.

"I'm excited for the team," Wobb said.  "We are more competitive, but we have a close family atmosphere.  There are no conflicts.  It's relaxing."

Early in the season Wobb has already won two races, most recently winning the Carnegie Mellon University Invitational and knocking 20 seconds off of her time from last year.

Somehow, following a grueling race, her focus shifted back to art with her conversation with Carnegie Mellon graduate Kelly Chin, who came back to race in the invitational.  Chin is a 2002 graduate of Carnegie Mellon.  Her marathon time of 2 hours, 44 minutes, 44 seconds at the Houston Marathon earned her a trip to the United States Olympic Trials in January.

"That race (Carnegie Mellon's course) is mentally tough.  You go the whole way down a hill, and then have to fight your way back up it," Wobb said.  "I was really excited about the people who come back to race in it.  It was really cool talking to Kelly.  She lives in New York City and we were talking about all the art in the city."