You Don’t Have to Know What a Cordwainer is to Walk in His Shoes
byBy now, Michael Ismerio is used to the confused stares he gets when he tells people what he does. “Nobody knows the word ‘cordwainer’…
MEDIUM
She Knows That Making Art Feels Good, but She’s Not a Feel-Good Artist
byIt’s not your imagination. The eyes in Patti Anastasi’s paintings are, in fact, looking directly at you.“So often, in our fast-paced world, we neglect…
Sculptor’s Exotic Hybrid Species Won’t Become Endangered Anytime Soon
byCall it what you will — avian kitsch or flighty folk — ’s “Roller Derby Toucan” is a breed of its own. The wooden,…
Pet Portraitist Isn’t Fur Real When It Comes to Color
byShe was supposed to be buying fish food. That’s what Angela Alexander says about the moment she met her first dog, a Chihuahua named…
Violin Maker Bows to Tradition — and Then Carves Away the Frills
byViolin maker Kate Rickenbacker picked up her trade in the traditional way, apprenticing for three-and-a-half years under masters at the Chicago School of Violin…
His Rigorous Approach Yields Work of Deceptive Delicacy
byMonty Phillips enjoys being in control of his own education. He says he’s long been attracted to the meticulous techniques of Japanese art —…
This Civil Rights Hero Wrote the Book on Text Installation
byIt wasn’t something she sought, but neither did she shrink from the enormous burden. At age 15, Clarissa Sligh agreed to face down the…
What The World Needs Now: A Nerdy Latin Reference to Counting Crows
byThe ancient Mayans’ 5,000-year-long calendar ended abruptly with December 2012, leading many to speculate the end of the world was drawing nigh. “What if…
One Man’s Clay is Another Man’s Medium of Social Justice
byJim McDowell finishes all of his face jugs with anti-slavery messages and commentary on modern issues in honor of Slave Potter Dave, who inscribed…
Former Rogue Yogi Turns Negative Space Into a Positive
byThe fluidly named John Nelson-Batovsky has a knack for finding his own way. When he was a teenager, he taught himself how to play…