Eleanor Ray Eleanor Ray

The WasteShed’s Youth artist-in-residence Program wraps up

Hello! My name is Vahnaree Weis, and I am the Digital Marketing and Creative Reuse Assistant Intern at The WasteShed Chicago. We recently launched a new program that has been designed to cultivate artistic talent among young and emerging artists. This program provides a supportive environment where teen participants can explore their creativity, hone their craft, and develop skills for a successful career in the arts and related industries.

I have been working alongside the residents, Sal and Shi-Shi, discovering new mediums, processes and techniques. It’s been an incredible experience that has yielded some great works!


First, a little bit more about the program:

Our residency program included structured studio hours where interns and residents can developed their art practices across various media, from painting to digital art. Students also engaged in group projects and community art programs in the WasteShed classroom, fostering collaboration and gaining hands-on experience in public and community-based art. During Crit Week, participants engaged in constructive critiques, offering feedback on each other's work and techniques. Additionally, they received guidance in developing professional portfolios, both digital and analog, to showcase their work. At the end of their residencies (Aug. 2024) we will be showcasing their work in our Glass Case Gallery at our Chicago location! 

 
 
 

Shi-Shi, one of our youth residents, focused on the theme of reusing art supplies in their project. They created a story that highlights the importance of providing art materials to those in need, emphasizing how art enriches our world. The inspiration stemmed from a writing class where the class learned to adapt to the reader's needs, leading to the creation of a gender-neutral, alien character named Jax. The character serves as a mirror for the reader, emphasizing the freedom and adaptability inherent in art. 

“The story I came up with relates to reusing/underconsumption of art supplies because it encourages people to take art into consideration. With more artists, it would give a reason as to why we need to provide and distribute art materials to schools and people in need. This is because people can create beautiful works of art. Art is often seen as a pinnacle to how our world works. Many people have found a passion for art, and we should look back on how far we came with all of these amazing artists.”



Sal, another resident, explored the connections within their community and how these relationships give life meaning. They documented interactions with people, places, and animals, capturing the beauty and complexity of being part of a community through personal experiences. Through their work, Sal sought to represent the importance of these connections and how they contribute to a deeper sense of belonging and purpose. “I tried to represent the intricacies and beauty of being a part of a community through my own experiences.”

The WasteShed’s Youth Artist Residency Program was sponsored by the Illinois Art Council’s Summer Youth Employment in the Arts program.

If you’d like to support The WasteShed’s artist residency and other programs, please consider a donation to our 10 Year Anniversary Fundraiser: https://www.thewasteshed.com/blog-1/2024/8/15/the-wasteshed-10th-anniversary

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Blog archive!

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Announcing: The WasteShed's first-ever Youth Artist Residency!

If you're a youth artist who is looking to work on projects, develop new ideas, and explore your art/craft practice in an environment stacked with miscellaneous supplies, you're in luck! The WasteShed's Youth Artist Residency Program (2024) is selecting two youth artists to work on special projects this summer in collaboration with our staff and community.

This is a PAID opportunity for Chicago artists aged 13-18 to learn about art and art materials, help out with WasteShed communications and programs, and get firsthand experience with an organization working in environmental sustainability and grassroots art education.

Our students, called Youth Resident Artists, will:

  1. Be part of our regular Artists Residency Program. They will create work on site during regular hours, using materials from the reuse center, will participate in a public exhibition to showcase the work created, and will present a collaborative public workshop, which they will develop in conjunction with WasteShed staff, centered around a creative environmental cause, age-group, and/or material of choice.

  2. Work as regular staff members on the floor of our Humboldt Park (Chicago) creative reuse center


LOCATION: The WasteShed Chicago at 1754 North Kimball.


STUDENT BENEFITS: Youth Resident Artists will participate in an immersive, collaborative art-making and art-teaching experience in an unusual and inspiring environment. Youth Resident Artists will acquire hands-on skill or making experience, and a new understanding of materials and their use within a given media. They will improve their ability to problem solve and think creatively by working with reclaimed materials instead of ready-made options. Through their work on the floor and in creating an exhibition and a workshop, Youth Resident Artists will be connected to all aspects of the organization, including how artists interact with our programs and materials, program administration, programming, and community organizing, marketing, and volunteer coordination.

This program is made possible by Summer Youth Employment in the arts, supported by the Illinois Arts Council Agency and the National Endowment for the Arts

Apply here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd6qQ9nciOGwSNXrE87xMTnXjVaenO2z3-CIRJnd8uWh9mspg/viewform?usp=sf_link

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DiscarDisco 2024 - PatchWERK! Recap

DiscarDisco 2024: PatchWERK was a creative triumph! Now we need your help to make it a success.

What an incredible night! The looks were phenomenal, the art was gorgeous, the tunes were bumping, and the community feeling flowed all around us. We really couldn’t have asked for a better outcome for all the work our designers and organizers put into DiscarDisco 2024.

Also, a generous donor has agreed to match donations to DiscarDisco up to $15,000, but we only have until Friday, April 19th to make the match!

Help us achieve our goal, and donate to vote for your favorite designer for the People’s Choice Award!

You can do this by choosing to “write us a comment” and comment the name of your favorite designer with your donation!

Runway photos from DiscarDisco 2024 by GlitterGuts (Sarah Joyce) and Brittany Sowacke

Video by Francis Son Photo

Learn more about all the designers here!

