Robin Gray is the mind behind Organic Metal Gallery, a store meets workshop that’s promotes young Toronto artists. Inspired while she was teaching in Japan, Robin walked into an open studio. Soon after she quit her job and started spending all her free time there. Upon returning home, Gray enrolled in George Brown’s three year Jewellery Art program. A week after graduating she was strolling down College Street and spotted places for rent, a month later she opened the store.

What was your vision for Organic Metal Gallery when you started out?
I wanted basically to just be able to work in a place where I could do my own work. There were a number of different people who originally came in with me with the same sort of idea and found that they didn’t want to continue. Then a number of people that came in and saying ‘hey can you teach me what you’re doing?’ So, it sort of evolved from wanting to do something collaboratively, to wanting to do what I wanted to do regardless of any setback, then to other people wanting to learn what they could from me. I find that I make more friends everyday because people that come in and have work done, and come back repeatedly. We end up establishing a relationship which is nice.

What do you think the relationship between fashion and jewellery is?
To be honest I’m not sure. I think fashion tends to be about expressing yourself so in a sense jewellery is about that too. But, because fashion changes so rapidly, I’m hoping that the jewellery that I make is more timeless, so people will want to wear it forever. In designing it, I aim to make it really personal, express each person. I do quite a bit of custom work so I try to get people to express themselves and create something that they’ll keep forever. In one sense I can see how they are related, in another sense I think they are almost the opposite.

How does your design process work?
It starts from the kind of person you are. I just keep making things that interest me. When I make something, I tweak it and change a little bit. The more I make, they all seem to become related because of who I am and what I’m interested in. I don’t actually sit down and say, ‘hmm…I’d like to design something today’. I make something and I just change it. My process is just doing it.

What makes your art stand out in Toronto’s jewellery scene?
Probably the theme of it at the moment. It’s a little bit more user friendly and earth friendly. My personal flexibility and the opportunity that I give people to actually see the process as it happens and actually design part of their own jewellery is also a factor.
interview by Melissa Brazier
image supplied by Robin Gray

previous WORN ASKS:
Jen Anisef of Toronto Craft Alert
Amy Johnson of Wooden Apples
Lola Lamb, Montreal Burlesque preformer

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