Rocky Mount, N.C.—It’s not often that a college soccer standout who’s about to graduate with a degree in psychology and sociology can put on an impressive solo exhibition of drawings at North Carolina Wesleyan College’s well-known Dunn Center for the Performing Arts.

Edgar Zaldivar, however, is not your typical Wesleyan student. Born in El Salvador in 1987, he never remembered seeing his parents until he was 13 years old. His parents had come to the United States because of Civil War when Edgar was a year old, leaving Edgar and his two-year-old brother with their grandparents in El Salvador until he was 14.

“My parents always supported me economically, and I used to talk on the phone with them at least once a week,” Edgar said. “However, I never met them until I was 13.
After 12 years in the United States, my parents finally became legal residents, and they were able to visit us in El Salvador. In the legalization process, my brother and I were included, and we became legal citizens at the same time they did.

“They brought us to the United States to have better education opportunities. I came to the States in 2001, and two weeks later I started as a freshman in high school in Alexandria, Virginia. I did not know any English. I couldn’t even say ‘Hi, how are you,’ and no one at school knew Spanish. It was hard for me to socialize with others. I begged my parents to buy me a ticket back to El Salvador. The only time I felt good was when I was playing soccer for the school team. I was always more fascinated with soccer rather than drawing.”

Even as a young teenager, Edgar was not fully aware of his artistic talent. His older brother, however, was fascinated with cartoon characters and had learned to draw well from a friend. “My older brother is really good,” Edgar said. “One day when I was a sophomore in high school I made a bet with my brother that I could draw one of his pictures. He said, ‘No, you can’t.’” Two days later, Edgar had won the bet.

“I always saw my older brother as my inspiration,” Edgar said. “I focus on portraits but I like to draw anything that has something that catches my attention. I’ve tried ink, and pieces have turned out well, but I use mostly pencil. I love to draw because it helps me forget about problems that I might be facing. When I draw I like to take my time and enjoy it. I can easily spend four to eight hours drawing.

“I like to stop and come back the next day and see my mistakes,” he said. “You never finish a picture. You can come back two years later and see a mistake. There’s always something to improve.”
Edgar draws for his friends and has not been charging for his portraits. “I don’t consider myself a professional artist yet,” he said, “but in the future I would like to.”

North Carolina Wesleyan Art Professor Everett Adelman has encouraged Edgar to continue drawing. “Edgar knows he’s good at drawing, but he wants it better and with or without my counsel will see a drawing through until it’s right. Truly, how else can one find fulfillment without finding out just how good you can get, whether it’s competitive sport or art,” Adelman said.

“Edgar has not been an art student at Wesleyan, but has grown and developed his drawing skill and critical discrimination as an artist, and has made a lot of art. His drawings are very carefully done with gently modulated shading to add to the realism he strives for.” Adelman describes Edgar as “a gentleman and a conscientious student athlete.”

As Edgar’s college graduation approaches, he is thinking about his future and about soccer. He was a three-time USA South All-Conference player for Wesleyan, with 15 career goals and 27 career assists, which ranks him third all-time in the college’s program history. He led the USA South this past season with 10 assists.
“Soccer is big in our culture and our family, and for them to see me play professionally would be a dream come true,” Edgar said. “Playing at Wesleyan has helped me. I’ve grown and matured and learned new things from the older players. But if soccer doesn’t work out, I have other options.”

Wesleyan’s exhibition of Edgar Zaldivar’s drawings opened April 8 with an afternoon reception for the artist. His drawings will be on view in the Civic Gallery in the north corridor of Wesleyan’s Dunn Center through June 27. The public is invited to attend this free art show, and group tours may be arranged by calling Professor Everett Adelman at 252-985-5268.