From 3D printers to embroidery machines, the possibilities for creating are endless at the library’s Makerplace. And for one local artist, the Makerplace’s tools and equipment have helped turn abstract ideas into a colorful series of mirrored acrylic art.
Jonathan Pruc is an art teacher at Mundelein High School and has been working as a local artist since he was a student at Elk Grove High School. Even though he first began using the Makerplace’s Epilog Mini 24 Laser Cutter in November 2022, the idea for his mirrored acrylic art began much earlier.
“I’ve always been a figurative artist, but it was COVID and [the] lockdown that kind of changed my artmaking practice. I challenged myself to make a painting every day for a month,” Pruc said. “We were all trapped inside our spaces, so I was just abstracting corners and areas and objects within the home. Looking at those liminal spaces, what happens to space when you're stuck there and it's no longer your home, but it's kind of a confinement? You start to have a different relationship with the area that you reside in.”
Pruc began creating gouache paintings, and over time continued to experiment with the idea of space. This art developed into the mirrored acrylic works he is now creating at the Makerplace.
When Pruc came up with the idea for using acrylic mirror, he needed access to a laser cutter. Having previously attended a Makerplace Tour, which the library offers every month, he remembered the Makerplace had exactly what he needed to continue working on his artwork.
“I was very impressed with the breadth of what the Makerplace offers,” Pruc said. “I was kind of excited thinking about future projects I could utilize using those resources.”
The Makerplace’s laser cutters can be used to cut and engrave digital files with incredible speed and accuracy onto various materials. While Pruc had previous experience working with laser cutters, he realized there were a few challenges he needed to overcome.
“There was some troubleshooting that some of the [Makerplace] staff and I had to do because of the inexperience we both had with the reflective material,” Pruc said. “The staff is really helpful and accommodating and if they don't know the answer, they're more than eager to help you figure it out.”
To date, Pruc has used the Makerplace to create six pieces of artwork, with each piece taking around 40-50 hours to complete. The work he’s made at the Makerplace has been showcased at various galleries and art competitions including Bridgeport Art Center’s 11th Annual Art Competition, Fulton Street Collective and the Norris Cultural Arts Center.
“I think [the Makerplace is] a great opportunity for our community to go and learn something new. There's this misconception that talent or creativity is an inherent trait, but really it is a skill like riding a bike or playing a sport or cooking or any physical activity,” he said. “It just takes practice and the Makerplace is a great opportunity for you to put reps in and learn on some pretty cool tools to make something whether it’s a project for yourself or for someone else.”
If you would like to see more of Pruc’s artwork you can visit www.jonathanpruc.com or follow him on Instagram @jonathanpruc.
The next time you create something using the library’s Studio, Makerplace or an item from the Library of Things collection, share it with the library at ahml.info/creator_spotlight. We want to shine the spotlight on your creation and show others too.