User:Cjschultz2001/House of Avalon
The House of Avalon is a queer art collective and self described "gay street gang" [1]originally from Little Rock, Arkansas started in the early 2010's. Included in the House of Avalon are a number of drag performers (including RuPaul's Drag Race alumni Symone), content creators, fashion designers, and stylists. The House of Avalon got their start throwing parties for queer people in Arkansas because there weren't any fun, exciting, creative spaces for queer people there. Because of this they created their own space, which was described by Morgan Sykes of the Arkansas Times as "a kaleidoscopic visual assault, playful and earnest partying, and such pervasive positive vibes that the place seemed, in some fascinating cognitive dissonance, downright wholesome."[2] Eventually the group made their way to Los Angeles, California where they are currently headquartered.
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Members
[edit]Marko Monroe
[edit]Along with Hunter Crenshaw and Grant Vanderbilt, Marko Monroe is one of the founding members of the House of Avalon. Monroe started his artistic career at the University of Central Arkansas[3], where he got an MFA in sculpture.[4] Monroe has stated that "being a student at UCA may not have specifically led me into this direction but it taught me how to be adaptable, set priorities, execute a vision, have confidence in my intuition and be open to critique."[3] Monroe has been interviewed for publications such as Out Magazine[4] and Billboard[5]. Marko Monroe is well-known for being the primary stylist to music icon Lizzo. Monroe was first approached by Brooke Candy's costume designer to make a look for Lizzo's Water Me music video, then he asked to make another look for Lizzo's appearance at DragCon. After the DragCon look, Monroe made a leopard-print look for Lizzo to wear for her guest slot on Haim’s spring 2018 tour. After putting together these three outfits, Monroe was recruited to be Lizzo's permanent stylist.[5] Marko has also styled for Nailed It! host, Nicole Byer, Jennifer Coolidge, and others. Along with Caleb Feeny and Rubber Child, Marko was included in Lil Nas X's music video for his song That's What I Want.
Grant Vanderbilt
[edit]Grant is a drag performer and influencer currently living in Los Angeles along with the majority of the House of Avalon. Along with Hunter Crenshaw and Marko Monroe, Grant Vanderbilt is one of the founding members of the House of Avalon. Vanderbilt and Crenshaw grew up together in Bald Knob, Arkansas but didn't get to know each other until Hunter's senior year of high school.[6] Grant says he introduced Marko and Hunter to each other because he believed they would get along as well as Vanderbilt not liking Hunter's boyfriend at the time. According to Vanderbilt, there was some initial tension between members of the House when Feeny joined due to Caleb being a Lady Gaga fan.[6] Vanderbilt was featured with Marko, Hunter, Symone, and Caleb in W Magazine in December of 2021.
Symone, given name Reggie Gavin, is a drag performer best known for her time on the thirteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race where she was the winner of the season and declared "America's Next Drag Superstar." Symone is one of the founding members of the House of Avalon. Symone is originally from Conway, Arkansas. Symone discovered drag in 2009 after the original airing of RuPaul's Drag Race[7]. Symone performed in drag semi-regularly during her college years[7] and in 2019 moved to Los Angeles with the other members of House of Avalon. In 2021 Symone competed in season 13 and was crowned the winner of the season. Since winning Drag Race, Symone has been featured on a number of magazine covers and also attended the 2021 Met Gala and 2021 MTV Video Music Awards. As of November 29, 2021 Symone has been nominated for a People's Choice Award for The Competition Contestant of 2021.[8]
Hunter Crenshaw
[edit]Hunter Crenshaw is an artist, promoter, and influencer currently living in Los Angeles. Along with Grant Vanderbilt and Marko Monroe, Hunter Crenshaw is one of the founding members of the House of Avalon. Hunter grew up in Bald Knob, Arkansas. Hunter was introduced to Marko Monroe by Grant Vanderbilt on the 4th of July where Monroe and Crenshaw got to know each other in a Sonic restaurant. Shortly after moving to Little Rock with Monroe, Caleb Feeny moved in with Hunter and Marko. Crenshaw is sometimes credited as the graphic designer and house mother for the House of Avalon.[9]
Gigi Goode, given name Gigi Geggie, is a transgender and non-binary drag performer best known for her time on the twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race where she was the runner-up along with Crystal Methyd. Gigi is originally from Woodstock, Illinois and eventually moved to Los Angeles, California and frequently collaborated with the House of Avalon during her drag career. Gigi even stayed with the House of Avalon while in quarantine in 2021.[10] While many of Goode's fashions are made by her mother, Kristi, her Jean Paul Gaultier-inspired cone-bra gown in the finale of season twelve was designed and handmade by Marko Monroe[11]. Goode appeared in the Savage X Fenty fashion show and Amazon Prime Video special Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 2 with fellow Drag Race contestants Jaida Essence Hall and Shea Couleé . At the 46th People's Choice Awards she won an award in the "Competition Contestant of 2020" category.
While there are a number of other members or collaborators within the House of Avalon, more information and published works are needed in order to list them here.
References
[edit]- ^ "WELCOME TO THE HOUSE OF AVALON". Alright darling. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
- ^ Sykes, Morgan (2014-05-29). "The rise of the House of Avalon in Little Rock". Arkansas Times. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
- ^ a b "Meet Marko Monroe LIZZO's Stylist — Art and Design". uca.edu. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
- ^ a b "Meet the Creative Collaborator Behind Lizzo, Symone, and Gigi Goode". www.out.com. 2021-04-02. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
- ^ a b Pace, Lilly (2019-12-06). "Marko Monroe Has Styled Lizzo for Nearly Two Years — Here's Why He Thinks She's This Generation's Madonna". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-12-06.
- ^ a b "WELCOME TO THE HOUSE OF AVALON". Alright darling. Retrieved 2021-12-06.
- ^ a b Street, Mikelle (2021-01-29). "Symone Is The New Fashion Queen of 'RuPaul's Drag Race'". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
- ^ Entertainment, E!. "People's Choice Awards 2021". votepca.com. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
- ^ "Marko Monroe". www.stylectory.net. Retrieved 2021-12-06.
- ^ Nast, Condé (2020-04-23). "Why 'RuPaul's Drag Races Gigi Goode Is More Than Just a Fashion Queen". Vogue. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
- ^ Step into the technicolor world of Marko Monroe, and the House of Avalon, retrieved 2021-11-12