Autobiography of Chris Smith Evans

A biography is a compilation of stories of the people around you, your responses to those stories and of course, your own experiences. My autobiography is interesting due in great part to knowing so many unusual people who’ve had great stories. In fact, the people and experiences in my life have been so interesting that at times I haven’t quite been able to keep up with it all.

My history started quietly enough traveling with my military family to Hawaii, California and Washington D.C. After graduating from college I moved to New York City’s SoHo district and became part of that vibrant art world. My early paintings, based upon childhood experiences growing up during the Vietnam War, received important critical attention from Independent Curators International; Lucy Lippard and C. David Thomas, organizers of national and international exhibitions on the theme of war, particularly the Vietnam War.

In 1986, following the birth of my son, I moved from New York City to a Pennsylvania valley populated by Amish and conservative Mennonites. Why anyone would choose to live without contemporary comforts like cars and televisions interested me. A surprising richness existed beneath the sparse surface of this culture and in 1991 I relocated to Evanston, Illinois where I lived and painted for 17 years immersed in the Mennonite culture. Participation in the simple, yet astonishingly service-oriented community was transforming to both my life and art. For instance, I found it surprisingly rewarding to use my artistic gifts outside the studio to teach children and adults with disabilities. Remarkably, the more I gave of myself to the task, the more it enriched my artwork in the studio. Recently, I followed this interest in teaching and began working with special education classes in Charleston, South Carolina.

Though I no longer live in the Mennonite culture, strong influences remain in both my life and art. When asked about the future direction of my work, I confess my plan is to continue to let the personality of my community direct my brush. I trust that collectors of my work can look forward to many interesting surprises. Whether my subjects are the
people and romance of South Carolina, the Mennonites of Pennsylvania and the Midwest, or the soldiers of Vietnam, my work will always be the story of my community.

-Chris Smith Evans

Selected Exhibitons:
Sawbridge Studios, Chicago, Illinois
Galarina Folk Arts, Shipshewana, Indiana
Stephanie Jackson, Healing Arts Gallery, Brooklyn, New York.
Midwest Museum of Art, Elkhart, Indiana.
Mary and Leigh Block Galleries, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois.
Frederick S. Wright Art Gallery, University of California, Los Angeles, California.
Whatcome Museum of History and Art, Bellingham, Washington.
De Cordova and Dana Park Museum and Sculpture Garden. Newton, Massachusetts.
Museum of Art, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington.
The David Rodale Gallery, Baum School of Art, Allentown, Pennsylvania.
CU Art Galleries, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado.
Atlanta College of Art Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia.
Boston University Art Gallery, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts.
Art Center of Battle Creek, Battle Creek, Michigan.
Peace Museum, Chicago, Illinois.
Waterworks, Salisbury, North Carolina.
Herbert Johnson Museum, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
Bess Cutler Gallery, New York, New York.
New York State Vietnam Veterans Memorial Gallery, Albany, New York.
White Columns Gallery, New York, New York.
80 Washington Square East Galleries, New York, New York.
Hallwalls Gallery, Buffalo, New York.
Harm Bouckaert Gallery, New York, New York.
Frank Martin Gallery, Muhlenberg College Center for the Arts. Allentown, Pennsylvania.