Clementine Studio

     “When we moved,” Carly says, “my whole idea was to get my own studio space. That was the dream. I thought it would make people take me more seriously, and solidify me as a ‘serious artist.’” But Carly found that the space—an idyllic, brightly-lit loft in Pilsen—was rarely used, and often sat empty while Carly worked on projects at home. Ditching the studio entirely, Carly chose to live in Bucktown, opting for an apartment with its own separate room in which to work and store projects. She gets to set her own hours, and whenever a new idea comes to her, she can drop what she’s doing and work on it right in the comfort of her own home.
    Bucktown was the only place she and her boyfriend wanted to live when they moved from New York. “I love how it’s sandwiched between main streets with lots of activity,” Carly remarks. “[There are] restaurants, bars, trains…but once you turn on a quiet street it’s quiet and feels like a true neighborhood.” Most of all—more than the quiet streets and the nearness of shops and bars—it’s the community that drew Carly to this side of Chicago. Upon moving here, she says, “My favorite unexpected surprise was how involved the community is in this little neighborhood and how easy it is to connect with people and contribute. Whether it's sharing info on events like the annual Bucktown Garden Walk, supporting a new business or welcoming the new homeless shelter, I've really felt a community aspect here that comes together for the good of the 'hood.”