ArTEEtude: Unveiling the Spectrum of Art, Culture and Mind. West Cork´s Art and Culture Podcast by Detlef Schlich.
Episode 203: "Canvas Chronicles: A Marathon of Art and Solitude. In this episode, delve with Detlef SChlich and John Adams into the artist's intense journey of creation, where days blend into nights in a solitary quest for expression.

Episode 203: "Canvas Chronicles: A Marathon of Art and Solitude. In this episode, delve with Detlef SChlich and John Adams into the artist's intense journey of creation, where days blend into nights in a solitary quest for expression.

Author: Detlef Schlich
Published: Sun 12 Nov 2023
Episode Link: http://www.arteetude.com/

Host Detlef Schlich explores the depths of creativity with John Adams in Cobh, Ireland, at his Gallery house.

John shares his journey, starting with his expulsion from four art colleges and his subsequent disillusionment with art. He recounts his move to London in 1985, where he pursued a career in rock music as a drummer and formed a successful band called the Crawdaddies. During this time, John grappled with personal loss and a dark state of mind, often resorting to alcohol and drugs.

Despite the challenges, John's time in London was marked by transformation. He bluffed his way into carpentry, learning the trade through a series of firings, earning him the nickname "Down the Road Johnny." His persistence eventually led him to his desired job in theatre set painting, where he worked on significant projects for London's biggest theatres, Pinewood Studios, and even Disneyland Paris.

John's artistic reawakening occurred when he joined a group of artists squatting in an old suntan lotion factory, which they transformed into a thriving art centre. Despite its eventual shutdown, John continued his community work by squatting and renovating the old Dole office in Brixton, turning it into a gallery and community space funded by parties and supported by the local police.

However, the roughness of London took its toll, with John experiencing multiple assaults over the years. A traumatic event in 1996, where a young boy died in his arms, compelled John to leave London and return to Cork. Back in Cork, he was commissioned to create a significant painting, which facilitated his move and integration into the local art scene.

In Cork, John joined the Backwater Artist Studios and, recognizing the lack of exhibition spaces, opened his studio to the public, inadvertently starting a tradition that involved the entire studio community.

John’s paintings are in many prominent collections such as the Crawford Municipal Gallery, Cork City Council, The Royal College of Surgeons, Cork City Library, President Michael D Higgins and many more private and public collections.

ArTEEtude is a podcast created and produced by Detlef Schlich that explores the intersection of art, digital culture, and true stories in West Cork. Schlich, a multi-disciplinary artist, operates his podcast with a cross-sectoral approach, believing that a visual artist should think beyond being just an antagonist and instead strive to be a protagonist. Through this podcast, he dives into the unknown depths of the creative mind to uncover new perspectives and ideas.