Tired of scrolling? A beginner’s guide to learning a new craft in Chicago

WBEZ Chicago / by Esther Bergdahl / February 18, 2025

With all the stressors of the world, you may be seeking every chance you can to be away from screens. One antidote to doomscrolling: Learning a new skill that includes a little reward at the end — a memento of the time and effort you put in with your own hands.

Settle in to 2025, your year of crafting. Passive consumption is over. We’re ready to make things.

Leaning into creativity has many rewards. “I think the act of making something can be radical,” said Liz McCarthy, the owner of GnarWare Workshop in Pilsen, which offers classes in a wide variety of ceramic arts. “When you feel powerless, making things empowers people to be their best selves and to deal with things happening around them. I would say there’s a very significant nonmaterial takeaway.” Read More Here.