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The music major encourages fellow Tar Heels to stretch their creative comfort zones at UNC’s makerspaces, too. 

On the left, Orly Baum crosses her arms and smiles while standing in front of the fabric scraps in BeAM. On the right, she looks into a 3D printer to check on a print.
Orly Baum is a program assistant at BeAM, Carolina’s makerspace network. She leads Tar Heels through workshops and helps makers with tools like sewing machines and 3D printers. (photos by Jess Abel/College of Arts and Sciences)


The BeAM 101 training kickstarted Orly Baum’s love of Carolina’s makerspaces
and of helping other Tar Heels become makers. 

Baum, a junior from New Haven, Connecticut, transferred to UNC as a sophomore. As part of the Transfers United Residential Learning Program, she took the introductory training in Carmichael’s Be a Maker (BeAM) makerspace. 

After the training, the desktop embroidery machine caught her eye. 

“I ended up embroidering a bird and a Tar Heel onto scraps of fabric, and I called everyone I knew to show them,” she said. “I knew after working on that project that I wanted to be a BeAM employee.” 

As a program assistant, Baum works on tools including 3D printers and sewing machines — across BeAM’s campus locations, helps other makers and tinkers with her own projects.  

She also teaches makers new skills and technologies through workshops. 

“Leading workshops is very fun because I get to work with a small group of my fellow BeAM employees to teach small groups of makers,” she said, adding that developing the lessons helps her learn more about the machines, too. 

A sticker workshop that Baum co-led with program specialists Neev Gupta and Daisy Huang, which featured the vinyl cutter, stands out among the rest. 

“I was so happy when, at the end of the workshop, patrons were excited to come back to BeAM to make more stickers and learn how to use the other tools,” she said.

Polariod pictures of makerspace staff members are displayed above the front door on cork boards.
Baum says the maker community is at the top of the list of things to loves about BeAM. Here, the Murray BeAM location shares photos of its student staff. (photo by Jess Abel/College of Arts and Sciences)


One of the tools, the laser cutter, was instrumental in creating her favorite project to date: her pink acrylic employee nametag. 
 

“I used Adobe Illustrator for the first time to make my design, and then Taylor Morris, one of the BeAM program specialists, helped me customize my nametag just how I wanted it. 

The nametag features a laser-engraved music note, a nod to her major in music. 

“Making music has always made me feel connected to others and taught me about the world around me,” she said. A vocalist, Baum works with Musical Empowerment to teach music to local students. 

“I love that Musical Empowerment connects UNC and the Chapel Hill community,” she said. “Getting to mentor a student is an incredibly fun and rewarding opportunity.” 

Baum, who has minors in art history and urban studies and planning, sees connections between her studies and her job. 

“As I have taken on internships, began taking classes in art history and started my job at BeAM, I have discovered so many new ways of interacting with art and making art spaces accessible for everyone,” she said. 

Tar Heel makers share the same passion for creative community, she said. 

“I know I can ask for help on anything, and that everyone has my back inside and outside of BeAM,” Baum said. She is also “often inspired by patrons’ projects to step outside of my comfort zone and make something new.” 

By Jess Abel, College of Arts and Sciences

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