Late Summer Workshops at Linda and Bill Gantz Boys & Girls Club
CSI’s partnership with the Linda and Bill Gantz Boys & Girls Club in Chicago continued through a series of art workshops held from mid-summer through early fall, featuring CSI artist-sculptors.
The workshops were designed for children ages 10–17 and led by CSI members, Elizabeth La Beouf, Nanxi Jin, and Nico Kaslauskas. Artist stipends and material reimbursements were made possible through generous grants from various funders.
The artists facilitated hands-on art activities for youth at Lathrop Homes as part of BGCC’s youth programming, coordinated by Activity Manager Yury Juarez.
Images courtesy of Elizabeth La Beouf, from the workshop on September 21st, Abstract Watercolor: Exploring Color, Texture & Intuition.
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Artifacts from Imagined Cinema
Nico Kaslauskas, Workshop facilitator
Workshop Description: Participants selected photographs of familiar objects and imagined fictional stories around them. Using writing, cut-out words, subtitles, and collage, they created indirect narratives inspired by the images.
Monday, September 21, 2026
Everyday Objects in Clay
Nanxi Jin, facilitator
Age Group: 10–17
Workshop Description: Participants used air-dry clay and basic hand-building techniques to recreate or transform familiar everyday objects. The activity introduced three-dimensional thinking while encouraging students to look more closely at the objects around them.
Monday, September 21, 2026
Abstract Watercolor: Exploring Color, Texture & Intuition
Elizabeth La Bouef, facilitator
Age Group: 10–17
Workshop Description: Participants explored watercolor through an intuitive and experimental approach. They created expressive abstract compositions using color, layering, mark-making, and texture while learning basic watercolor techniques.
