We were lucky to catch up with Maria McDowell recently and have shared our conversation below.
Maria , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
Being a part of Underground Atlanta as it is right now holds a ton of meaning for me. I lived at The William Oliver Building in 2002 and grew very fond of this area of the city and the local residents. Walking down to the Underground happened almost daily for me back then. Emmcdee Gallery allows me to be a part of that spark we see in people – it is a place where they come to share their lives, celebrations, performances, exhibitions, networking events and collaborations. It is pretty exciting for me to be around just about every type of human and their creative practice and achievements. I am in awe most of the time here, even all these years later, thanks to the efforts of those around me who are just as passionate about bringing this place back to life.
Maria , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am a photojournalist by trade (UF 2000) and when the newspaper business began to drastically change just as I was graduating, I learned to lean more on the journalism half of my degree to diversify. I worked in a few different industries along the way after a couple years spent in Florida newspaper darkrooms and as a photo assistant for Sports Illustrated. From IT consulting, domestic violence advocacy, marketing, Alzheimer’s care, teaching and coaching middle schoolers, running a photography museum then running a financial planning firm to managing the operations of a high-end construction company… what I am most proud of is the resiliency instilled in me by my parents, brother and grandparents.
I am proud to be the daughter of a Nicaraguan immigrant and a Chicago carpenter’s son. My family worked with their hands and hearts and taught me to be able to do the same and to recognize the good in everyone. Hosting events at my space reminds me of seeing people through my lens again; their raw energy and love is what comes through.
Underground Atlanta is indeed resilient and has undergone many changes since the 1800’s. With allowing everyone to be a part of Emmcdee Gallery, showcasing their progress and celebrating these moments with them, I get to be a part of something that will hopefully last as a great bastion of Atlanta art, music and creativity.
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
Near the end of high school, my dad encouraged me to volunteer at the Police Station where he worked as a Crime Scene Investigator processing the scene and developing the evidence in the crime photo lab. This changed my outlook on how to approach any walk of life. It also changed how I immersed myself in anything that held my interest. I volunteered a lot in the beginning of my post-college days and then again in my late 20’s. This lead to me being considered for good positions within different organizations. Half the battle is just showing up sometimes.
I wish I would have had some of that real-life experience in my early teens but I always made sure to tell my interns at the photo museum and any young person I worked with to go volunteer! Get your hands dirty and show up (on time)!
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
I believe I’m driven by the need to understand, relate and share common ground with people. I am a true blue Cancer if that does anything to shed light on my sensitivities! My individual art practice has always been a semi-private, secondary sort of thing for me to rely on when I am feeling overwhelmed or even peaceful. I go through phases of writing, drawing, photography, painting and singing/making music. It starts and ends with me and if someone else likes it, well, that will always make me smile but helping others realize their own patterns of practice, connection and success in life or on the job is the cherry on top! I like helping young people by sharing my mistakes and stumbles. They are so inspiring to me and I am glad they refuse to put up with inequalities and injustices in the work place like a lot of people have had to do in their lifetimes, including me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Emmcdee_Gallery
- Youtube: https://vimeo.com/369711121
Image Credits
All Maria McDowell