Meet Illinois Artisans, a Monthly Series at the Chicago Water Works Visitor Center

Meet Illinois artisans at the Chicago Water Works Visitor Center and purchase one-of-a-kind art, made right here in the state.  Presented by the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture and the Illinois Artisans Program, this unique event takes place the second Friday and Saturday of every month, and is an opportunity to view live artmaking demonstrations by Illinois artisans and buy their wares.

February's Featured Artisans:

Connie Hinkle
Jewelry
Chicago, Illinois
Connie Hinkle creates handmade jewelry with organic, natural design made with precious metals. Her soft edged metalwork pieces reflect a hand craftsmanship, unlike the industrial sharp-edged, mass produced jewelry.

Chrystal Lea Nause
Photography
Makanda, Illinois
Chrystal’s photographs capture the timeless quality of human isolation and anonymity. This namelessness is emphasized as figures obscured through focus, motion, and multiple exposures. Her images are photographed with various types of cameras and printed on silver gelatin paper.

Gustav Reyes

Wooden Jewelry
Chicago, Illinois
Gustav compresses wood and manipulates it into intriguing, wearable art. Committed to preserving and respecting nature, he repurposes wood from bass violins and other salvaged pieces. He uses all Forest Stewardship Council certified wood and sustainable techniques.

Kristi Sloniger
Moonstar Pottery
Oak Park, Illinois
Kristi’s pottery is made from the heart. Much of her work is thrown and altered to give each piece a very unique personality. Her pottery is meant to be touched, used and enjoyed in the everyday rituals of life. 

 

About the Illinois Artisans Program

The Illinois Artisans Program, a program of the Illinois State Museum, was organized in 1985 to promote the fine craft work made in Illinois. The Illinois Artisans Program has over 1700 juried artists working in all craft media from traditional and ethnic to contemporary and folk. The range of crafts represented include assemblage, basketry, ceramics, drawing, book arts, fiber, glass, wearable art, dolls, jewelry, lace, forge and metal work, leather, paper art, oil painting, quilts, photography, sculpture, printmaking, woodcarving, watercolors, and decorative painting. Juries are held twice a year to select new artists. The program also works to educate the public about the richness and scope of Illinois craft through regularly scheduled craft exhibits, demonstrations and fairs.