Our team & Resident Artists

Here at Evanston Art Makers Outpost, we’re a creative and passionate bunch, dedicated to making our space fun, inviting, and inspiring for all.

If you’re interested in joining our incredible team of teachers, workshop facilitators, and resident artists, please reach out to val@artmakersoutpost.com for more information!

VALERIE KAHAN

*(She/Her)*
*Founder | Owner & Creative Director | RESIDENT ARTIST | ART FACILITATOR DIRECTOR*
As Founder/Owner & Creative Director of the Art Makers Outpost, Val believes in community collaboration as the essential ingredient to foster the next generation into socially and environmentally conscious artists and community members. Inspired by her two children, she serves as creative director for the space, doing all the behind the scenes building and launching as well as facilitating classes & workshops, co-curating the concert series, mentoring teen staff & interns and creating new offerings at AMO on the regular. Her vision to create an art space focused on imagination supported by the community to have a positive environmental and social impact that also serves the community comes to life at the Art Makers Outpost. Val is also a practicing artist as a painter & mixed media and as a professional photographer. Valerie is also a seasoned 20 year veteran real estate broker with @Properties and loves helping and supporting people in all the ways.
In addition to being a mother of two awesome kiddos and dog and a Partner to her husband Valerie says “Being a “helper” who supports and lifts up others whether as a teacher, real estate broker, friend or community member is one of the most rewarding aspects of my life- giving back, helping and lifting each other and our community up however we can as fellow humans, is what I believe we are all here on this earth for.”
She can be reached directly at
val@artmakersoutpost.com
FB & INSTAGRAM @artmakersoutpost

TRINITY COLLINS

They/Them
*CURRICULUM DESIGNER | SENIOR ART FACILITATOR*
Trinity (they/them) serves as a Curriculum Designer and an Art Facilitator at Art Makers Outpost. They advocate for the power of art to cultivate skills such as imagination, creativity, compassion, and storytelling, believing it can nurture social dreaming. Trinity, a writer and painter, frequently explores themes of resistance and tenderness passed down covertly among communities and across generations. Their affinity for storytelling, archives, letters, and other artifacts deeply inspires their artistic process.

IDEN NOWLIN

*She/Her*
*Director of Development |SENIOR ART FACILITATOR | RESIDENT ARTIST*

Iden is a lifelong Evanstonian She joined Art Makers Outpost after a 20 year teaching career in Special Education. Art has always been a passion of Hers, including painting, paper crafting, sewing, and stained glass. As Director of Development for the Outpost, During her time with the studio she has helped implement new programming such as the adult maker nights and Mini Makers, classes for preschool aged children ages 3-5 and Created the Artisan Fairs we host 2-4 times per year. As a special education teacher for 20 years, Iden developed an environment that focused on creativity and allowed her students to explore and excel in hands-on learning. At the Outpost she continues to work on programming for preschool aged children, homeschooled families, and includeS sensory based learning for disabled children. She looks forward to helping to continue to connect Art Makers Outpost with the community and creating youth and adult programming and community activations so that everyone has an opportunity to get to know Art Makers Outpost and all that we do here!
In her own creative life, Iden enjoys upcycling textiles, creating mixed media pieces, and creating with her three children. Iden can be found on instagram @ irbncreations
She can be reached directly at Iden@artmakersoutpost.com

MAITHILI JHA

SHE/HER
*RESIDENT STUDIO ARTIST*
Maithili is a visual artist who draws from her Indian heritage and fascination with dualities. When she isn’t in the art studio, she’s focused on health equity strategy and performance at the American Medical Association, boxing, chasing the sunshine, her husband and kids.

