Mandate
Co. Lab is a grassroots- DIY contemporary arts space & gallery. We are interested in providing exhibition space to emerging artists, fostering dialogues with established and new voices, and providing a platform for culturally diverse artists and curators. We are also interested in hosting community-based projects and programs such as workshops, performances, public talks, and discussion groups.
Co. Lab is committed to maintaining an anti-oppressive space that welcomes queer, BIPOC, and disability identified people and communities. Our relationship with our community is continually evolving; we seek to respond and reflect its needs.
The Collective
Co. Lab is administered by an ad hoc collective of artists, performers, and curators working alongside guest programmers and collaborators. We strive to be responsive, quick-moving, and non-bureaucratic in our operations while maintaining principles of anti-racism, inclusivity, and consensus-based collaboration.
Exhibit Here
CO.LAB hosts an estimated 25 exhibitions and 60 events or workshops annually.
ART EXHIBITIONS: These are professionally curated and installed exhibitions of emerging and established regional artists. Exhibitions are selected by the Co.Lab Collective, an ad hoc group of established regional artists who co-curate and designate programming for the year. To apply to show your work message us at curatorcolab@gmail.com.
WORKSHOPS: Events and workshops are independently led by the artists, organizations & individuals themselves. Additionally we offer the gallery for short term exhibitions and gatherings of all kinds. Rentals are coordinated by Goods & co. Market staff and reflect a sliding scale in pricing. Our space is fully accessible, secure and has access to water, wifi, all gender washrooms, presentation equipment, tables, chairs and a small kitchen. Submit inquiries to loracolab@gmail.com.
gallery floor plan
THE TEAM
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Sarah McPherson
RESIDENT CURATOR
Raised in Thunder Bay, Sarah is a 2Spirit and non-binary experimental media artist from Couchiching First Nation. She has been studying digital and film photography since 2014. In her personal work, Sarah focuses on photography and photographic mediums as language, using experimental techniques such as film soup to emphasize different messages in her work.
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Shelby Gagnon
RESIDENT CURATOR
Shelby Gagnon is an artist from Aroland First Nation but has lived in Thunder Bay for most of her life. Shelby is a graduate of Lakehead University in the Honours Bachelor of Fine Arts program where she explored the reclamation of identity and traditions of being an Indigenous woman in Canada. She is involved with a variety of community-engaged organizations.
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Lora Northway
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Lora Northway is a a professional artist, curator, arts educator, facilitator and activist, working in the discipline of community-based collective creation through the non-profit sector for over 14 years.
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TUIJA HANSEN
CO CURATOR & GALLERY ATTENDANT
Tuija Hansen (HBFA, MA) is a textile artist and instructor. Hansen studied at Kootenay School of Arts school of craft and design and Visual Arts and Social Justice Studies at Lakehead University.
Hansen’s creative practice involves ethical foraging, gardening, plant dyeing, and handweaving. Her work blends traditional weaving with modern technology. This pursuit has led to numerous artist residencies in Ontario, Midwest/Northeast USA, Scotland, Finland, and Iceland. She enjoys teaching and learning in community arts, recently as a project lead-artist, educator, and program facilitator with various art service organizations.
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MARY JANE MACDONALD
CO CURATOR & GALLERY ATTENDANT
MJ is a Toronto-based multidisciplinary artist, and fashion researcher interested in fashion history and passionate about sustainability in fashion. MJ utilizes embroidery and mending techniques as a way to engage and promote better relationships with clothing.
MJ has extensive experience with exhibition development, collections care, project management, research development and community art projects. She is currently completing a Masters Degree in Fashion Studies at the Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University.