Here at George Armour Ewart, Architect (GAEA), we pride ourselves on being a team of professionals devoted to continually developing our creativity and our technical skills. Since architecture and design are, at their core, intensely creative fields, we foster a culture of ingenuity — and our team loves to channel their creative sides in their free time!  

How Our Team Members Foster Creativity

To get an inside look at how some of our GAEA team members feed their creative sides outside of work, we chatted with associates Abigail, Dalton, and Aubrey about their hobbies. 

For Abigail Pilcher, an Interior Associate, the journey to a creative profession started very early. After hours, she also enjoys mixed media art, welding, and woodworking. Check out what she said when we chatted about her artistic side: 

Have you always been artistic, or did you pick it up as an adult? 

I’ve been artistic since I was a little kid. If I was bored, my first instinct was to pick up colored pencils and paper. I also enjoyed creating detailed dollhouses and DIY-ing all the furniture and décor. 

What initially inspired you to get involved with welding & woodworking? 

I was fortunate enough to have access to UTK’s FabLab with a full woodshop and welding station! I learned how to weld during a group studio project, re-designing a vintage Airstream, and also constructed a wooden stool in a furniture design class.  

What kind of art do you like to create?

I am constantly trying new mediums that pique my interest. Lately, I’ve been experimenting with solar dying, working with clay, and just started lithography! I have experience working with stained glass, recycled mosaics, and many oil paint portraits. Art is a great way for me to destress. 

We’re thankful that Abigail brings the same innovative spirit and eye for design she uses in her art to our projects here at GAEA!

Architectural Associate Dalton Whiteside likes working with his hands, but also has a passion project in the works using the written word. Here’s what Dalton shared with us: 

What are a few of your favorite creative outlets? 

Some of my creative interests include gardening, virtual 3D modeling buildings, and building miniature wood models. I also have a writing project in the works: a book on the architecture of my alma mater, City College in New York. 

What can you tell us about the book you’re writing?

My interest in the architecture of City College began as I worked for the College Archives and discovered a rich collection of historical photos and architectural drawings. I spent years researching, scanning, and organizing these records. I began giving architectural tours of West Harlem to share this history, but the content was so vast that it seemed I should preserve my research in a book. This is one of my dearest passions.

From making his own art to studying and writing about historical architecture, Dalton is cultivating his creative spark, eye for detail, and extensive knowledge base which he brings to our projects here at GAEA!

Aubrey White, another Architectural Associate here at GAEA, primarily channels her creativity outside of work using a crochet hook and a green thumb. Check out our chat with Aubrey:

What kinds of things do you like to crochet?

I mostly crochet animals but also have made fake plants, clothing, home décor, etc. When I was younger, I donated to local hospitals or homeless shelters. Sometimes I’d gift them to friends and family, but now I mainly do commissions or sell the few items I make.

Which plants would you recommend for people testing out their green thumbs who want to add natural elements and life to a space?

For low light spaces: snake plant, spider plant, ivy.

For full sun spaces: cacti/succulents, philodendron, monstera, pothos.

For chronic over-waterers: pothos, peace lily, spider plant.

For chronic under-waterers: cacti, succulents, snake plant, ZZ plant.

Aubrey brings her love for plants and nature to her projects at GAEA, where we know designs can benefit from integration with the natural world.

Hone Your Creativity at a Growing Architecture Firm in Knoxville

If you’re looking to work with an innovative, artistic team, we’d love to hear from you. We welcome interest from architects, designers, and project managers at any level. You can reach out to us on our site or email us at info@georgeewart.com to see if our firm might be a fit for you.