The Zoetrope: Inkscape Skills with Ed Elser

In this 1-hour workshop, CCM Resident Artist Ed Elser (Unfettered Canvas) will familiarize participants with five great Inkscape skills for the plasma table and laser cutter as he creates pieces for his CCM Resident Artist project: a zoetrope. Used to create stop-motion video or displayed as standalone art-pieces, zoetrope panels are a versatile project to practice with Inkscape and polish your plasma and laser skills. Attendees will help Ed create several interchangible panels for the zoetrope while learning core fabrication techniques for laser and plasma tools.

Currently based in Arvada, Edward "Ed" Elser is a multidisciplinary artisan whose work blends craftsmanship, storytelling, and community engagement.

Ed is also the founder and resident artist at Unfettered Canvas, a website where he shares images of, and the inspirations behind, his evolving collections and hands-on projects. Ed's artistic practice spans a wide array of mediums, but especially reclaimed materials such as wood, copper, aluminum, glass, and stone, reflecting his appreciation for natural elements and industrial processes, while celebrating the provenance and history of the materials he uses.

His recent works include the "Coat Racks of 2025" group project and "A Cross2", a collection that fuses organic forms with handcrafted precision. His blog posts often explore the intersection of memory and meaning, offering insights into both his creative process and personal reflections. Beyond his studio practice, Ed was a co-founder of The Clubhouse, a collaborative innovation space launched in 2012 that supports makers, entrepreneurs, and technologists. Several years ago he delivered a prescient TEDx talk in Augusta, Ga. titled "Our Future is Awesome," where he discussed how technology advancements (touching on AI) is enhancing productivity and why we should embrace it.

Ed Elser's work embodies a spirit of curiosity, artistry, and local influences—a perfect fit for the collaborative ethos of Clear Creek Makerspace.