Nate: Adrian, thank you so much for carving out time our of your busy schedule. Thank you for your persistence to connect. Big shout-out to our mutual connection in LaShun [Tines]—how do you know him?
Adrian: I believe we just met on social media. Our first time meeting was at the show.
Nate: What show was that?
Adrian: It was called “The Art of Blackness” at Block 37 [in Chicago]. It took place on February 12.
Nate: How did you discover this show?
Adrian: I was contacted by him via social media. I think it was LinkedIn. He reached out to me and put the bug in my ear about it. I knew a few other artists that were a part of it. Went ahead and showed two portraits from work of mine entitled “We Matter.”
Nate: “We Matter”—is this on your website? I’m professionally creeping on your website right now, as we speak. Multitasking. Just want to acknowledge that I always try to give visible traceability, you know, giving credit where credit is due, especially when it comes to discovering new, vital creative voices, which is, again, one of my primary drivers for Design Feast and the Makers series—all types of makers in all stripes. Thanks again to LaShun who steered me to your direction, and that you’re part of the Midwest, that you’re passionate about photography. I knew right away when I went to your portfolio-site that I needed to reach out to you. So thank you for the green light to join an interview. Appreciate that. Have a lot of questions to ask. Let me start with you being a proactive photographer. You’re very nerdy about the craft and the execution of photography. How did you arrive at the desire to become a photographer? How did you discover photography?
