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Chris McAdoo: Knoxville Artist
Knoxville artist Chris McAdoo opens a visually-compelling exhibition titled "Coming Home" this Friday, August the 3rd, at the Knoxville Arts & Culture Alliance. “Coming Home” is a dynamic review of McAdoo's riverscape, landscape, and cityscape paintings and charcoal drawings of locations found in East Tennessee. In this interview with Chris, he shares what brought him to this point in his career, and where he's planning on going from here. Knoxville Art Scene: What are you coming home from? Chris McAdoo: For several years, I've been focused on things other than making art. I owned a business for a while, and then worked as an art director for a local organization. Those experiences, coupled with my family life and my upbringing, have prepared me for the work I'm doing now. I literally couldn't have done what I'm doing even a couple of years ago. I've been given this incredible opportunity to basically draw for a living. I really think that it's only just now that I can fully appreciate what that means and I'm taking great care to make that a long term reality. Knoxville Art Scene: There are so many beautiful waterfront landscapes in East Tennessee. Do you have any favorites?
Chris McAdoo: I grew up on Douglas and Cherokee lakes, so those are definitely some of my favorite places in the world. To me, water has such a regenerative quality - both mentally and physically - that I'm surprised that I'm only just now exploring it in my artwork. Knoxville Art Scene: Do you have any other favorite themes for your art? Chris McAdoo: I've worked with the figure for years, doing woodblock prints. Some of my next projects will be woodblock prints based much more on narrative storytelling than my current crop of work. Really, I don't search out a theme. My current work started to happen spontaneously, and I have been fortunate to be able to continue with the idea. I don't think this counts as a theme, but if anything, I'd like for people to walk away knowing that I care deeply about doing my best work, and hopefully it shows. Knoxville Art Scene: How long have you been involved in the Knoxville art community?
Chris McAdoo: I've been around since 2000 in one form or another, but the bulk of my work has been seen more out of town (or out of state). I really want to change that with this show. I am putting a considerable amount of time and resources toward putting together the best show that I can, because I think that Knoxville deserves it. I plan on living here for some time, and I think there's an active art community, both in terms of those making art and those willing to collect and support it. It's time to really make that happen and I look forward to being a part of it. Knoxville Art Scene: What's next for you after the Coming Home show at the Emporium?
Chris McAdoo: For one, I'm going to catch up on some sleep! After that, I'll be traveling to different cities and visiting galleries (Atlanta, Charleston, Asheville, NYC) and I suppose we'll see where that leads. Also, I've got some ideas and goals to work with the arts in education. I feel rather strongly that the arts (visual, music, theatre, etc.) should be an absolutely integral part of the educational experience. Creative skills like these translate into "real world" problem solving, no matter what field someone goes into. Knoxville Art Scene: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us? Chris McAdoo: I'd certainly like everyone to come out on Aug. 3 from 5-9 down at the Emporium. There are a lot of people working hard to make this an event to remember. I am very excited to get this work out there, as it's so unlike anything I've done before; and admittedly, I'm a little nervous! Knoxville Art Scene: Well thank you very much for the opportunity to interview you, and good luck!
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