Meet James McKissic | Arts Administrator, Fiber Artist, Collector

We had the good fortune of connecting with James McKissic and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi James, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
So much of my work life balance involves being able to take part in the types of activities and experiences that ground me and give me happiness — and often that is the arts! I’m lucky, as a lover of the arts that I get to work in the nonprofit arts sector, be surrounded by arts, and interact with artists almost all of the time, which is sustaining for me. However, there are times, when it becomes challenging, especially on weeks when I’m working all day and attending events most evenings as well as on the weekends; so, I try to always take one day for myself, just to be calm, sit still, connect with family, weave, read and do activities that I can do alone, in solitude, and take time to refresh. I also make it a point to travel somewhere by myself at least a couple of times a year, too. Solo travel is very invigorating for me and helps me to reset and reboot.

What should our readers know about your business?
Since 1969, ArtsBuild has served as a catalyst for the arts in our community by investing $78 million in arts organizations, arts programs, and arts education. Through the years, the vision of our founders to build a stronger community through the arts has remained consistent and is now ArtsBuild’s mission. We do this through grant-making, arts education initiatives, cultivating leadership in the arts, and arts advocacy. Our goal is to increase access to the arts by providing more arts in more places for more people. Since I’ve been at ArtsBuild, I’m most proud of the work we have done to support individual artists, the programs we’ve worked on that link the arts to social issues, and the programs like Opportunity Fellows, Tech Goes Home and Periscope which help to open doors and elevate artists and burgeoning arts professionals to even higher levels.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Everyone knows that visual arts are my passion and Chattanooga has some great art to see! Some of my favorite places are coffee at Rembrandts and then an afternoon at the Houston and Hunter Museums. I love eating at Davis Wayne’s and Saks Wing Shack (my favorite fried whiting in the city!). You must visit Stove Works and the Institute for Contemporary Art and UT Chattanooga. Just wander around and take in all of the wonderful murals and sculptures that make our city a public art star and don’t forget to visit all of the galleries too!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have to shoutout all of the people who make up the local arts sector – the folks who are making Chattanooga-Hamilton County a great place to live work and play! Our local arts sector generates about $191 million in economic activity here in Hamilton County. Arts people are truth tellers, change makers, and bridge builders — everything that we need in our present times.

Website: www.jamesmckissic.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jhmckissic/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-mckissic-29b71136/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamesMcKissic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jmckissic/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7Spm0N3UPac7KZ8du95cbQ