Meet Your Neighbor: Joanne Mueller | Verona Maker Space
Matt Winzenried
Matt has worked in Real Estate since 2005. He has experience in changing markets and economies...
Matt has worked in Real Estate since 2005. He has experience in changing markets and economies...
We spoke with Joanne from Verona Maker Space in Verona to get to know her better as a Verona organization neighbor! We were able to do a tour of the space and it's such a beautiful and creative space that we're really excited to help get the word out about!
Tell us about Verona Maker Space!
"The Verona Maker Space is one of six entities within the Art House 360. We grand opened about a month ago, and we are the site of the old New Century School. They were about to close down the building, and the founders of Art House 360 said, wait! Let's make it into something new, and that's where the vision was born. There are six different businesses and nonprofits in the area, housed within this building. Verona Maker Space is a nonprofit. We have the mission to connect, create, and share.
It really stemmed out of a desire to help foster, creative connections within our community. We have so much artistic talent in Verona and beyond and, felt like there was a need for a space to highlight that. And so what we provide is a space to teach. We're really an educational space. We want to allow our makers who maybe do art at home as a hobby or have their own studio, but it's not quite equipped to really be in a classroom setting. And so they can join us as a maker, and they have access to the space. They have support, in terms of booking and marketing their classes. And our hope is that we, create this ecosystem of other creative makers, and we have seen some magic happen already!"
Where did the idea come from? Who's all involved?
"I'm not the face of Verona Maker Space, we are so many people all together! There are four board members. We're all moms that, found each other through volunteering at our kids' schools, and we have currently six makers who are creative folks, and we all support each other. So it started again out of that deep desire to create connection.
We wanted hang out together. 'Let's make a space.'"
Tell us a little bit more about yourself personally! I'm sure people would like to learn a little bit more about you as they see you around Verona, around town.
"I'm a mom. I volunteer my time here. I volunteer my time at the school and then I also work full time. So I wish I had Hermione's little like time thing where, I can duplicate or change time around but again, this is where this little space is so wonderful.
I often say for us to be able to make something, you need: the time, the supplies, and really the desire and the inspiration. And whenever I'm in the space, it feels calm and I get a chance to really, like, be present both for my kids when they're taking classes here, I often stay and hang out with them. Or when I take an adult class, I get to tap into that creative mindset and, it is really calming."
Tell me a little bit more about what you've appreciated about just Verona or Fitchburg and West Side of Madison.
"Verona is growing. It is incredible to see and to be a part of. Not a spoiler alert because I think it's public — Ian's Pizza is moving into town!
There is just a bunch of development down West Verona Avenue. And with Epic being here in town it's just a lovely place to live. It's so supportive and you get that sort of small town feel and so when we grand opened both for the Art House and then we had a separate grand opening for Verona Maker Space back in May, our community came out and supported us and it was just lovely to see!
That's one reason I love about where we are. Just the the support, the small town feel, but we have all the amenities including an Ian's Pizza!"
The Verona Maker Space has their own calendar of events that happen all the time. Where can people find more information about the different events, how to become a maker here and to lead things, or just be able to partake in some of the classes?
"So all our classes are open to the public. The proceeds go to our makers and, help them cover their maker costs, and, anyone can sign up. And there are two ways to sign up for classes through the Verona Maker Space.
We just partnered with Verona Rec. They've been really gracious and have listed our classes there and so you can sign up right there when you sign up for your kids' football, teams, or soccer teams. This is a fresh off the hot off the press thing. It was launched yesterday!
And then the other way to sign up is just through our website. Either one is totally fine.
For some that already have a Verona Rec account, it's easier to just sign up while you're doing other things. But you can also sign up on our own website."
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If you guys have other, questions, again, reach out to them on their website. Find a time to come and and visit the space. It's beautiful. Very well done. Not only is Verona Maker Space here at Art House 360, but there's five other companies and organizations that are here all around arts and connectivity. There's there's a lot going on just within this one one building in this one community. So feel free to to reach out, find a time, and come and check out the space and pay Joanne and the rest of the team a visit.
Thanks, Joanne, for taking some time to share about your space, and we look forward to connecting with you more.
Verona Maker Space | Makerspace | 401 West Verona Avenue, Verona, WI, USA
Connecting, creating and sharing arts and crafts at the Verona Maker Space ...
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