Marlena Makes

Marlena Doerr is a multidisciplinary artist and educator seeking to emulate play and expressions of joy through her jewelry, mirrors, decor, and artworks. Marlena was born and raised in Ithaca on the edge of the city. In her youth, she enjoyed picking fruit off the raspberry brambles, summer peepers, and frequent trips to second-hand shops with her mom. Currently, Marlena teaches elementary art for the Ithaca City School District. She pulls inspiration from the silliness and glee of her students, the sweetness of the natural surroundings, and those treasured opportunities to peruse colors, patterns, and styles from different eras as a child.

After moving to New Paltz in 2016 to pursue her degree in art education, Marlena began experimenting with laser cutting and engraving. Marlena had a longstanding passion for digital creation; she became transfixed by the immense potential for bringing her virtual designs to life through laser cutting. Thus began a loving obsession with the nearest Makerspace. In Ithaca, Marlena is most grateful for the TCPL Makerspace.

Earrings were the first natural step into usable designs as Marlena has always had a strong affinity for fashion. Before long, her ideas grew and shifted past earrings, providing space for plant decorations, hanging artworks, lanterns, stands, and more. In 2022 Marlena introduced mirrored acrylic into her studio, and she ran with delicate and funky reflective works that continue to bloom into existence.

Marlena prefers an open approach to materials when creating, often beginning her work with a digital sketch and evolving that initial idea within the medium chosen for a given project. In her work to come, she hopes to reintroduce some classic designs from her early years in college. Marlena is also excited to continue expanding her home decor collections, likely introducing more color and hand- painted objects soon!