Artist Profile: Alan Skees

American Regionalism arose in popularity in the 1930’s in the grip of the Great Depression. People looked to this style to freeze and preserve reassuring images of the heartland, agricultural and industrial might, and humble “salt of the earth” perceptions of culture. Now, over 80 years later, our country is struggling to release itself from financial turmoil, and once again entrenched in a “Nostalgia or Future” argument with itself. I believe that in general, looking and working hard toward the future will always win over weepy, representations of the “good ol’ days” that never, ever, actually existed.

Armed with technology: cell phones, gps, digital cameras, apps, I scan the landscape at high speed, blasting music, sampling rough pixel data of whatever flashes by, aware of my own perception of the world viewed through a tiny screen. Firing it off into the digital aether that surrounds us all with a push of a button.

-Alan Skees

About the Artist

Alan Skees was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. He received his BFA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham where he studied traditional and alternative forms of printmaking, digital arts, design, and a little sculpture and ceramics thrown in just for fun. He received his MFA degree in 2007 from the University of Arizona. While there, he studied more alternative forms of printmaking, non-toxic printmaking, book arts, installation art, and other forms of digital image making. Currently he is an Associate Professor of Digital Arts, New Media, and Printmaking at Christopher Newport University. He lives and makes art in Williamsburg, Virginia with his wife Kristin Skees, and they show their work nationally and internationally.

How long have you been an instructor?

I was an undergrad for a long time because I was working full time and going to school part time. I started assisting my professor Derek Cracco at UAB around 2002 after working my way up to advanced level courses. It is what inspired me to go to grad school to be an art professor. I was a TA at the University of Arizona teaching 2D foundations and some printmaking classes while I earned my MFA. I worked as an adjunct for about 3 years after graduating Arizona in 2007. I worked at UAB and the U of Montevallo teaching printmaking, drawing, and digital arts classes until I landed at job here in Virginia at Christopher Newport University in 2010. I’ve been teaching here ever since. I just earned tenure this year!

What is your earliest memory of visual art?

My grandfather opened and ran printshops around the southeast, mainly check printing. I have vague memories of those plants and the huge machines. My father always drew and painted as a hobby. I always liked to draw and build things and would plow through boxes of paper my Dad brought home from work. I’ve always liked watching TV shows about art and history.

Do you consider yourself a “master” of a particular medium?

They eventually  gave me a degree that has the word “Master” in it (haha!), but I feel I’m always learning something. I’m deeply interested in learning techniques and seeing what other artists are doing in their work. I think I'm more interested in how something was made than why a lot of times. I have two wings in my artwork, the digital side and the hand pulled printmaking side and I love to explore and mix up both areas.

What is the best art advice you’ve been given?

Oh wow, I don’t think I can narrow it down to just one thing! There are so many facets to being an artist. I find myself saying many of the things my professors and mentors told me that I laugh sometimes about it. I think the best advice I give to my students that was given to me is to never stop looking at artwork. Even if you are browsing on the internet or going to world class museums, don’t stop looking at it. It can be both a daunting and inspiring thing to do and it keeps you thinking about the next thing YOU can make.

Describe the best interaction you’ve had with a student.

My favorite thing is when a student tells me they landed their work in an art exhibition for the first time. They’re excited and they’re also a bit pensive. You can see the wheels turning in their head about what they need to do to get the work ready, delivered, etc. They’re putting everything you taught them into action.

Has anything fun or interesting happened as a result of being in the Hampton Roads art community?

I’ve been showing artwork in Hampton Roads since 2010 and I’ve gotten to meet so many people and be a part of many events because of my job at CNU. I’ve gotten to jury shows and fairs, do workshops with local artists, show my work in many of the exhibition spaces in the area, and go to all kinds of art events. I feel the art scene is growing on the peninsula and I’ve been working hard to support it and enhance it. We’re opening up our new Fine Arts Center on campus in 2021 and I’m so excited for people to finally see our years of work we have put into it. I think it’s going to be a major arts hub that can bring the Hampton Roads Art Community together even more!

Watch Alan and Kristin Skees on Episode 15 of The HeART of Hampton on Thursday, August 20, 2020 at 7PM.

Images: American Glitch: Neo Regionalism - Car - AL/VA - Nocturne - 02 (main image; detail), American Glitch: Neo Regionalism - Suburb - Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel #3, American Glitch Neo Regionalism Car - AL/VA - 1-65 -05, American Glitch Neo Regionalism - Airplane - ROC to PHL - 01