Courtesy of the artist.
Maybe you’ve heard of them? Makerspaces are resource hubs, often located in libraries, museums, or universities, that provide access to digital tools. Encouraging innovation and collaboration, Makerspaces are hubs of creativity that bring people together to learn and share new skills at the intersection of artmaking, design, and digital technology.
In this virtual presentation, interdisciplinary artist Lana Yuan will share how she is building her art career with the support of Makerspaces, expanding on her traditional studio practice with the tools they provide. Using examples from her own work, Lana will explain how 3D printers, CNC routers, laser cutters, and sewing machines have become a part of her creative process. The talk will include short demonstrations of these digital fabrication technologies and reflections on what it has been like to develop these new skills as an artist. Whether you’re an artist, student, or simply curious about making, this session will explore how technology can expand, not replace, creative thinking.
This event is free and will be held online. Please register to attend. If there is anything we can do to support your participation, please reach out to Hannah at [email protected].
Lana Yuan is a Critical Making and Makerspace Assistant at York University’s Markham Campus Library, and an artist working across sculpture, kinetic works, and interactive installation. Her recent interests focus on combining sculptural practice with digital technologies such as parametric modeling and 3D printing. Her work explores patterned behaviours within urban environments, with attention to how quiet intimacy, routine, and proximity shape human experience. She recently began incorporating digital fabrication processes to translate datasets and systems into material forms. Lana graduated from the University of Toronto and has exhibited at venues including the Art Museum at the University of Toronto, YYZ Artists’ Outlet, and Red Head Gallery. She is the recipient of the 2022–2023 401 Career Launcher Prize, and her work has been supported by the Toronto Arts Foundation and the Ontario Arts Council.