CHRIS GREENE

HE/HIM
*OUTPOST AFTER DARK CURATOR | RESIDENT STUDIO MUSiCIAN*
Saxophonist and composer Chris Greene was born in Evanston, IL. He is one of the Co-Creators of the Outpost After Dark Concert Series & A Resident Musician At Art Makers Outpost. He spent his formative years in the award-winning Evanston High School Wind and Jazz Ensembles. As a teenager he began to play professionally with many local pop/rock and jazz bands. Greene eventually went to Bloomington, IN to attend the prestigious Indiana University Jazz Studies program and studied with renowned professor and cellist David Baker. Greene returned to Chicago in 1994 and has since collaborated with some of the nation’s most creative and versatile musicians. As a performer, Greene can be seen with many different groups - in many different genres. He also leads his own critically-acclaimed and award-winning group, **the Chris Greene Quartet**. He has also performed or recorded with the following artists: Common, The Temptations, Eric Roberson, Phonte, Ce Ce Peniston, Ed Motta, Steve Coleman & Five Elements, Maysa Leak, Ten City, Sheena Easton, Steve Cole, Michael Manson, Andrew Bird, The J. Davis Trio, Chris Rob, Vic Lavender, Jesse De La Pena, Liquid Soul and The Mighty Blue Kings.

**chrisgreenejazz.com**
**instagram.com/chrisgreenejazz**
**facebook.com/chrisgreenejazz**

MARGARET LEININGER

SHE/HER
*RESIDENT STUDIO ARTIST*
Maggie Leininger explores the intersectionality of social patterns and coded languages primarily through the use of threads that are woven, stitched, collaged, or assimilated. Having grown up in a Southern mill town during the decline of the textile industry, Leininger's work explores the relationship between anonymous labor, the extraction of resources, and systems of production within an industrialized framework. Another recurring theme in Leininger's work considers identity and social expectations related to garment construction and the history of handwork such as sewing, embroidery, knitting, and weaving.

ANNA SOLTYS

*(she/her)*
*RESIDENT STUDIO ARTIST | OUTPOST AFTER DARK CURATOR | SENIOR ART FACILITATOR*
Anna spent over a decade creating Public Art in Chicago; working with communities, organizations and individuals to create long-lasting impressions representing messages of hope, love and individuality. Whether in your home, on the side of a public building, or the facade of a business, these installations function as landmarks singing for the world.

She studied Fine Art at Ball State University, and Columbia College Chicago, focusing on a variety of Art practices. During these years, she explored 2D and 3D mediums such as painting, ceramics, collage, drawing, and jewelry making. These tools have unlocked the doors leading to the creation of limitless installations.

It is her belief that success lives in hope, and hope is the belief you can succeed. Applying this in her practice, Anna Soltys creates spaces that inspire hope, and ultimately remind us of the beauty in this world.

RACHEL MARS

SHe/HER
*RESIDENT STUDIO ARTIST*
Rachel is a self-taught artist who embraces a “more is more” approach to color and texture, creating vibrant and playful art. Her work explores themes of mental health, identity, and the absurdity of social constructs.
IG: @rachel.mars.art
Website: rachelmarsart.com

SUSAN KEATS

SHE/HER
*Resident Studio Artist*
Susan’s work is a whimsical view of our inner thoughts and emotions. Topics such as fear of change, day dreams, annoyance, or desire to be magically transported elsewhere are depicted in a dreamy, fantastical way. She finds inspiration in Outsider Art and all forms of art that tell a story.
In addition to painting on canvas, Susan also crafts tiny still-life paintings to be worn as jewelry. Each piece is completely unique and one-of-a-kind. She firmly believes that life is too short to not surround yourself with beautiful things.
Examples of Susan’s work can be seen on Instagram at: @susankeatsstudio

MEREDITH KOPELMAN

SHE/HER

RESIDENT STUDIO ARTIST

My process reflects everyday experiences through unexpected prisms. I draw on vibrant colors, material explorations, and luminosity through form and line. Painting can be a stage to illuminate life from an emotional reality. By exploring personal narrative, my work interweaves abstraction and representation with memory and fantasy. My physical painting process uses the entire body, which allows for playfulness,confidence, and spontaneity. We are all part of a moment in time. Life can be beautiful in all its imperfection and mess.

Instagram@ msamanthaart

Facebook@ Meredith Kopelman Artwork

Website: meredithkopelmanartist.com