The PEOPLE who MAKE IT HERE

Meet Katy Walls, Studio Technician

Learn how Katy keeps the Crafts Center running and how she transformed its classes at the onset of the pandemic.

How did you begin working at the CC?

I was hired as a student in 2008 and by fall of 2009, I became the first student instructor at the Crafts Center. I taught Black and White Photography, which I still teach today. I remained an instructor until I was hired as a part-time studio technician in 2017.

What do you like about your work?

Every day is a little bit different. I enjoy creative problem-solving and the Center always has a problem to solve! Every day is a puzzle – and there’s no picture on the box.

What are you most proud of?

There are three main things I’ve done that I’m most proud of:

1. My work with our PostSecret project led me to speak at a Suicide Awareness vigil and I never would have spoken in public.

2. Getting the Center online during the pandemic. I worked out the technology, class set-ups, and the necessary steps to take our classes online. We had over 20 online classes by April of 2020.

3. When I thought about what would be the single thing, I would say it is the darkroom remodel project that I did in 2019. Carol [our director] was busy putting in our newly funded C:LAB makerspace, which required that we repurpose the existing [large] darkroom. It was my idea to leave the front space for a darkroom and I redesigned and remodeled it. It is a fully functioning, well-equipped darkroom – and we are able to continue all of our analog photography classes.

What do you foresee as the future of the CC? What is coming up? Exciting updates?

We’re becoming a fusion center, blending new technology with traditional craft. The FUTURE IS FUSION.

What about an experience with a student? How did you help them?

It’s more about how I made them feel than about anything I have done. It is so important to make students feel supported.

What are your extracurricular activities? What do you like to do in your personal time?

Rugby! I have been coaching the NC State Women’s Rugby Club since 2014. I LOVE it.