Discover how CPL’s Maker-in-Residence turned curiosity into the art of wood bending in the Maker Lab.
The Chicago Public Library’s Maker Lab is a creative playground where curiosity rules. Our latest Maker-in-Residence, Nicole Lowe, took full advantage of that freedom, turning the space into a lively hub of experimentation, discovery, and pure hands-on joy.
A self-described “multi-faceted, endlessly curious weirdo”, Nicole is a woodworker, welder, musician, and animator, pushing boundaries in every project they take on. By day, they bring their craft to life in the Goodman Theatre’s Prop Department. Outside of work, they create in their studio nestled in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood.
Nicole’s creative journey began with a simple gift: a guitar from their dad. No lessons, no manual—just a challenge to figure it out on their own. “And that’s kind of been the way I do everything now. I treat everything like art therapy and like a scientist. I like to experiment. I like to try new things and learn new things. Everything feels like me trying to find my boundaries.”
Fueled by Curiosity and a DIY Spirit
That fearless, figure-it-out-yourself attitude drives everything Nicole creates. Whether working with wood, metal, animation, or sound, their curiosity never quits and that energy spills over into their teaching.
“If I could just do [hands-on workshops] full time, I would do this full time,” Nicole said enthusiastically. Their workshops invited makers of all levels to explore bending wood veneer using epoxy and plastic wrap, a technique they invented and perfected.
And the creative results? Delightful, customized pieces. “Somebody made a snail. That was one of my favorite things. People made waves. Somebody made a question mark,” they explained.
But it wasn’t just about the finished product. It was the buzz of working together. “You kind of have to work collaboratively with the person next to you, so it was very community-focused, collaborative, and fun.”
Taking it to the Maximalist Level
For their final project, Nicole took their wood-bending technique to an entirely new scale creating a giant sculptural knot that commands attention in the Maker Lab window on State Street. Made from 12-foot lengths of wood veneer, the piece draws inspiration from Piccirillo’s knot theory in mathematics, which suggests that sometimes, solving a problem requires embracing greater complexity.
“I wanted to make sure that I took the technique I was teaching people and did it to the maximalist.”
This piece tells a story beyond its twisting form.
“It looks kind of chaotic, but ultimately, it is a story of finding your path in this chaos. Figure out how to run your life in a way that’s beautiful and helpful to other people.”
The Joy of Making and Learning
Sanding the sculpture took over 50 hours, and every minute was a meditation. “Knowing that my body will only be able to do this for so long, I need to enjoy that it can do this and function at this level right now.”
And the journey doesn’t stop here. They’re diving into textiles next, excited to explore weaving and soft sculpture. “I have a project in mind, but I love that I don’t know yet how to do it. That’s so exciting.”
See Nicole’s amazing final piece on display now at the windows outside of the Harold Washington Library Center. Read more about Nicole’s final project here.
The Maker Lab is a donor-powered program where Library users of all ages and experience levels can experiment with a variety of creative media, from 3D printing and laser cutting to quilting and sewing, take part in workshops led by our Makers-in-Residence and other experts, learn about entrepreneurship, and connect with the community through creating.
This program is made possible thanks to Comcast, Exelon, Peoples Gas, and generous donors to the Library Foundation.
