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Jyl Bonaguro

Jyl Bonaguro is a self-taught sculptor and playwright in Chicago, specializing in hand-carving Italian marble, who can teach you to intertwine narrative forms and help audiences connect through your work.

Jyl Bonaguro

Upcoming Classes at Jyl Bonaguro

Showing 1 upcoming dates for classes at Jyl Bonaguro

Stone Carving Workshop

May 18th, 10am–4:30pm Central Time

Jyl Bonaguro @ 4200 W Diversey Ave, Chicago, IL

  • $85
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4200 W Diversey Ave 17A, Chicago, IL 60639
Jyl Bonaguro
Hermosa, Northwest Side
4200 W Diversey Ave 17A
Near N Tripp Ave
Chicago, Illinois 60639

Directions:
The workshop is located in studio 17A for Jyl Bonaguro in the Workshop 4200 building. Please enter via the main entrance on Tripp Ave thru the double glass doors.

Parking is free in the lot or on Diversey & Tripp Avenues.

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Description

Jyl Bonaguro, Artist … Sculptor … Playwright... is a self taught sculptor and playwright in Chicago, specializing in carving Italian marble by hand. Often working spontaneously, Jyl Bonaguro has a modern approach to the ancient art of stone carving that diverges from the formal academic approach. Raw stone is revealed in select areas, leaving sections untouched and natural, reminiscent of fragments excavated by archaeologists.

Jyl Bonaguro find similarities working in mediums as divergent as sculpting and playwriting because both mediums are treated as interactive, narrative forms. Sculptures like her marble wings series tells a story through composition of form and style in much the same way a play like Swan Soong tells a story through composition of words and style. Both forms require audience participation and interaction to help complete the stories and connect us with each other.

Jyl Bonaguro’s works have been featured in publications like CS Modern Luxury Interiors, the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Reader and Sheridan Road and are in private art collections throughout the United States. Select sculpture exhibitions include: SOFA Chicago, Scope Miami, Aqua Art Miami, “Nature in Motion” Lincoln Park Zoo IL, “Voices and Visions” at the Highland Park Art Center IL and “Intertwined” at the Korean Cultural Center IL. She is the Vice President of Chicago Sculpture International and currently lives and works in Chicago, IL. Her latest carving project is the Modern Athena Sculpture.


Reviews of Jyl Bonaguro

(5.0-star rating across 32 reviews)
  • Stone Carving Workshop

    Anonymous review on 4/23/2024
    If you ever care to entertain that crazy thought you once had about carving stone…Jyl Bonaguro is the artist you should meet. Really like that this hands-on class is held in her working studio in Chicago where you’re surrounded by inspirational projects both finished and in-progress. All of them beautiful. Also like that this introductory course is just six hours in length (all you need for a first taste) and that the pricing is beyond reasonable for what you get. Jyl gets you right into the work and moves from person-to-person coaching each one individually until you all finish the day with newly found skills and instincts. She knows her stuff and knows how to get you there too. I looked for a stone class for a while before settling on Jyl. Know I made the right choice. Don’t hesitate to jump in. HIGHLY recommended.
  • Stone Carving Workshop

    Reviewed by Yara S. on 4/21/2024
    Class was a great introduction to stone carving from an artist who is an expert in the medium. Class was well thought out, taxing on the body, but a great experience overall. Jyl was kind and created a wonderful space to create.
  • Stone Carving Workshop

    Reviewed by David A. on 2/18/2024
    Had a great day in class with Jyl. She kept us all on track with great instruction and tips. Highly recommend this class.
  • Stone Carving Workshop

    Reviewed by Diana A. on 2/17/2024
    Absolutely phenomenal class! I've developed a whole new level of appreciation for the art. Highly recommend it for anyone looking to explore their creative side and delve deeper into this captivating art form! Teacher is amazing and truly passionate. I will be back.
  • Stone Carving Workshop

    Reviewed by Jarrett S. on 2/4/2024
    Jyl is amazing! I had so much fun learning to sculpt at this class. Really liked the small class size very intimate and you get a lot of 1:1 assistance as you create your masterpiece. Highly recommend.
  • Stone Carving Workshop

    Reviewed by Pranav P. on 1/14/2024
    I had an absolutely great time. Jyl is an amazing teacher, and thanks to her I've made great progress in just a matter of one day. She really understood what I was trying to build, and helped me throughout the day to get there. I highly recommend the course.
  • Stone Carving Workshop

