Otherwise Studios
a space for art making + community building
Otherwise is an inclusive space in Guelph Ontario hosting contemporary thinkers and creative minds of all ages for art-making and community building. It’s a studio, a classroom, a stage, a gallery space, and anything you may need it to be! We believe that a city is defined by its community, and we are committed to contributing to Guelph’s already vibrant art community in a meaningful and unique way. With a focus on fostering a creative and inclusive community hub, Otherwise offers diverse opportunities for collaborating, teaching, innovating, and mess-making. If you have dreams of hosting your own event or workshop in our space, we’ll work with you to make it happen!
Our motto is that there is space for everyone. Community is a must. We aim to make a brave space that allows people to feel comfortable making mistakes and encouraged to learn new skills.
We are situated on the ancestral homelands of the Anishinaabek Peoples, specifically the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. We must do more to learn, share and support truth and healing.
meet the owner
Ahmri Vandeborne is an interdisciplinary artist, constantly distrated by light. She holds a BA Honours in Studio Art with minors in Art History and French Studies from the University of Guelph. Ahmri’s work uses shadow imagery and various methods of light manipulation as a tool to explore fleeting interactions. Her practice focuses on media-based installation, painting, drawing, and printmaking to create ephemeral experiences.
Ahmri is passionate about spacemaking through public installations, collaboration, and community.
the co-founder story
Otherwise Studios was co-founded in June 2019 by Ahmri Vandeborne and Abby Nowakowski. We first met in a painting class while we were studying at the University of Guelph, and having barely known each other at the time, decided to collaborate on a large-scale installation titled Double Take which launched our practice as a collaborative team. In 2019 we graduated university, started a community driven art space, and became real-time business owners all in the same year. We were surrounded by such a loving and community-centric cohort that it felt like a natural transition.
When we started collaborating with each other, we were constantly searching for opportunities to work with the amazing community of Guelph and its surrounding area. Both our artistic practices overlap into why we started Otherwise Studios. Having lived in Guelph for several years, we knew how special it was and we wanted to contribute to the community in a meaningful way. As artists and art facilitators, we are always looking for innovative and creative ways to keep everyone making, learning, and most importantly – staying connected.
In late 2021, Abby moved to Ottawa Ontario with her family to pursue their dream of homesteading, and Ahmri continued the Otherwise story in Guelph Ontario.