THREE MOONS Big Sky Residency Program
Autumn/Winter 2026
Big Sky aims to cultivate creative community where developing and established artisans, artists, and makers come together to share space, equipment, materials, and ideas.
Founded in 2026 by Chicago creative producer and small-business owner Despina Papadeas of Depy Zepo, Big Sky is a 1,200sq ft community studio specializing in handbuilt ceramics, fused glass, and textile embellishment.
Big Sky is a place to get your hands dirty, follow your creative instincts, and turn ideas into tangible things. We believe creativity grows through experimentation, collaboration, and execution—and there’s no better way to learn than by making.
Curiosity
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Discovery
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Experimentation
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Iteration
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Research
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Discovery
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Fabrication
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Curiosity ☾ Discovery ⋆ Experimentation ☽◯☾ Iteration ☀ Research ˚☽˚ Discovery ⋆ Fabrication ☽◯☾
Apply Now!
Big Sky on Move in Day
Each residency will last three months, or three moon cycles, offering selected artisans access to the studio and an opportunity to develop a new body of work, experiment with unfamiliar materials, pursue an ambitious project, or simply spend dedicated time using one’s hands.
The program is intended to be flexible, interdisciplinary, and rooted in the belief that creative work thrives when artists have both room to focus on/ develop their intuition and space to make.
Big Sky Shared Resources
CLAY EQUIPMENT & MATERIALS
3 Canvas covered work benches
1 Vertical Slab Roller
Multiple Clay Handworking tools: needles, scrapers, ribs, texture rollers, silicone molds, slipcasting plaster molds, paddles, sgrafitto diamond core cutting set, sculpture tools, sponges
Shimpo Hand Extruder
Handbuiling molds for bowls, platters, and plates
Multiple banding wheels, spinning platforms
KY Mudworks Clay Mulhollun, Ice Man, Speckled Brown Bear
Glaze Library of over 30 ^6 glazes ranging from food safe to purely decorative
(2) Electric Glaze Mixers
Glaze Tongs, multiple sizes
Wax Resist
KILNS
Our studio utilizes multiple electric kilns with digital interfaces: (1) Skutt 1027, (2) Skutt 614, (2) Delphi EZ-Pro 15-6 Digital Tap kiln
GLASS EQUIPMENT & MATERIALS
2’x 4’ cutting grid
Taurus-3 Ring Saw
(2) Glastar Grinders
Fusing Cast Molds
Slump/Hump Molds
Unlimited COE 96 Glass Scraps for fusing
Multiple Pistol Grip Glass Scoring Tool
Grozing Pliers
Running Pliers
Boron Nitride Resist Spray
TOOLS
Multiple Electric Handheld Drills
Impact Driver
Drill Press
Dremel, with Drill Press Accessory
Miter Saw/ Jigsaw
Heat Gun
Staple Gun
Various Hammers/ Screwdrivers
MISCELLANEOUS
Shipping Supplies for Small Businesses
Zebra Thermal Label Printer
HSM Cardboard Shredder
Photo Backdrops/ Props
Safety Gear - Respirator, Gloves, Eye/Ear Protection
Refrigerator & Freezer
Electric Kettle
Toaster Oven
Shared Library of Books/Magazines
Sun-lit Sofa
Details
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Yes, we remain actively involved until solutions are fully operational and staff are confident.
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Interested in learning more about Three Moons?
Complete the form with contextual information regarding your interests, your visions, and any questions you may have about this three month residency opportunity