Four years ago, artist Jane Davila looked through southern Connecticut for studio space. Lots of different spaces were available, from old warehouses to polished workrooms, but Davila eventually landed at NEST Arts Factory in Bridgeport. Today, Davila is still a resident artist at NEST, recently taking on a larger role as its managing director.

In a region with all sorts of studio spaces for rent and residence, NEST offers something unique: a community of fine artists working together. “We have a process of selecting artists to join the community,” says Davila. “We’re looking for fine artists. We don’t have as much space as we’d like to have, so we’ve made the decision to limit the residence here to fine artists as opposed to fine artists and creative businesses.”

Rick Shaefer in his NEST Arts Factory studio

NEST works to foster a very open community—literally. Though no one is forced to socialize, artists at Nest often leave their doors open, go to each other’s art openings, and go on runs to the art supplies store together. “NEST is definitely more of a community than most other art spaces,” Davila says, referencing the potential for drama when artistic types gather. “There’s a lot of interaction here between artists.”

“We have someone here who’s really good at framing, who’ll leave his door open for people who need some framing done,” she adds. “If someone needs help with social media, they’ll come and knock on my door and ask, ‘So. . .what’s the deal with this Instagram thing?’”

NEST has a wait list for artist space. Musicians, jewelers, painters, lighting designers, and cartoonists are just a few different kinds of artists with studios at NEST. Take readers may recognize a few of the artists currently residing at NEST.

Like many arts development projects in post-industrial New England, NEST was born through chance, opportunity, and a little bit of bravery. John Carnright was working for Vic Mulaire’s sock manufacturing company as a graphic designer in 1996 when, according to Davila, he asked Mulaire if he had any corners where Carnright could hang out with an easel. The answer was yes, and after Mulaire sold the sock company and kept the lease for the building, Mulaire decided to convert the old factory into studio spaces for artists.

Now in its 25th year, and with Mulaire as its executive director, Nest Arts Factory continues to hold space for fine artists in a rapidly developing region. That development, of course, can have a downside, making Bridgeport unaffordable for artists like those at NEST. “We’re all so enthusiastic about the city. It’s got so many treasures,” says Davila. “There’s just such a magical blend in this city, and we want people to appreciate it, but we also want to maintain our ability to stay here.”

NEST Arts Factory – Jane Davilia, managing director
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Photos courtesy of NEST Arts Factory

The post NESTing Together in Bridgeport appeared first on Take Magazine.

There are plenty of places throughout New England where art junkies and collectors can access work from important and popular artists, alive and dead. Abigail Ogilvy offers patrons of her Boston gallery and art collectors a different experience; the opportunity to show, see and purchase art by our region’s emerging artists. She’s our direct line to these soon-to-be-famous artists and provides space for developing artists first individual or group show – those crucial moments of initial exposure in an ever-changing art market.

Mini Panda Yeux Violets, 2015 | 10.2 x 10.6 x 3.1 in., 3,600 straws

After graduating from Dartmouth with a degree in art history, Abigail began her career in the art world working for two galleries in Florence, Italy where she learned the art and science of representing living artists. After spending some time working in other adjacent industries and startups, Abigail decided it was time to start her own thing – a contemporary art gallery that focused on emerging and mid-career artists.

Abigail started by doing at least two to three studio visits a week, building mutually beneficial relationships with local artists. Now, after just one year of operation, Abigail’s dedication is paying off, “In just one year, three artists made it into the museum of fine arts summer auction,” said Abigail, “our artists [have been] picked up by other galleries and have been featured in other shows around the city…another one of my artists received the Fay Chandler Award.”

Framed Blue, 2015 by Katie Wild | Oil and acrylic on Plexiglas with paper collage and mixed media, 72 x 36 inches

In addition to showing and representing emerging artists, Abigail seeks to make the downtown Boston arts scene more accessible to all kinds of people. She accomplishes this through her programming at the gallery, hosting over 40 events in the last year ranging from artists talks to flower arranging classes. According to Abigail, it’s all a part of her strategy to diversify and enliven the Boston arts scene, “having events that aren’t necessarily just about the art – a combination of some sort of programming and the art, it get’s people in the door.”

In addition to broadening her audience of arts patrons and makers, Abigail also strategically works to lend gravity and importance to her emerging artists in the wildly competitive, nebulous art market. When curating group shows, Abigail mixes in lesser-known artists’ work with the work of more popular artists as a way to prioritize and legitimate the work of her emerging and mid-career folks. This selective and strategic arrangement asks audiences to contextualize the work of the undiscovered with that of the well-respected, “…it’s strategic in that I want people to think very highly of our gallery and our artists because they truly deserve that recognition.”

Town + Country, 2015 by Holly Harrison | 14 x 11 in., Mixed Media on Wood Panel

Over the next year, Abigail plans to bring her work outside the walls of her gallery and into other parts of Boston’s South End. She wants to bring her signature programming and novel artists’ work to new spaces all over the city like the Millennium Tower. It is in these new spaces where Abigail will engage new audiences and continue her invaluable work – ensuring the success of our next generation of artists.

Abigail Ogilvy is the curator and owner at ABIGAIL OGILVY GALLERY in Boston Massachusetts. Be sure to keep up with her rigorous line up of events and numerous exhibitions via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

All images courtesy Abigail Ogilvy

The post The Art of Emergence appeared first on Take Magazine.