Hi, I'm Gerik (the G is hard, as in "Go get goofy gag gifts").

I began making bags at R.E.Load early in 2005. Over the years I took on the role of stitcher, industrial designer, training supervisor, project manager, customer service representative, textile artist, graphic designer, illustrator, product photographer, e-commerce website manager, sewing machine technician, carpenter, trade show exhibitor, order fulfillment specialist, and general handyman. Many of these skills and tasks were learned on the job and performed out of a necessity to keep the workplace flowing smoothly. R.E.Load was always a tiny operation with the number of personnel reaching its maximum at a little over a dozen individuals; however, most of the time there were no more than 2 or 3 of us. We had little previous specialty training, but lots of ambition, confidence, and a good number of translatable abilities to get whatever we needed doing done. The portfolio of work highlighted on this site is exemplary of what was always the main focus - we just really enjoyed creating new things and seeing what kind of solutions we could come up with to fulfill our own needs as well as customers' requests.

Prior to work at R.E.Load, I went to the Art Academy of Cincinnati where I received a BFA in Fine Arts, working as a gallery assistant for the better part of my time there. I moved to Philadelphia after graduating and co-founded an art space called Black Floor Gallery with fellow Cincinnati transplants Nick Paparone, Jamie Dillon, Carrie Collins, Elsa Shadley and Annette Monnier. Building the gallery and "residences" in a former garment-pressing factory on the third floor of a six-story warehouse, we took on the labor of constructing the interior walls, doing all the framing, drywall, plumbing, lighting and electrical, and fashioned individual living and studio spaces for ourselves. During the gallery's brief but prolific existence (2004-2007), we exhibited a fantastic lineup of artists and performers including Shepard Fairey, Japanther, Swoon, Alex Da Corte, Beth Heinly, Luren Jenison, as well as hosting art fairs, talks, and music shows and performances. The space is now occupied by Vox Populi where it continues to be a venue for creativity, entertainment, and education.