Today we’d like to introduce you to Connery McDowell.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I grew up in a small town outside of Ann Arbor Michigan. My whole life I felt like I had many people telling me what I should be doing with my life, in particular how I should use my intelligence to make money. That was not something that interested me. I wanted to create something that would make a difference beyond my own life. I started to paint and make documentary film. That’s when I got the idea for Avant Guardians. I decided to create this movement of artists from all walks of life and all mediums to maintain and uphold the original tenets of avant garde art movements: namely, freedom of thought, speech, and expression. I wanted to make a platform that would give artists a place to voice their opinions on issues that normally aren’t allowed to be discussed in public. I wanted to fight back against the overwhelming pressure of censorship from governments and corporations alike.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I’ve been fortunate, all things considered. My challenges were more personal than external. I had to fight through some forms of depression and anxiety. Ironically, at my lowest point of self-confidence, I decided to take up modeling, which led me to the runways of NYC. This was a formative experience for me because I learned two truths: 1. It’s okay to love your appearance and 2. Appearance is nowhere near everything there is to life. This duality has served me well in terms of feeling a sense of belonging or comfort in whatever setting I’m in. I have not had it easy financially necessarily, and I remember more than a few nights in NYC sleeping on public busses to and from JFK Airport so that I wasn’t sleeping on a park bench and therefore vulnerable to people who might want to do me harm. Thankfully I also have a network of friends around the country who want to see me succeed and are willing to let me crash on their couches when I don’t have the funds for a room.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Avant Guardians – what should we know?
The Avant Guardians are less of a business and more of an art movement. On the business side, we provide copyright protection for our artists as well as a space to upload their work without fear of censorship or a decrease in quality of images when they upload their work (think of how Instagram compresses your image, we do nothing of the sort). We are interested in spreading art to the public for free in many different forms, be it virtual or physically at shows. We are looking into expanding our vision to include audio and video interviews with our artists focusing on topics that may be taboo for other media outlets. So far (we started about a month ago) I’m most proud of the enthusiasm we’ve received from the artists we’ve come in contact with.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
This is a tough one, because I know I am a product of my environment (and a forgetful one at that). I’d have to start by thanking my parents, grandparents, and sister for putting up with the Rollercoaster that has been figuring out what to do with my life. I think another person who deserves a shout out is the lovely Scott Kahn, an experienced painter living in NYC who has shared with me the ins and outs of the visual art world and perhaps unwittingly given me a vision for how I want to change it and shake things up. Not to mention visually his artwork is very inspiring. Reilly Stasienko, a wonderful friend and painter on the other end of the age spectrum, is another person who has been extremely inspirational for me. She’s the person who really made me believe in the power I have within myself at a moment when I really was lost. Finally, I’d like to thank my best friend since kindergarten and my tough as nails web designer, Joe Obarzanyk. He is the reason the website is as solid as it is right now and he continues to push me to make the platform better for our artists.
Contact Info:
- Website: avantguardians.art
- Phone: 734 991 3773
- Email: connerymcdowell12@gmail.com
- Instagram: @theavantguardians
Image Credit:
ricoisevil, dalejuanphotography, nomadicmadam
Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
