Great studio, the classes are great. I love the open studio were I can use as much clay as I may…read moreneed.

I had a great experience at Penguin doing one of their beginner clinics. The pottery studio is…read morespacious. The large group format is very relaxed with a good mix of group instruction and alone time to work on your masterpieces. Starting off we were given aprons and told how to use and clean the wheel. There's unlimited clay in blocks with an instructor going around giving some individual guidance. They have a lot of tools available and it was nice having as much clay so I wasn't worried about making mistakes. At the end you can fire one piece to keep. They do some basic trimming for you and then glaze with a color of your choice. Overall a super fun experience.

An incredibly happy place. The managers runs the studio so there's never a glitch. The instructors…read moreare not just elite-level sewists, but they are also incredibly kind and patient beyond belief. They meet you were you are. I often feel like a klutz around sewing machines, but they empower me to just go for it and, as long as they're by my side, I get great results. I look forward to the days I have an upcoming class scheduled. Recommendation: Take a class.

Over the past few months I took 3 sewing classes at Sew Crafty and LOVED IT!…read more I started with the Machine Sewing Basics class to brush up on my skills. I had sewn as a teen so it was easy to dive back in, but there were also brand new beginners in my class that seemed to do really well too. After Basics, I felt confident enough to sign up for Hemming and Alterations (a set of 2 classes), where we reviewed measuring and different types of hems/clothing modifications. We even got to bring in some of our own clothes to work on while supervised by the teachers :) Since then, I've been able to hem a bunch of items I've always wanted to wear, so I'll call it a success! The staff was soooo knowledgeable and patient (shout out to Anika who led both of mine!), making the total of 6 hours I spent there really efficient. The studio was tidy, well organized and had all the equipment we needed to thrive. Plus, the classmates were all super kind, so I guess it draws in nice people! 10/10 recommend!

Fun! Smallish studio, but the instructors were great! Easy to find in the Bridgeport Art Center…read more I booked online so I knew what we were painting. Would highly recommend for a date night, girls night out or whatever. Loved it and we will be back again.

So what you're not a natural artist. Here you don't have to be. With stencils and great instructors…read moreto guide you along the way, your picture still turns out a masterpiece. I simply love this place. You bring your own wine and they provided glasses for you to sip while painting. It's great for all ages and the paint selections are nice as well. You can have a private event or join in an open class. Such a relaxing thing to do. Plus you leave with a new piece of art to hang and admire in your home or office.

I'm SO glad Jackson Junge Gallery is next door to Oiistar. While we waited for a table we visited…read morethe gallery. The place is bursting at the seams with beautiful works of art. I was attracted to their current exhibit, Ten by Ten... over 300 works of art all in a 10 x 10 format. Kaitlyn was super helpful and took plenty of time to explain the exhibit. She also mentioned all the pieces were available online. We looked and looked and looked. We found a few pieces we liked, but the prices seemed out of our price range. We liked one that was affordable, but we didn't love it. When we were called for our table next door, we didn't think we'd get to come back before the gallery closed, but that wasn't the case. We were excited to be able to come back in for another view. Here's the thing. I am more likely to spend money online than I am in person. I suppose it makes no sense, but as soon as we got back to the hotel I checked out the art online and ended up buying the piece we both loved and decided (in the gallery) that it was simply too expensive. Hmm, I suppose it wasn't too expensive after all. We would have had any art purchased shipped to us even if we had purchased it in the gallery. Ordering it online was no different. We can't wait for it to arrive.

We attended the "Ten by Ten" art exhibit opening at the Jackson Junge Gallery on November 7, 2025…read more It is a fun show that involves about 300 artists, who produced artworks that measure 10" x 10" each with different media. The styles cannot be more different from each other. If you are an artist, this would be a good chance to get inspired. If you are a patron, this is a compact exhibit with so many artworks in very reasonable prices. The show runs through January 11, 2026. The gallery is about 3,500 sq. feet. On a normal day, it would be airy and modern, providing a tranquil environment for patrons or any walk in to appreciate the art. However, with about 300 artists, who also invited their friends and relatives to the show opening, it was loud and very crowded, and was even chaotic at times. The "Ten by Ten" show took up about ¼ to 1/3 of the space, causing attendees to congregate in that small area. With the opening running from 6:00 pm to 10 pm, we arrived around 8:30 pm, it was still jam-packed with people. There was a bar station close to the entrance, with white wine, cranberry juice (or some fruit juice), and water available. There was a sign suggesting a $2 donation for each of the beverages. Pop corn was free and self-served, that attracted some pop-corn lovers. I accidentally saw stacks and stacks of 10" x 10" art work on a table in the back room that were still not hanged. Apparently, if an artist has more than one piece of art chosen for the show, he/she would only get one piece of art displayed at a time. It is only after his/her first piece of art is sold that the second piece would be displayed. Some artists only had one piece of art in the show, after their art had been sold, there's an empty spot on the wall. I also saw three pieces of artwork like a set in display, and also two similar artworks in the exact style being displayed at the same time. Their system seems to be flawed and unfair to some of the artists. Expect to use street parking as the gallery does not have a parking lot or garage. All-in-all, it was a fun night to the artists and the people whom they invited. There's a group of 5 to 6 friends who all wore a green beret to support their artist, who had a green beret in the little self-sculpture that he made. Fun!

