A few weeks ago we welcomed Cameron Knox, a local film screener and artist, as our current Maker in Residence. He’s currently working towards his goal of producing a 60 second short film exploring the “magnitude and brevity of the human gene” via the tools we have at the shop. Read on to see what he’s been up to and be sure to introduce yourself when you see him in the shop!
Zachary may only be 12 years old, but he’s been coming along to Maker Works with a parent for years. This early introduction to making gave him the courage to learn how to use the Epilog Lasers and launch his own business: Table Top Tinkerers. When he isn’t busy making TTRPG accessories, you can find him doing Job Board tasks around the shop to fund the cost of his membership. Read on to discover more about this inspiring young entrepreneur!
Maker Works has been proud to host a variety of project teams from the University of Michigan over its 11+ years in operation. One of these teams, composed of Jose, Sofia, and Rachel, developed and prototyped a novel gasifier design with the resources in our metal shop. What is a gasifier, and how did access to Maker Works help with its development? Read on to find out!
Patti only picked up woodworking a few years ago, but since then she’s become an absolute powerhouse in the shop! From learning how to make dovetails by hand to filling her home with custom furniture, she never backs down from a chance to learn something new. Read on to hear more about her woodworking journey at Maker Works and see some of her projects in action.
Laura is an artist, independent curator, and veteran member of the Maker Works community. Her work focuses on starting cultural conversations around social justice, climate change, and racial equality. She’s well versed in nearly all the tools found in our shop. In fact, all of the pieces pictured in this interview (and the ones on her website made from wood or steel) were fabricated at Maker Works!
The advent of the Covid-19 pandemic changed things for a lot of makers—without access to the community spaces they were used to relying on, they had to adjust and figure out a new way of doing things. This is one of the factors that brought Thomas of Tusano Trading Co. to Maker Works. Since then he’s built new skills, grown his business, and has developed working relationships with other members at the shop. Read on to hear what he has to say about the community of creatives that makes our shop unique and why it’s such a vital resource.
It’s a familiar situation for art school graduates: you have access to top-of-the-line equipment in school, but as soon as you leave the program, you’re on your own. For some, this lack of resources forces them to leave their trade behind. Thankfully, some artists like Yuye get support from Artist in Residence programs like the one at Maker Works. After getting her MFA in Metal and Jewelry Arts, Yuye applied to our 6 month residency program and gained free access to the tools she needed to continue producing beautiful work.
Erika Cross is a Michigan local and a holder of art and design degrees from the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, and The Royal College of Art. Though she still works out of her home state, her creations have garnered praise and won awards around the globe. You’ll often find her taking a hands-on design approach in the Maker Works woodshop or collaborating with other makers in our common spaces. To learn more about how she turns our community makerspace into a haven for creative experimentation, keep reading!
Ewunet founded his business, Bregga & Co., back in 2012 to design and craft “accessories for the young and young-at-heart professional.” His fine leather and hardwood designs include business card cases, wallets, portfolios, and furniture items. But when life brought him from Pennsylvania to Michigan, he was concerned about finding a space to keep doing the work he loved. Thankfully, he found that place in Maker Works—keep reading to hear his story.
