Artist Spotlight: Jess C.

If you've spotted a new yellow bench bench near the front gate, you've crossed paths with the work of our compost volunteer and artist, Jess Chang—architect by profession, maker by nature, and firm believer that forgotten things deserve a second chance.

Originally from Los Angeles, Jess found her way to New York City in 2016 after living in several different places, eventually settling in Prospect Lefferts Gardens in 2020. In 2025, she joined Maple Street Community Garden as a compost volunteer, discovering not just a garden, but a place of community, greenery, gathering, and a little breathing room from city life.

Outside of her work as an architect, Jess is usually creating in other ways. She loves drawing, making things by hand, and rescuing overlooked objects—finding new purpose and beauty in things others might pass by. And if that wasn't enough to keep life interesting, she recently welcomed a new cat into her home.

It's no surprise that someone who notices the beauty in everyday objects also found her way to compost, where yesterday's scraps become tomorrow's soil.

And if Jess could be any creature in the garden?

🐦 A robin.

Not because they're flashy (although that bright orange chest certainly helps), but because they're wonderfully humble. As Jess puts it, robins are "vibrantly colored, yet also blend into the garden floor." She admires how they spend so much of their time hopping through the grass despite having the freedom to soar. They're here all year, quietly sharing our neighborhoods, yet somehow always feel like the first joyful sign that spring has returned.

Whether she's sketching, repurposing forgotten treasures, designing spaces, or helping transform food scraps into fertile soil, Jess reminds us that creativity often begins with paying close attention—to the overlooked, the well-loved, and the quietly beautiful.

We're so glad you've landed here, Jess💚

🐦 Spotlight by Zhenia N.; 📸 by Jess F. and Zhenia N.

If you’d like to join the Arts Committee, whether you are an artist, musician, poet, muralist, art teacher or you’re a creative person interested in helping with arts events, fill out this google form. You can also email Arts.MSCG@gmail.com.