Today we’d like to introduce you to Gavin Pease.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Wow! Such a loaded question that can have a very extensive response. Lol, the short version of the long version is I’m a small-town kid and the oldest of 4 who was raised by a single mother in Akron, Ohio. (love you momma). Church and God were the cornerstone of my existence. We had morning service, Sunday school, choir rehearsal, afternoon service, evening service, and Bible study, only to come back the next day and do it again, lol. I was probably wearing a tie and my favorite church socks to school at that point just so I was prepared lol. But, that religious structure and way of living shaped my ability to believe in something I didn’t see or obtain yet and have very strong faith. I was always consider a left-field type of person. I intentionally went the opposite direction of the crowd and did what I wanted. This is how I initially found a liking to different art forms. Being alone and having a curious way of thinking. It started with a love for music. My first medium as a self-taught drummer for my church (still play) to becoming a full-time artist out of high school performing, touring, making a few dollars traveling doing it all. Having that opportunity and all those experiences changed my perspective drastically. I understood that my calling was bigger than just doing it for personal gain. It was about people and how I could help shape the culture to be more inclusive of all art forms and creatives. So, I took all I learned on my journey and brought it home to my community. Started throwing really successful events and shows, allowing people to show up as they were and display their practices in front of the community. Now, here we are, trying to figure out how to do it bigger and better
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Far from it. I think it’s interesting that we as humans even entertain that thought of having a “smooth road” on any journey worthwhile … there are exceptions that are clear that we won’t get into right now but, as a black man who has basically forged the path, I walk today … that is the challenge. I set out to change the landscape of how things were done in a city by myself. All I had was faith and belief. No training on how to run a movement or business, how to get opportunities, how money moved in the art world, who to talk to and about what, how to deal with people, how to make a tee shirt, how to get shows I mean the list goes on.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am and have always been a creative director and orchestrator before it became trendy to say it and put in your Instagram bio. I leverage my skillset with certain software (Adobe Illustrator, PS, etc.), the vision that God gave me, which usually allows me to see what others don’t, my empathy for people, and my attention to detail to bring all sorts of ideas and concepts to life. I’m most proud of the fact that this is who I really am. In a world where it’s so easy to give yourself a title and go and try to make money off of said title or appear as something for likes and attention. This is really who I am, and nobody can take that away from me. I have a litany of failures and successes to prove it. What I’m most proud of is twofold. I am who I say I am, and nobody can take that away from me. What also sets me apart from others is I back up what I say. If I tell you I love you and I got you, I mean it. I have put so many other creatives in position to change the trajectory of their careers, and I have gotten so many creatives a bag, whether directly or indirectly it’s crazyyyy!!! So many!!! Not a lot of people can say that I can. I think that’s hard!
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I think my most important quality that has attributed to my success is my humanistic approach to life, creativity, and relationship. Especially for creatives, we are all sensitive as hell. Lol
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hagyohio.com
- Instagram: @Swah330
