Maine West Alum Evolves into Geico Caveman

Jeff Daniel Phillips, an actor who plays the Geico caveman in the popular television commercials, is also a alum, the Daily Herald reported.

Phillips said his art teacher at Maine West, John Wood, helped build his confidence, and guided him into the arts. For the story, visit the Daily Herald’s website.

Wood has since retired from teaching. Patrick Barnett, the current Fine Arts Department Chair, told Patch Maine West art students do very well when they compete regionally or against other high schools, and they are frequently rewarded.

“We have an amazing art department at Maine West,” Barnett said. “We offer more experiences and opportunities to our students than a lot of other high schools.”

Earlier:

Among those opportunities are historical methods for firing pottery, Barnett said. Students fire pottery outside the school, twice a year.

In Raku firing the students heat their works, and then put them in sawdust, which creates a bronze finish to the pottery, he said. In pit firing the students put the pottery in the ground, build the fire on top of it, and it comes out almost a metallic-looking finish.

Barnett said art teachers at Maine West try to get each student to realize their maximum potential.

“If it’s creative, we’re here to support that; if it’s something else in another area of the school, we support that too,” Barnett said.

The 58-member Maine West High School Wind Ensemble, directed by Bernie Gerstmayr, was recently selected to perform at an educator conference in Peoria on Jan. 28. The ensemble will perform the same concert for family, friends and community members at 7 p.m. on Jan. 24 in the school auditorium.

Are you a fan of the caveman?

Here are a few YouTube videos to enjoy. “How to Make a Caveman” (featured with this story) is a fast-forward film of the two-hour makeup session Phillips undergoes in order to transform into the caveman.

This video of one of the commercials is 37 seconds long, and has been viewed 1.4 million times. And finally, here’s a compilation video of some of the Geico caveman commercials.

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