I took a class here as a teenager and it was top notch! I have talked to many students who have…read moretalked classes here recently, and you know what, they can't speak highly enough about it! Yes, the rumors are true! It's just as good now as it was 45 years ago! Hats off to all the great teachers for encouraging all the students from around the world (yes, I knew a young woman from Italy who attended classes back in 2005!). A big standing ovation to all the teachers keeping this great institution world class all these decades later! You are the greatest!

My experience with this college has been extremely disappointing. One of my biggest concerns is the…read moreway on-campus job opportunities are handled. From my experience, it feels like Black students are not given the same opportunities or consideration when it comes to certain positions on campus. It has been extremely discouraging, especially when students are trying to work to support themselves while attending school. On top of that, many things on campus are unnecessarily overpriced. Students are already paying high tuition, yet basic things can feel excessively expensive. I hope the school takes these concerns seriously.

Aura Candle Bar has a calm, quiet, relaxing atmosphere with exposed brick walls, light flooring,…read morehigh ceilings and floating shelving. One wall holds all the candle inventory with fragrances like old books, dad's den, dragon-blood or more identifiable scents like elderberry, dark chocolate, bonsai, yuzu. The candle experience starts with an explanation of the experience and setting expectations before exploring fragrances that speak to us individually. Off we went to the shelves, making notes and sniffing coffee in a silver sifter to reset "nose fatigue". Our "chandlers" curated our blends with us and instructed us on blending technique to help us build the scent. Vessels were selected, wax poured, fragrances added and candles created. Candles are available for pick up the next day. I have been back three times. I highly recommend this business. They are a family owned business.

Aura Candle Bar was such a fun experience that I would 100% do again!…read more Alex was our guide. Not only was she knowledgeable, but she was also very sweet and kind. Gave very clear instructions and was just super interactive which I appreciated. They have so many scents to choose from that you definitely won't be able to smell them all, but I think you can get through a good amount of them to know that you're picking the best scents that stand out to you. I think this experience is definitely worth the money! They hold the candles for you for two weeks, but you can go in the same day to pick it up too just a few hours later. I can't wait to go back!

I've done two cork and canvas classes. Marisa lets you pick what you want to paint and then helps…read moreyou step by step to figure out how to create it. I have zero artistic talent but I've always hung up the paintings I've done in her class for any friends to see!

Are you looking for something to give your house or apartment a unique touch? Are you looking for…read morean unexpected housewarming, birthday, anniversary, or wedding gift? Why not consider buying a piece of art? And I am not talking about going to Target or Walmart and buying one of those generic, made a million of 'em, mass-produced posters or "printed" paintings. I am talking about going to Project Onward, on the fourth floor at the Bridgeport Art Center, and selecting from thousands of one-of-a-kind paintings, ceramic sculptures, and drawings. Project Onward is an amazing studio and gallery where they give artists with mental and developmental disabilities a "visual voice" to tell their stories and change the perceptions of the world. Their non-profit studio is inclusive, and they embrace artists with a wide range of life experiences. Some are self-taught artists who have Autism, while some are formally trained artists who have bipolar disorder. There are other artists with challenges that are equally complex. However, all of them willingly explore the innermost recesses of their minds to create powerful works of art. Most of the Project Onward artists live on low incomes and cannot afford to pay for studio space, or purchase supplies. So there is no cost for them to be a part of Project Onward. Many of their artists have received accolades for artistic excellence. Artwork created in their Chicago studio has been widely exhibited, and can be found in private, and corporate collections throughout the world. Project Onward's studio and gallery is a beehive of creative activity. The artists are friendly and delighted to see visitors interested in their creations. Volunteer guides are at hand to show you the artwork available for purchase, or you can just flip through the art bins at your leisure. There is so much incredible artwork to choose from--and most of it is affordably-priced. My husband and I recently spent a fun and engaging afternoon there, chatting with the artists and volunteers--and we found the perfect housewarming gift of art for a friend. When you purchase a piece of art from Project Onward, you're helping support a good cause, and you get something unique and beautiful to have or to give. I highly recommend supporting Project Onward, and treating yourself or a loved one to the gift of art!!

I ended up at the Cultural Center today and stumbled upon the Project Onward studio + gallery on my…read moreway out. WOW, what an amazing place! The artwork is unique to each artist - many focus on a certain theme or style. I was admiring an awesome Jimi Hendrix piece on the wall (sadly, far out of my price range) when the artist greeted me and told me more about his work and how he got started. His focus is memorial portraits, which he began 7 years ago after experiencing a loss of a family member who was close to him. I felt touched that he shared his story and passion with me. There is definitely something in everyone's price range - many $10, $20, and $35 pieces (many on corrugated cardboard - interesting!). Others were in the hundreds, like the Hendrix piece I was admiring. I ended up going back and picking up a $20 Chicago-themed piece for my new apartment. 70% of sales go back to the artist. As another reviewer said, you also see some artists at work. Their stations are seemingly as unique as the artwork. The artist who uses glitter...wow! Loved that station! I spoke with one of the managers on my return trip today, and he said they have around 40 artists. I'm looking forward to telling some of my students about Project Onward as well. Overall a very positive place focused on community and art appreciation.