Today we’d like to introduce you to Kenneth P. Garnier.
Hi Kenneth P., we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
It all started in the 1960s and ‘70s, in Los Angeles, California, when and where I was born and raised. I had devoted parents, encouraging siblings, and caring neighbors. Artistic influences, both subliminal and conspicuous, were everywhere – perhaps, even in the water and air. My house, the schoolhouse, and the church house, all spoke to my soul in very compelling ways about possessing a uniquely expressive purpose on the planet. My giftedness – identified innocently when I was only four years old, along with those relational environments of structure and spontaneity, and of encounters and affirmations – crescendos through the art I exhibit today. Intriguingly, life’s episodes and adventures directed me to invaluable intersections along the way that were impassioned crossings between the secular and the sacred. In childhood, I participated in various art forms including singing, playing musical instruments, drawing, painting, acting, dancing, and writing, which I did alongside my devotion as an altar server (after my first communion) at St. Michael’s Church in Los Angeles. My adulthood mirrored that early artiness, but with an interesting turn of events. From my early 20s to my late 40s, I was the principal pulpitarian of a church in Minneapolis, Minnesota; and, notably, during my tenure, children in the neighborhood (who believed I possessed unique powers) began calling me ‘Churchman.’ This became the inspiration, the impetus behind the creation of the sci-fi character by the same name.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, the road hasn’t always been smooth, but neither was I looking for a polished path. Challenges arose due to external, unpredictable factors beyond my control such as changes in artistic trends and the competitiveness of effective promoting. Brand marketing is one thing. What’s artistically trendy is another, especially since I place a premium on self-expression. Because Churchman embodies so many things – science fiction, spirituality, psychology, heroism, and humor – the greatest struggle was, and will be, extensive brand acceptance and loyalty.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Throughout my life I have engaged in various artistic pursuits. Inspired by children, the Churchman character, however, is especially meaningful to me and central to my expressive work. I’m elated about ‘Churchman’ (2019), the 16-song album by Akouo; the ‘Churchman Children’s Art & Amusement Book’ (2021) by Chris Fulton and myself; the monthly comic strip ‘Churchman & Kape-able Kidz’ (2022); and current Churchman-related merchandise. With team members Tony Evans, Chris Fulton, Tracy Garnier, Muhammad Bilal, and others, there are proposals to expand the brand through additional merchandise, a cartoon series, an animated music video, a digital comic book, and a movie.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Quiet and shy, I grew-up in a family of eight. And yet, I took advantage of every occasion to be outwardly expressive. I, usually a reserved individual, participated in theatrical productions, musical performances, and televised parades. Frequently, I read books, penned poems, and created songs. Also, I worked whenever there was an opportunity and volunteered in my community. Not much has changed!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.iamchurchman.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kennethpgarnier/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamchurchman/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-p-garnier-88997b15/
- Twitter: https://x.com/I_Am_Churchman
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/akouomusic
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/pineal-minneapolis
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/kenneth-p-garnier
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/kennethpgarnier/
