Aurore Dinwoodie has been a facilitator at Gateway Arts since June 2022. She holds a BFA in painting from MassArt.

Aurore makes figurative oil paintings that center on the theme of nostalgia. She sources her imagery from old family photographs, which she edits and combines digitally to create new compositions. In the translation to paint on canvas, she uses varying degrees of detail and realism to fuel narratives that feel both familiar and a little unsettling.

Sunshine. 2020. oil on canvas. 64 x 40 in.

When she first visited Gateway Arts, Aurore was excited by the variety of work being made and the freedom with which the artists were able to explore different mediums and processes. That excitement is reflected in the way she approaches her role as a facilitator. Aurore’s studio encompasses a space that was previously known as the Fabric Studio and, while many artists continue to create fiber works in that space, they’re also free to explore any reasonable medium they can think of. Artists are never limited by their own or Aurore’s lack of experience with any given medium. Aurore is actively interested in learning new processes alongside the artists and, since arriving at Gateway Arts, has learned several new skills based on individual artists’ interests. When an artist wants to try something new, whether it be a new stich, tile mosaic, or anything else they can conceive, Aurore does some research and shares what she’s learned with the artist. The two work together to learn and, sometimes, adapt the new technique to suit the artist’s vision. Aurore also encourages artists to research new techniques on their own, which they then sometimes share with her.

What Aurore values most about Gateway Arts is the community. She appreciates being in a space where people support and learn from one another, and she works to foster a collaborative environment where everyone is free to explore their interests and to embrace process.