Founding Members
The Gathering Gallery is being created by a core group of artists and community builders who share a vision for creating a meaningful space in the Quad Cities. We have diverse art backgrounds and community experience — those with skills and perspectives we knew would be essential in starting a nonprofit grounded in authentic connection. Our founding members bring broad perspectives in art, creating, and community; and together we're building something that reflects the creativity and collaboration we hope to foster.
Bios coming soon.
Angela Ridgway - Founder
Angela Ridgway is an artist and community builder based in the Quad Cities. Her creative practice has evolved from larger welded sculpture to more intimate, exploratory work in metal and mixed media. With a background in engineering, consulting, and cooperative gallery managment, she brings a unique blend of structure and creativity to her work and The Gathering Gallery. Angela founded The Gathering Gallery to create a welcoming, art-infused space where people can gather, create, and feel a sense of connection, and to reduce loneliness in the community.
Sarah Shrake - Secretary
Sarah Shrake is a proposal and project management professional who brings skills in planning, organization, and coordination. After attending the first meetup hosted by the founder nearly three years ago, she stayed involved as the group grew into The Gathering Gallery. She is drawn to the mission for its focus on connection and creating a place where people can come together through community and creative expression, fostering support, belonging, and learning.
Sarah Wesson - Vice President
bio soon
Kristall Laursen
Kristall Laursen is an artist and creative communicator from rural Iowa. With a fine art degree from Wartburg College and a career grounded in creative thinking, she brings both artistic depth and professional craft to everything she makes.
Her work often focuses on the human form and touches on themes like environmental awareness, social justice, and mental health. Kristall often creates in multiple mediums including photography, drawing, painting, and mixed media.
Kristall is a founding artist at The Gathering Gallery, where she helps to shape a space to connect people through art and the shared experience of making.
Alexx Heald-Alejo
bio soon
Miranda Vavrosky
bio soon
Ali Domino
bio soon
Jennifer Cupp
bio soon
Nicholas DiGioia
Nicholas DiGioia brings a lifetime of artistic mastery to The Gathering Gallery. With nearly five decades teaching high school art and three decades at the college level, he has guided students across every medium. His own work spans portraiture in pencil, pastel, paint, and sculpture, plus landscape painting, wheel throwing, and even work as a police sketch artist. Above all, Nicholas loves sharing knowledge and inspiration—and is passionate about fostering a vibrant arts community where people can connect, learn, and grow their creative voices together.