Check out the full show program here!

Here are the winners who impressed the judges and carried off the prizes at DiscarDisco on Saturday, April 13th at the Chicago Athletic Association.

Honorable Mentions

Designer: Kristin Abhalter Smith (she/her) and Eliza Fernand (they/she) team

IG: @anotherworldsend, @queer.quilting.chi

Bio: Kristin has a lifelong practice making costumes, sets, inflatable sculptures and art exhibitions and is totally inspired by abundant scraps. Eliza grew up on thrift stores and wanted to be a fashion designer since they started sewing at age 12 with the same sewing machine they have now. Eliza also has two art degrees and they are a professor. 

Designer: Jessica Woodburn (she/her)

IG: @holzbrennenstudio

Bio: Jessica has been a maker since 2018 but started using up-cycled items in 2020 and started sewing in 2022. She also hosts workshops on up-cycled fabric earrings and shrinky dink jewelry from #6 plastic.

Designer: Jordan Chavez (he/him)

IG:@InBetweenBranches

Bio: Jordan is a multimedia artist that focuses on creating avant-garde wearable art with a folk approach. He loves using accessible found materials to execute oversized silhouettes that impact how one interacts with their environment. His rural upbringing, studies in fine art, and queer lens all serve him in creating works that are familiar yet strange and new. 

 

3rd Place Winner

Designer: Kandace McVickar (she/her)

IG:@kandymcv

Bio: By daytime, Kandace is a technical trade designer, by night time she creates one of a kind looks for her and her dear friends. She has a passion for creating digital art and upcycling denim, textile samples and other damaged items from her 9-5.

Kandace McVickar’s Toucan Tango modeled by DeeVower

2nd Place Winner

Designer: J Kent (she/her & they/them)

Youtube:@CompostRoses

Bio: J Kent has a BFA from SAIC and an MFA from Northwestern University. Her practice engages bounty amidst professed scarcity. They have been teaching themselves sewing and construction and is excited to merge her constructions with a long-held interest in fashion. 

Detail of J Kent’s winning combination for DiscarDisco 2024, TRASH GIRLZ:  CHANEL IN THE  STREETS/  WESTWOOD IN THE  SHEETS

1st Place Winner

Designer: Hillary Rings (she/her)

IG: @hillary.rings

Bio: Hillary is a fashion designer, she graduated from the Apparel Design & Development program from Seattle Central in 2022 and moved to Chicago in 2023. She loves designing but hates waste so she sources second hand materials as often as possible. 

Hillary Rings accepting the 1st place prize for her piece in DiscarDisco 2024. Look modeled by Zai Jazai

DiscarDisco is The WasteShed’s major annual fundraiser, we depend on donations to this event to fund our programs.

Please give generously!

 

Thank you to our Emcee and Video Host!

Thank you to our DiscarDisco Judges!

DiscarDisco 2024 Judges Sky Cubacub, Lauren Lein, Blair Goldman, Melissa Carter, and J Frausto

Special thanks to The Apparel Industry Board, Inc.

AIBI is a non-profit organization specifically dedicated to the needs of the sewn  products industry. AIBI is comprised of the major players in Greater Chicago,  whose careers and business expertise span all facets of the industry, to nurture  and support designers based in Greater Chicago. AIBI is constantly developing  new programs to better serve and promote the industry as a whole.

AIBI has been a gracious advisor and co-producer of DiscarDisco since 2020.

2024 DiscarDisco Supporters + Contributors

Fleur, Wolfbait, Andros Taverna, Koval, Letherbee, Solemn Oath, Hopewell Brewing, Pipeworks Brewing, Halfacre Brewing

All Together Now, Verve Wine / Argot, Bee's Wrap, Bang Bang Pie, Pretty Cool Ice Cream, Honey Butter Fried Chicken

Joffery Ballet, Garfield Park Conservatory, Sprout, Lillstreet Art Center, Blick

Donald W Collier Foundation

Miles Bennett Hogerty, Paper Worm Studio

Jill Perez,CAA

Syd Haliburton, CAA

Sarah Joyce, Glitter Guts Photo

Brittany Sowacke, Glitter Guts Photo

DJ BrutalRuby of Birds & B-Sides DJs

Mimi Ozormoor

All our incredible volunteers!

2024 Discardisco Planning Committee  

Kat Anderson, AIBI 

Ulisa Blakely, WS Staff  

Wendy Callupe, Minted Media  Productions 

Ambar Campos, AIBI 

Yolanda Chen 

Grace Diepenbrock, WS Board

Marilyn Eiseberg, WS Board

Kristin Fields, WS Board 

Seva Gandhi, WS Board

Earl Mitchell, WS Staff

Frank Pollard, WS Staff 

Casey Vanderstel, WS Board

Katie Vota, WS Board 

Eleanor Ray, WS Staff 

Francis Son, Francis Son Photography 

The DiscarDisco Organizing Team! These people have all put in an amazing amount of work on getting this show together! Help reward their efforts by donating today!

Thank you to our Gold Sponsor, Ette Tailor!

Ette provides couture wedding gown alterations, vintage wedding gown revamping, bespoke services, and accessories, all perfectly tailored to fit your body and style.

Stay tuned for more updates!

Getting too excited to wait for the final DiscarDisco 2024 video? Check out 2023 show!

Videography by Francis Son, edited by Drew Durepos and Adam Geremia.

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