    Reviewed by Alexa C. on 1/14/2024
    Loved this class! Jyl is a fantastic teacher who knows her craft extensively, and pays close attention to all of her students. I found her class structure to be great, and she knew how to help all of us achieve our goals in a limited time. Her stone carving workshop is physical and I left with a little sculpture I am quite happy with, and a newfound love for sculpting. Highly recommend to those who have an interest in learning the craft and want to focus on sharpening their skills in only a day!
  • Stone Carving Workshop

    Anonymous review on 12/27/2023
    Jyl was very helpful and made sure we had a feel for how much progress we should be making (important since we were mostly beginners who'd never worked in stone before). Parking pretty easy in the neighborhood, and an area in the building sells coffee and gives you room to eat your lunch.
  • Stone Carving Workshop

    Reviewed by Paul M. on 12/13/2023
    This class was a lot of fun. I knew nothing about it before starting and ending up leaving with a carving I am pretty proud of. Definitely sparked my interest in carving other things!
  • Stone Carving Workshop

    Reviewed by Stephen H. on 11/13/2023
    This was a fantastic class! As someone that’s wanted to do stone carving with proper tools for a very long time, it felt like a dream come true to do so under the guidance of such a kind and skilled artist.
  • Stone Carving Workshop

    Reviewed by Joe M. on 10/24/2023
    Got to learn all the tools & steps of stone carving and ask every question I had with ample one on one instruction time!
  • Stone Carving Workshop

    Reviewed by Jeff S. on 10/17/2023
    Wonderful class. Jyl is an excellent teacher. While it is a beginner class, the progression you see from beginning to end is astounding! If you are seeking a creative outlet and don't mind a little dust and some sore muscles, you would be hard pressed to find a better class!
  • Stone Carving Workshop

    Anonymous review on 10/2/2023
    Fantastic class! Jyl was amazing - she provided great instruction, was completely engaged and created a great learning experience. I'm thinking about taking the class again because I had so much fun.
  • Stone Carving Workshop

    Anonymous review on 8/13/2023
    Great teacher!!!
  • Stone Carving Workshop

    Reviewed by Carley Q. on 7/24/2023
    While challenging, Jyl did an excellent job navigating the group through all of the steps to create a stone masterpiece. I would definitely recommend the class and maybe even take it again!
  • Stone Carving Workshop

    Reviewed by Kevin C. on 7/24/2023
    This was a very good class, and a great introduction to stone carving. The class was thoughtfully organized, which made things easy for the students. Jyl is a talented artist, as well as a very good teacher who was able to share her expertise and deep knowledge with the students. Highly recommended.
  • Stone Carving Workshop

    Reviewed by Ariel T. on 4/24/2023
    I thoroughly enjoyed this course and highly recommend it! Jyl was an excellent instructor. She is very hands-on and encouraging. She'll make you feel like a natural sculptor!
  • Stone Carving Workshop

    Anonymous review on 4/23/2023
    Great class. Really hands on. The right size. New appreciation for the skill and dedication stone carving requires. Prepare for hard work!!!
  • Stone Carving Workshop

    Reviewed by Keith M. on 4/18/2023
    Truly a one of a kind experience! After just a few swings of your hammer and chisel, you immediately get a sense of how incredible the great master stone carvers were. As rewarding as this class was, be warned, it is not for the faint of heart…it’s a workout! Jyl is not only a skilled artist, she’s also a great hands on instructor. Definitely recommend!
  • Stone Carving Workshop

    Reviewed by Zee S. on 3/18/2023
    Talk about a different experience! I really enjoyed the class and Jyl was excellent at working with people to get their art as close to their desired design as possible. It was a chill environment and I would totally recommend others to the course.
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Review Summary by CourseHorse

Students who have taken classes with Jyl Bonaguro rave about their experience. They appreciate the opportunity to work with proper tools and receive one-on-one instruction from a skilled artist. They find the class to be both challenging and rewarding, with many expressing how it has given them a new appreciation for the skill and dedication required for stone carving. The class is well-organized and thoughtfully paced, allowing students to progress from beginner to being able to create their own stone masterpieces. Jyl is praised for her teaching abilities, being described as an excellent instructor who is knowledgeable, hands-on, encouraging, and able to cater to individual skill levels and goals. Students also enjoy the chill and supportive environment of the class, and some are even considering taking the class again because of how much fun they had. Overall, students highly recommend Jyl Bonaguro's classes for anyone looking for a special and unique creative outlet where they can learn the tools and techniques of stone carving. 1. "Got to learn all the tools & steps of stone carving and ask every question I had with ample one on one instruction time!" 2. "While challenging, Jyl did an excellent job navigating the group through all of the steps to create a stone masterpiece." 3. "Jyl is an exceptional instructor who provided superb art direction and instructions which really helped me learn the tools and techniques of stone carving. Highly recommended!"

Teachers at Jyl Bonaguro

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