the Maker: 2022 Highlights
- Makerspace Admin
- Feb 23
- 4 min read
Mankato Makerspace Newsletter
October 2022
We were very fortunate to have the opportunity for this wonderful interview with KSMQ Public TV for their segment OFF 90. Check it out! Thank you so much!
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT - Catherine Rosengren
Catherine's art is a labor of love and years' worth of curiosity. In her early days, she was a dancer and performer in the Theatre. Traveling and expressing herself through movement and action. Later she picked up visual arts such as painting, weaving, and ceramics. Tile making caught her interest and focus because she found a way to express herself uniquely in color, texture, and pattern by working with melting glass on ceramic tiles, artfully composed panels, jewelry, and buttons. Which in turn started her business Lakota Tile Studio.
Now she in her later years, she realizes she has two choices " I could slow down, become stagnant, depressed and fizzle out.. or I can use my time to be active, create, learn and keep finding joy." Catherine first heard about the Makerspace while she was taking leather classes in Blue Earth by one of our instructors Pegeen Rozeske. So in the thirst for more knowledge and the promise we have classes in just about every creative medium; Catherine hit the road from her home in Iowa and made the drive up to Mankato for a jewelry smithing class with Cindy Bourne. After that, she was totally hooked, not only by all that the space has to offer but also by the heartfelt welcome and enthusiasm of our staff and instructors. " We wrapped her in our arms and she quickly became Makerspace family," says Shayna Swiers another of Catherine's teachers in painting and wire weaving.
We are so thrilled to have Catherine as a student. We are inspired by her dedication to learn new skills and grateful that she is willing to make the trip up to see us weekly to take classes in Leather, Jewelry, and Painting.
Upward Bound
The Makerspace has been working with local schools and educational programs to get kids hands-on creative learning.
This summer and fall we have teamed up with Upward Bound, Girl Scouts, Loyola, and Kato Charter Schools.
Upward Bound was a 6-week program where the kids were learning metalworking, stained glass, ceramics, and painting.
Girl Scouts came in to learn ceramics and will be back to learn glass torchworking.
Loyola students are in for 2 semesters learning woodworking.
Charter students are in for 2 months learning woodworking & resin and jewelry from recycled materials, leather and metalsmithing.
We are so pleased and honored to pass on our knowledge to the next generation!
July 2022
We are wrapping up our Artist of Tomorrow Program through the grant we received from Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council. This program ran from Nov- Jun and it will soon be time to report back with how the program concluded. Since we started a little late out of the gate, we have added a couple more classes in JUNE to meet our pledge of 33 classes during the grant time frame.
A little info on the program if you had missed it from last newsletter:
*Arts and Cultural Heritage Grant funded by for $13,000 to Start the Artists of Tomorrow creative kids classes program, which runs Sat mornings from 10-Noon for ages 6-12 yo and feature hands-on learning in Skilled Trades, Arts, Culture and Self-sustainability. Each week a new guest instructor is brought in to share their knowledge, Due to the grant funding: tickets are very affordable at $15 and there are also Free tickets for low income families. This program is also a wonderful paid opportunity for creative teachers in our local Southern Minnesota region.
Don't worry the grant time frame might be concluding but we are planning to keep kids classes going from Makerspace funds until we can get the next grant to support it.
Excited to announce our partnership with the 3D printing company, Elegoo.
Elegoo is a leader in innovation and accessibility in the 3D printing space for both hobbyists and professionals. And with this new partnership we here at the Mankato Makerspace have access to the wonderful Elegoo Mars 2 Pro. This will broaden our 3D printing capabilities, allowing you as a member to learn and use a resin printer.
ELEGOO specializes in the research, development, and production of the most quality & affordable 3D printers, Arduino-based STEM & robotic kits, making technology easy-to-access for all the makers around the world.
April 2022
Cindy Bourne has done a phenomenal job writing grants for us!
We have been awarded this year:
*Arts and Cultural Heritage Grant funded by Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council for $13,000 to Start the Artists of Tomorrow creative kids classes program, which runs Sat mornings from 10-Noon for ages 6-12 yo and feature hands-on learning in Skilled Trades, Arts, Culture and Self-sustainability. Each week a new guest instructor is brought in to share their knowledge, Due to the grant funding: tickets are very affordable at $15 and there are also Free tickets for low income families. This program is also a wonderful paid opportunity for creative teachers in our local Southern Minnesota region. To learn more and sign up your kids for classes April and May classes have been posted.
We just heard word that have also been awarded:
Minnesota State Arts Boards 2022 Creative Support for Organizations grant for $25,000!
This grant will be used for rent, utilities, maintenance of equipment, purchasing new equipment and software, program development, limited paid staffing and funding on going events and programs such as the Artists of Tomorrow program, Taste of Makerspace Class Samplers Events, and Meet a Makers presentations.
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