Volunteer Spotlight: Angela Gasparetti

Every month, CMNSH depends on our volunteer community to help us bring you an awesome event. We love our volunteers and are beginning a new series of spotlights to show them off!

Angela Gasparetti has been an active presence in our volunteer force for several months now, and CMNSH’s Stephen Jones had a few questions for her.

CMNSH: So how long have you been working/living in Nashville and what type of work are you focusing on at the moment?

AG:  I’m a freelance graphic designer and newly-minted Nashvillian. I moved here (escaped) from Washington, D.C. a year and a half ago. It was one of those crazy, spur of the moment, “take this job and shove it” decisions, but it turned out to be one of the best I’ve ever made. As for work, I specialize in infographics and visual storytelling. I love the challenge of taking complex content and making it not only easier to understand but engaging and fun.

CMNSH: So the last week has been bitterly cold, (how convenient with our current theme Climate!) how did you spend your days indoors? How did it vary from your regular schedule?

AG: My schedule last week was basically staring out the window, compulsively checking Nashville Severe Weather for updates, laughing at Nashville Severe Weather’s updates, and watching every single terrible horror movie on Netflix. Fortunately, that is NOT my normal schedule, because I got absolutely nothing done. 

CMNSH: How did you find out about Creative Mornings Nashville and which of the events is your favorite so far?

AG: I actually work at the Skillery with Kristen. I remember seeing her put together the Socktober sock monster and thinking this had to be a pretty cool group (which it is!). I think I might have somewhat bullied my way into getting involved, starting with the sock monster, but I’m so glad I did. As for my favorite event, it’s probably a tie between Brad Montague (Chance) and Tyler Hildebrand (Ugly). They were both so funny, and while Brad’s talk made me want to change my whole attitude and become a more positive person, Tyler’s made me want to go break windows and make something crazy. I mean that in a good way.

CMNSH: CM Nashville is coming up on it’s year anniversary! How has the creative scene in Nashville changed in the last year and what do you plan to accomplish in the year ahead?

AG: I don’t think I’ve lived here long enough to really judge that, but I can tell you how it’s different from Washington, D.C. People here seem to have a visceral kind of passion for creativity of all kinds. Everyone I talk to seems to be excited about something: what they are creating, what other people are creating, everything really. D.C. has a much more solemn, corporate vibe to it. I didn’t realize how stifling that environment was (personally) until I moved here and suddenly felt so much more creative freedom. It was also so much harder to connect with other creatives in D.C., and while I met many designers, photographers, and web developers, I never met any painters, sculptors, or builders. I find it a lot more inspiring and fulfilling to meet people who do things completely different from what I know. I think that’s my favorite thing about Creative Mornings, as well. 

As for what I plan to accomplish, I’d like to do a better job of marketing myself this year, as well as managing my business more effectively. Working freelance is new to me, and it took me a while just to figure out a lot of fundamentals like how to work efficiently on my own, or even what sort of work I wanted to take. Now I need to do a better job of putting myself out there and growing.

CMNSH: If you could choose one person to speak this year at an event who would it be and why?

AG: I’d love to hear a musician speak! I don’t have a particular person in mind but I’m a big music lover. Both my parents were in fairly successful bands when they were younger and growing up with those stories, I’ve always found that world fascinating and different. And, different is what makes me rethink how I see and do things. I think we all benefit from shaking things up now and then.

You can also find Angela on Twitter @bagandbroad and Instagram @bagandbroad

Thanks for everything you do, Angela!