Thank you to all of the participants of Erie Makes 2021! This event would not be possible without our local makers and community partners. We greatly appreciate all of their time and hard work.
Antonio Howard
Antonio Howard is an autodidactic artist. At the young age of 15, he was incarcerated and sentenced to life in prison as a juvenile. While in prison, he educated himself on the concepts and processes of visual art-making through instructional books. Released in 2017 and now living here in Erie, he is committed to serving Erie and documenting his life through his paintings. He is a certified Peer Support Specialist and former Job Coach/Developer who currently sits on the board of directors for the Mental Health Association of Northwestern Pennsylvania, as well as the CHROMA Guild, whose mission advances opportunities and access to resources for creative and cultural professionals of color in Northwestern Pennsylvania. Learn more about Antonio here. Visit the Idea Lab on Erie Makes from 12pm-4pm to work with Antonio as he paints a set of canvases that will be displayed in the idea lab.
Brian Edwards
Brian is a 3D printing & modeling enthusiast with three years’ experience. His favorite projects are tinkering and upgrading Nerf blasters. When he is not 3D printing he is a parkour coach. He also designed and manufactured a tabletop game called Monster Dice, but his favorite thing is to share his knowledge with younglings and inspiring them to do the impossible. Make sure to check out his class Nerf Blaster Upgrade on Nov. 13th at the Blasco Library!
Jennifer Allen
Jennifer loves to teach others about how to create their own Zines! Zines are self-published works of original texts and images, and are usually reproduced using a copy machine. She has been making Zines for two years. She is a maker with many hobbies: other than Zines, she enjoys making t-shirt quilts, hand-carved stamps and crocheting. Teens are welcome to join her on Erie Makes for a Make a Zine class.
Brandon Levesque
Meet Brandon, a third generation pickler who has been making his own tangy pickles for five years. His favorite recipe is his spicy dill recipe. Join us on Erie Makes to watch his Meet the Maker video.
David Sack
A costume creator with a love of Star Wars, David has been vacuum forming and creating costumes for seven years. He volunteers his time with the 501st Legion, a group who dresses up in movie accurate Star Wars costumes for charity. His first and favorite costume is Agent Kallus, shown in the photo. Watch his video on Erie Makes to learn how he makes X-Wing helmets with a vacuum former.
Scott O'Rourke
Scott is a maker with many interests but has recently delved into the art of cross stich and embroidery. Its other interests include jewelry making and woodworking. Stayed tuned for Scott's cross stich video premiering on Erie Makes.
Michelle Ritz
Meet Michelle, a local woodburner who has been exploring this medium for six years. She enjoys creating beautiful works of organic art with a heat tool and her imagination. Her favorite subject matter is challenging portraits or landscapes! Check out her Wood Burning: Make an Ornament class.
Esther Ortiz
Esther loves making things with her hands and taught herself how to create piñatas. She makes traditional piñatas, but also makes piñatas of cartoon characters, wedding cakes, Air Jordan sneakers, avocados, lipstick, Mexican candy, popsicles... anything she can think of! Esther is the only piñata maker in the region. Visit on Erie Makes, Nov. 13th, to watch her video about making piñatas. For more information about Esther, visit her Erie Arts and Culture profile.
Adrianne Hills
Adrianne is a wool spinner who found her love for the craft in 2013. Wool spinning is the art of using a wheel to twist wool into yarn. She uses the yarn she spins to knit; one of her favorite projects was a green vest that used some of her very first spun yarn. View her video on wool spinning during Erie Makes!
Bike Project
Meet Eric, Fredy and Steve, one of six teams working on the Creating with Community project. This project focuses on the implementation of community-engaged, art-centered social projects. Their project area is the 19th Street corridor, between Cherry Street on the west side of Erie to Parade Street on the east side of Erie. To see what they have been working on, watch their maker video available on Erie Makes.
Inner-City Neighborhood Art House
The Inner-City Neighborhood Art House provides a safe, nourishing and caring environment for youth after school and during the summer. Youth ages 7-18 who live in Erie's inner city are invited to attend the Neighborhood Art House at no cost for instruction in the visual, performing, and literary arts, and in environmental action. Learn more about them here. Sign up from on of their two Make Wind Chimes and Sun Catchers Class on Erie Makes.
Claytopia
Claytopia is Erie, PA’s pottery painting studio. This DIY studio is located in the West Erie Plaza. They offer hundreds of functional and stylish ceramic choices. Join them on Erie Makes for a Paint a Tile session, check our schedule tab for registration information. For more information about Claytopia visit their website. Visit them during one of their two Paint a Tile sessions on Nov. 13th.
Community Access Media
Community Access Media is an independent nonprofit corporation that administers the public access channel on Spectrum Cable, Channel 1021 and VNET Fiber Channel 2. Their mission is to provide media access to the Erie community. Community Access Media gives people and organizations the tools that they need to get their unique messages across to their intended audiences. Learn more about other classes CAM offers on their website. Attend one of their three classes offered on Erie Makes: Podcast Recording, Green Screen Recording & Photography "Bokeh" Class. Don't have time for a class? Stop by CAM any time from 10am-4pm to get a tour of the studio.
Lake Erie Woodworks
Lake Erie Woodworks is owned by Armando Reyes, a local craftsman who has been building furniture and wooden goods since 2008. He then created the Lake Erie School of Woodworking: a center for learning and advancing the art and craft of woodworking, based in Erie, PA. They offer classes and video workshops. Learn more about them on their website or watch their Maker Video available on Nov. 13th or visit and take a peek at their workshop during their Open House on Erie Makes from 10 AM - 2 PM.
Grounded Printshop
Grounded Printshop is an interdisciplinary, contemporary print and papermaking shop/ artist residency located in Erie. Their goal is to provide creative space to explore new ideas and perspectives. They have drawer and cubby space as well as private studios and open unfinished areas to get messy and explore BIG ideas. For more information visit their website. Check out their Paper Making and Monoprinting demo on Erie Makes!