Thank you to all of the fantastic makers who submitted inspiring proposals for this year's residencies. In the end, we selected two makers who proposed using their craft to help tell the story of Chicago neighborhoods and residents. We can't wait to see what you discover together.
Meet the Summer Maker-in-Residence: Carolyn Kassnoff
Carolyn Kassnoff graduated with a BFA from the School of Art & Design at Alfred University in New York State, where she studied photography and neon bending. She creates illustrations under the name It'll Glow On You.
She loves music, lights, animals and nature, which she often includes in her work. Kassnoff is excited to study and celebrate the city and show everyone how to make their own custom lanterns, too. She lives in Chicago, and pets all the dogs in her free time. Meet Kassnoff in April and join her workshops in May and June to create lamps celebrating different Chicago neighborhoods.
Meet the Fall Maker-in-Residence: Esther Ajayi
Esther Ajayi (she/they) is an artist from Phoenix, AZ, that draws inspiration from vibrant colors used against dark skin. She loves to see and explore how saturation with colors can play off of dark skin individuals and in life in general! She loves to draw (traditionally and digitally) and has fun crocheting projects during her spare time. She shares her work as Saint Bunni.
Her intention is to get to know people while also exploring everyone’s creative strength with crocheting. Meet Ajayi in August and attend her classes in October and November to experiment with digital drawing and crochet.
About the Maker-in-Residence Program
CPL's Maker-in-Residence program invites a member of the Chicago creative community into the library to build on their digital fabrication practice, collaborate with the public, and explore approaches to making.
The Maker-in-Residence is in its fourth year. Past makers include Justus Harris, Kate Conlon, Katelyn Patton, and Faith Humphrey-Hill.
The Maker-in-Residence program is generously funded by the Chicago Public Library Foundation.
