Meet Catena Bergevin

We recently connected with Catena Bergevin and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Catena with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

My family includes many independent business owners. My grandmother immigrated from Sicily and owned a dress shop specializing in custom-made wedding dresses. My brother owned a theatrical wig and makeup design company. My father had a small one-man-show electrical repair business. My mother sold her oil paintings on Sunday afternoons in the park. In high school, I sold handmade flower headpieces (very 1970s) during lunch and recess.

I come from a legacy of creative, hard-working people, each with a passion and talent they shared with the world. Because of this, I have a strong sense of responsibility and determination. I remember out of art school saying to myself, I need to be around art and creative people. I found my place in museums, theaters, thrift stores, and independent movie houses.

Even through setbacks, I’ve made my way from my hometown of San Diego, working in museums and art centers, to Pittsburgh, working for large and small arts organizations, historical theaters, dance studios, opera houses, arts councils, and now as the Executive Director of a creative reuse nonprofit called Reconsidered Goods, located in Greensboro. NC.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I run a nonprofit creative reuse organization called Reconsidered Goods (RG) that takes in donated goods and resells them to artists, educators, makers, artisans, students, environmentalists, and the general public. We keep over 12 tons of materials out of the landfill every year. We offer “pre-loved” art and craft supplies, books, textiles, leather, home decor, and various materials to create with, such as corks, ephemera, and what we call “weird stuff.” The creative reuse industry is growing, and last year, RG hosted the first-ever Southeast Creative Reuse Collective, with over 15 folks from organizations all over North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia. We provide a tremendous service to our community, and many of us work with other nonprofits and social service organizations, offer recycling drop-off sites, and have robust education programs where we teach the benefits of waste diversion through the arts.

I love my job and am grateful for the opportunity to be here and work with an incredibly creative team. It takes all of us to make this organization a success. Last year, we developed an event called Trash Bash, which brings teams together to compete in creating artwork from reused and recycled materials. There are challenges, a panel of judges, loud music, reuse trophies, and prizes. It’s a blast; we have hosted it with several local universities and arts organizations. I want to grow this program, foster innovation and creativity, and advocate for a more circular economy.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Integrity, a sense of purpose, commitment, and luck have brought me to where I am today. However, I am always looking ahead to the next challenge. What else can I accomplish? Who else can I learn from?

I teach a course at UNC Greensboro in the Arts Administration Program called Managing and Leading in the Arts. I often see folks forget that they don’t know it all and can always learn and grow at every stage of their life. I am constantly learning and relearning. There are things the internet and social media cannot teach you; you need to learn from others. Like my Italian mother’s recipes, they were rarely written down but taught through observation and experimentation. That is what is in those dishes, more than just the ingredients. It is the personal interactions, life experiences, and passion. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, be curious, and take time to think. Read, Create, Converse, Find Joy, and Exchange Ideas. Learn, Make Mistakes. It’s all part of it.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

My parents taught me resilience and creativity. Most of the things in the house that I grew up in had been repaired by my father. He could keep just about anything working. It wasn’t always pretty, but he kept it going long after its expected useful life. That is where my mother came in; she was an artist. Our old refrigerator had yellow roses painted all over it to cover the chipped enamel, and our car interior was painted with vines to hide the rips and tears. Our walkways and patio had polka dots to camouflage the cracks and cement filler. This was how art was introduced to me. It was a way to cope and bring beauty into our lives.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.reconsideredgoods.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reconsideredgoods/