The Collective Artspace builds on S. Division artist community with new shared gallery, studio space

When The Collective Artspace Co-Director Rachelle Wunderink sits down to talk with prospective new members, there’s only really one big thing she wants to know.

“What’s your dream project you’ve always wanted to do but never could do because you don’t have the space? How can we try to help and make that happen?” asks Wunderink, who opened the Collective Artspace alongside fellow co-director Ryan Hay just a little over a month ago at 40 S. Division Avenue, on the heels of the closing of former event-based exhibition space Craft House.

In fact, it was through an email introduction by former Craft House director that Wunderink and Hay first connected — and it was just a couple hours into their first meeting when they both realized they both saw enormous potential in the idea of having a dedicated collaborative space accessible for young Grand Rapids artists. 

“We both wanted to collaborate, wanted to have a space — almost like an incubator — where we could really push the Grand Rapids art scene and push ourselves as artists with others in the community,” says Wunderink, shortly thereafter bringing the Collective Artspace’s third main organizer and longtime friend, Tia Wieringa on board.  

Currently 16-members strong, the new headquarters provides open upstairs gallery space with five studio spaces in the basement, which rent alongside membership fees for a total of about $115 per month. 

“You’re sharing a space with other people, so you’re not gaining a whole room, but with that comes more collaboration and discussion and being around artists who are also working,” Wunderink says. 

Which, makes sense, seeing as the mission of The Collective Artspace is about as straightforward as it sounds — to create an accessible, affordable avenue for local artists to grow and nurture their own unique creative sensibilities alongside those with different, unique, creative sensibilities. 

“A lot of what we want to do with our members is have them collaborate with each other or artists outside of the Collective space and think outside the box, or do something maybe they normally wouldn’t,” she says. “Instead of making what you always make, how can we pair you with someone who can really challenge and push you in a different  direction, or incorporate the art you make with what another artists makes?” 

Last weekend, The Collective Artspace hosted its first event of the collaborative kind, hosting a gallery for Detroit artist Matthew Milla that incorporated both his mixed-media tangible work and music from his band Frontier Ruckus. 

“We had 45 people come to that concert, which for us we thought was really great start,” Wunderink says. 

For more information on The Collective Artspace gallery, its members, or upcoming events visit www.collectiveartspace.com or find The Collective Artspace here on Facebook. 

Written by Anya Zentmeyer, Development News Editor
Images courtesy of The Collective Artspace