Though my intentions for this interview series were a bit ambiguous, one of the themes emerging from many of them are the struggles and rewards of late twenties types who pursue creative professional paths. Today, I spoke with Christie McNabb, who lives in Indy's Fountain Square. She directs Fletcher Place Arts and Books, which is just down the street from Calvin Fletcher's, where she works as a barista. She also writes a blog called Living is a Process. Here is a glimpse into a conversation we had, surrounded by the work of local artists at her gallery:
Chris: Christie, you've got a neat space here. Can you walk me through some of the vision and process for this place?
Christie: I wasn't the original visionary, so it's hard to describe. I started working as the social media and communication person in 2010 over at the coffee shop, and the guy who runs it mentioned that they were going to launch a church. My initial reaction was, how are you going to do that? He was already working 50-60 hours a week. I told him I'd be willing to help, and he proposed that I direct the gallery, which we wanted to be a safe place to ask questions and explore faith. In addition to being an art gallery, we envisioned a reading room where people could come if they needed a quiet space.
Chris: So what's the relationship between the Fletcher Place Church and the gallery?
Christie: We share the space and the church does fund the gallery. Sometimes we're more like roommates than we are a marriage or even familial. I want it to be a community resource. In the summer, we really started to give the project some legs. We post the work of local artists. We had concerts here recently. A non-profit will be in here next week talking about social justice. I just want people to feel welcome to work here.
Chris: I keep hearing about this First Friday thing in Fountain Square. What involvement does the gallery have with that event?
Christie: The first Friday of every month we open up a new exhibit with the artist's present. It's basically a big party.
Chris: Would you consider yourself an artist?
Christie: I like to play with art, but no, I wouldn't really consider myself an artist.
Chris: Seems like you wear a variety of hats as barista, gallery director, and writer. How do these things connect for you?
Christie: There is some connection in that I use similar giftings in everything I do. I bring communication, leadership, and organizational skills to the table. Sometimes, though, the pieces don't seem to fit, which can be frustrating in terms of finding a rhythm, but also rewarding in that there is variety in my life. The biggest pro is that I get to do things I want to do.
Chris: What sort of things might we find you writing about on your blog?
Christie: I write because I have to. If no one in the world read it, I would still write it. A few friends who do read regularly tell me they find some encouragement from the honest struggles with faith that I express there. I suppose you could say I write little sermonettes. My hope is that people would read my story and find some hope in and for their own.
Chris: Your path is a little bit of an unorthodox one, and I'm sure it has its share of obstacles. Can you walk us through some of those struggles?
Christie: It's really hard to measure success, particularly with the gallery. I'm an end results-oriented person by inclination. I want to know why I'm doing what I'm doing. Of course, finances are a constant source of concern, but I'm not so sure that's any different from people who chose a more mainstream path. I guess maybe I just have to be a little more creative with the income I do make. I pay a lot of attention to it. Some of my friends definitely do not understand my lifestyle, but then again some people I expect not to are really supportive. I'm learning to own my direction. It's hard to have confidence that 'way leads to way,' and to not go back and second guess steps I took in the past. I think even when we don't make the 'right decision,' there is grace.
Chris: What is it that you love so much about Indy and Fountain Square in particular?
Christie: I grew up in the country, about 45 minutes from Indy, actually. But I love urban settings. Even in high school and college, I was really intrigued by some missional interactions that I had in cities. Currently, I feel settled in Fountain Square, probably most of all because I love the community, the neighbors that I bump into here and there. I have a heart for renewal, and I think there's a lot of potential for that here. The arts, especially, can be so life-giving, but they're too often reserved for the privileged, and that's sad. Fountain Square and its surrounding communities need the beauty of art, and I hope the gallery can provide some of that.
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