Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mary Hlastala. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Mary, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard.

Variable Creatives aims to create a community art space for local artists in Portland, OR. We do this in a variety of ways including offering free drop-in studio space, a retail store where artists sell their work, and community gallery exhibits. Each month we have an open call for artists to display their work in our exhibit centered around a specific theme. There is no application to join or limits on who can or cannot display their work. It’s open to anyone. We do not judge based on social media followers or specific styles of work. We create a shared space of different mediums, voices, and experiences. By doing so, this opens the art community where creators at all levels can participate and join in a shared exhibit.

We have heard from multiple artists that this open call style of creating exhibits gives artists a chance to display their work in ways that are not normally possible. They feel included, welcomed, and valued. This is a huge part of our mission so that artists continue to find opportunities and are encouraged to join without feeling as if they have to reach a specific level in their creative journey, which is often the case with most galleries.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

As a creative person myself, I wanted to provide an inclusive space that brings people together, a space where people feel honored and valued, and a space where artists can learn from each other and build relationships. After a year at art school, I felt that artists had to have a message and that art couldn’t be created just for the joy it brings. There was an unspoken understanding that artists have to fight to get their work shown and that it’s a constant struggle. I wanted to break down the cold and sterile walls of a typical gallery and open a space where everyone is welcome.

It is my personal mission to remember each artist’s name and connect with their work. This is a challenge but one I am fighting hard to conquer. When artists walk through the door, I want them to feel at home, to feel included, and to feel like an individual. I try to stay involved in the community and supporting artists outside of the business. I feel the most proud when an artist tells me how welcoming my space is and that they love the vibe and the sense of community. I believe this is how I stand out from other spaces and the connections I make are unique to the work that I do.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I strongly believe that building personal relationships is what has grown my business. Artists tell me that they recommend my space and, in particular, working with me because of the attention I give to them. By supporting artists in other ways, specifically attending local art markets, artists see me outside the walls of the gallery and appreciate the personal connections I try to build. When they see that I’m out in the community, it shows them how much I care and want to support them. I’ve been told that I’m the only gallery owner who does this and it means a lot to me that it’s recognized and appreciated.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

As much as this is a shared space, I had to quickly learn how to set boundaries and create consistent and clear guidelines. I was very open to sharing the space with other creatives when I first opened but realized that having a clear vision and defining my limits has helped me to stay organized and pay attention to details. It’s something that is always being fine-tuned, but I’ve learned that by setting parameters for events or how I allow others to use the space, it builds the brand so artists know what I offer. Everything is clear and defined which I originally thought would limit my options but instead has built my reputation.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.variablecreatives.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/variablecreatives/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/variablecreatives
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/mary-hlastala-334017192