This May at AAPLD, we salute all the creativity in our community! Whether you fancy yourself an artist, musician, baker, woodworker, or writer, our community is filled with talent. To recognize and continue fostering creativity in our youth and adults, we have assembled talented individuals to wow and amaze you as they take you on an in-depth journey into their creative process. You and yours are sure to feel inspired after these Meet The Maker presentations over Zoom.
Afterward, challenge yourself by taking creative technology classes! It's 2022 and you can DIY some incredible things with the power of your library card. Our dedicated Makerspace offers access to the latest creative tools used for crafting, design projects, and more. Every Monday, we offer a new class centered around innovative machines like Cricut, TinkerCad, Easel, and Silhouette Cameo. See below.
MEET THE MAKERS VIA ZOOM
The Kao
Vincent Kao, a Taiwanese American illustrator and comic artist known for his slice-of-life web series, Mondo Mango, and the Prism Award-winning webcomic, Magical Boy!
The Kao graduated from Columbia College in Chicago with a bachelor of fine arts in Illustration. He began his career through a series of comic strips surrounding his daily life. Since then, he has freelanced, self-published, as well as collaborated in a few crowdfunded comic anthologies, all under "The Kao" name. To this day, he continues to work on his illustrations and comics in hopes to inspire and bring joy to everyone around him.
Shannon Downey
Local artist, activist, craftivist, community builder, and general instigator, Shannon Downey blends politics, activism, and art into projects that are designed to inspire others to take action, think, discuss, engage with democracy and their community, and find some digital/analog balance. She is queer, anti-racist, feminist, anti-capitalist, and committed to growth, learning, honesty, and doing whatever she can to make this an equitable world. Their art generally tackles what she calls “the big three” systems of oppression: white supremacy, patriarchy, and capitalism.
Recommended for 18+
Paisleyandglue
Based in Chicago, Paisleyandglue has an education in theatrical costume design, 20 years sewing experience and over 10 years professional experience making costumes for theatre. She has been cosplaying for 7 years and is highly involved in the Chicago cosplay community, attending various conventions, meetups and charity events over the years. She enjoys instructing as well as learning from other members of the crafting and cosplay community, in addition to collaborating with other makers on various projects.
She will be joined in conversation by Tim Harrison, Monica Paprocki and Christopher English.
Nomi Kane
An editorial cartoonist, illustrator, and designer, Nomi Kane is an alumna of Columbia College Chicago and The Center for Cartoon Studies. By day, Nomi designs action figures at Super7 HQ and teaches cartooning at California College of the Arts. Nomi lives in sunny Richmond, CA with her big, goofy dog, Dino
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Studio Saturday
Get a sneak-peek into the creative process of various makers we're featuring throughout the month. Drop-in anytime for a chance to win a unique piece of art!
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SMELLS LIKE CREATIVITY
Put down the remote and learn something new. Every Monday in May, we have creative technology classes offered. Visit in person or virtual, the choice is yours. Each class below is offered from 7 - 8:30 PM and registration is required.
On May 2nd
On May 9th
On May 16th
On May 23rd
On May 30th
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OH! We have not forgotten about the little ones this month. Visit our Youth Services Webpage to find the right craft for them.