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Jaime Sweany
Jaime Sweany, owner of Wandering Turtle Art Gallery &
Gifts, was born and raised in Indianapolis, IN. Her parents, Paul and Margaret
Sweany, are both professional artists and she was greatly influenced by their
creativity and sensitivity to the beauty of our natural world. It was her love
for both art and nature that led her to Bloomington in 1978.
In 1992, she
graduated from Indiana University with a B.A. in Fine Arts Studio and began her
black and white portraiture business, Illuminessence Photography. Social
justice has been a lifelong commitment, and in 1999 she founded the Bloomington
chapter of Bread for the Journey (which recently migrated north to become Bread
for the Journey of Indianapolis).
From 1995-2002,
Jaime was co-owner of Wild Birds Unlimited, a specialty retail shop selling
backyard bird feeding supplies and nature gifts. After selling the business, she
decided to pursue her life-long dream of merging her passions for both the
natural world and creative expression. Her intention for Wandering Turtle Art
Gallery & Gifts is to support local and regional artists and to help create a
thriving downtown arts community. She would like to see the unique spirit of
Bloomington preserved and nurtured through support for the arts, strong
locally-owned small businesses, and respect for the natural beauty of our
surrounding environment.
(above) Jaime enjoys a glass of Oliver Winery's
Pinot Grigio (Photo courtesy of Ransom Haile)
Rachel DiGregorio
Retail Manager
While Rachel was born and raised in a family woven deeply into the musical
fabric of
Nashville,
Tennessee,
she developed her artistic nature in the visual arts.
From her early teen years Rachel has been an avid photographer, creating
emotional compositions from seemingly ordinary or decayed subject matter.
Recently she has begun working in the medium of jewelry design, launching her
own line in December of 2007 called Red Elephant Designs.
Always the ascetic eye, Rachel
reaches beyond her own art and recognizes the charm and talent in the artists
around her. Through this
appreciation she has discovered a newfound passion for production of art opening
events, seeing them as a way to utilize simultaneously her eye for beauty and
her savvy business skills. Situated as
such, she finds it a natural fit as well as a truly heartwarming experience to
help facilitate turning artistic visions into a reality.
Rachel has lived happily in
Bloomington
since 2001. In addition to
her artistic endeavors here, she has managed a business, purchased and remodeled
a house, raised a dog, grew a million flowers, and collected more pressed
pennies than you care to know about.
Ryan Dagley
Assistant Manager
(Thomas) Ryan Dagley was
born in sunny California
around the afternoon times in 1990. Soon after, and without his consent, he was
moved to Indiana at the age of one and was raised here ever since. Ryan recently
graduated from Bloomington High School North and was an avid member of the
music and Marching Band programs there. The arts appear to be Ryan's true calling
and he
spends the most time drawing, but also paints, practices clay molding, takes
photos, folds origami, writes, sews, and creates art from practically anything
he can get his hands on. He hopes to learn as much as he can from the Wandering Turtle
Art Gallery and take that knowledge with him as he begins his art studies at
Indiana University in the fall of 2008. Ryan brings a welcoming, social
atmosphere to the store. He aspires to perfect his drawing abilities, hoping to
publish graphic novels and share with the world his off the wall ideas and
creativity.
Laura Nading
Sales Associate
Hailing from the tiny, yet rich monoculture of
Hope,
Indiana,
Laura appreciates the contrast in diversity that
Bloomington
provides. As such, one of her greatest joys (besides eating on
4th
Street)
is supporting the unique cultural expressions
Bloomington
has to offer by being a member of the Wandering Turtle staff. In an age when art
can be more representative of cultural homogenization than community strength,
Laura sleeps better at night knowing there is a Wandering “attack” Turtle on the
prowl.
Aside from a blossoming interest in the cultural dynamics of art, Laura herself
holds only a marginal amount of artistic capability that expresses itself while
cooking or in the chance encounter with chunky sidewalk chalk.
Laura currently working towards a Bachelor of Arts
degree at
Indiana
University
with the intent of taking every possible course with a title to confuse her
parents. She loves breakfast, natural lighting, and rituals of all shapes and
sizes.
Amanda Rosenberg
Sales Associate
Amanda was born in
Cincinnati,
Ohio,
and raised in the small river town of
Madison,
Indiana. In high school, she used
her elective credits to take four art classes, two sewing and textile classes,
and interior design, and to this day, her work still adorns her quaint
Bloomington
apartment. She also participated in
the performing arts from the ripe old age of 2, and continued this passion—tap
dancing—until she graduated high school.
She entered
Indiana
University
in the fall of 2004, and graduated in May 2008, with a General Studies degree,
and minors in anthropology, psychology, and international studies.
Amanda’s primary
passion is exploring this beautiful world, through camping, meeting new people,
traveling abroad and at home, scuba diving, skiing, photography, music, dancing,
reading, and trying everything at least once.
She’s proud to say she lived in
Zambia
for a month, in
Greece
for 6 weeks, in
Thailand
for four months, and in
Bloomington,
Indiana
for four years. She worked at the
beloved Camp
Palawopec,
in Brown County,
Indiana
for 5 years, where she perfected the art of maintaining patience and sanity
amidst hundreds of wonderful, wild children.
Amanda is proud and excited to be a
part of the
Wandering
Turtle
Art
Gallery,
and looks forward to meeting all the amazing people who become a part of it too,
when they walk in the door.
Janice Williamson
Sales Associate
Janice is in love with
art. She moved to Bloomington four years ago from New York. She absolutely
adores this town and never wants to leave. Janice is full of crafty
artistic talent. She is always making something or thinking of something
to make.
She dreams of art and lives art.
(photo courtesy of Ransom Haile)
Mari Dagaz
Web Support
Mari Dagaz, friend and web support to Wandering Turtle
Art Gallery & Gifts, was born and raised on the outskirts of Chicago. She
has lived and traveled throughout the United States; primarily in the Southwest
and West Coast. Mari moved to Bloomington to pursue her PhD in sociology. She
earned her Master’s degree in 2003 and is currently a doctoral candidate at
Indiana University. As a sociologist, her primary interests are in
education and how the arts and extracurricular activities impact educational
achievement and academic engagement.
Mari is a strong supporter of the arts; believing
that they are not merely a consumable luxury, but a prominent expression of the
knowledge, values, and understanding of a culture. She can’t help but
dabble in the arts herself given that her children have either completed a
degree in the arts, are working toward a fine arts degree, or intend to follow
their artistic calling when they reach adulthood. Mari enjoys interior
decorating, creating jewelry, needlework, photography, and is currently working
on beaded tapestries using tapestry looming techniques.
(photo by Jaime Sweany)
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