#gatheredgallery

Can you describe the moment you both decided to create The Gathered Gallery? What inspired the conception of this passion project and how did you get started?

It was January 2016 and we had just returned back to Guelph from Christmas Break. It really hit home for both of us that it was our last semester of school and we needed something to keep us engaged with the art community when we graduated. We were both interested in writing and wanted an outlet for that, as well. We treated the creation of the blog like an extra class and worked on it for three months before launching it in March 2016. We knew that we would be separated when we graduated because of our individual plans, so we needed a project that was feasible and that could still be successful with distance.  

You’re both working in separate cities now that you have graduated. Is there any advice you have for anyone who might want to collaborate with someone else through long-distance?

We are both very passionate about this project and understand that it takes a lot of work and planning of schedules to allow for it to keep moving forward. Its definitely a commitment and takes many hours of Skyping each week. Also, we are getting better at taking on tasks individually while keeping in communication with the other. One piece of advice would be to make sure you are working with someone you genuinely like. Everything is harder over distance and genuinely wanting to spend lots of time talking with that person is important. It's a bonus that we get to be a part of each others lives from so far away!

Tell us about the residency you just did! What do you plan on doing while you’re together?

We were at Spark Box Studio in Picton Ontario, for a week-long Emerging Artist Residency! The studio is run by Chrissy Poitras and Kyle Topping, and for us it was a week full of interviews and studio visits with local artists, updates and new additions to our website, as well as a small publication with a hand-printed cover made in their print studio! It was a great opportunity for us to work together again, something we realize is important for the growth of this project.

As two very successful Guelph studio art alumni, do you have any advice for other students in the studio art program?

It has been very important for us to stay connected with the art community after graduating. We do that through the blog! It keeps us looking at art, thinking about art, and communicating with artists, all things that disappear quickly when you leave school. Having a project started before you graduate that you can carry into the real world can make the transition less scary - at least it did for us! Also, find at least one person you love to work with because it is the community of artists you will miss the most. One more thing! Ask your professors a million questions while you still can, every question you can think of! You'll miss their knowledge and guidance a lot.

If you would like to keep up with The Gathered Gallery and the incredible things they do, check out their website, www.thegatheredgallery.com where you can sign up for their monthly newsletter which summarizes the artists they covered that month on their website. Take a peek at their Instagram and Facebook pages as well! If you follow The Gathered Gallery Instagram, there is a chance to get your work “regrammed” with the #gatheredgrams project. 

If you would like to keep up with their personal artwork and things they’re up to, you can follow Emily, @emilypittman and Natalie, @nat_field on Instagram.