about me
Hi there! I'm Ali and I'm an artist and woodworker based in Los Angeles, on Tongva land. My long term dream is to build expansive, intersectional, inclusive, and intergenerational community spaces that seamlessly integrate universal accessibility.
My current endeavor is teaching chopstick making workshops. This grew from a desire to create an inviting woodworking experience that blends culture and craft. In 2024, I began designing and prototyping a comprehensive system of custom jigs and fixtures. What started as a curious exploration evolved into an intensive year-and-a-half of research, iteration, and building. The result is a workshop that is both accessible to beginners and engaging for experienced woodworkers, while also weaving in history, symbolism, and ritual. Today, I teach these workshops out of Allied Woodshop and also host private workshops and team bonding experiences across Los Angeles.
I received my Associate of Science in Furniture Making from Cerritos College's Woodworking Manufacturing Technologies Department, where I now serve as an Embedded Tutor. I also hold a Bachelor of Arts in Economics & Accounting from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Explore my woodworking experience below:
f.a.q.
Chopstick Making Jigs
Will you be selling your chopstick making jigs?
I don't have any sets available for sale at the moment, but I might develop digital plans later down the line to sell online so you can build your own. There's a chance I might make one or two sets of the jigs to sell, but that would be at a later time.
Workshops
Where are the workshops located?
Currently I teach my public chopstick making workshops at Allied Woodshop in East LA. I also host private workshops and team bonding activities taking place in the clients' location of choice. Community workshops will likely be held at other venues secured by the sponsoring organization, and will be detailed in the calendar listings.
How can I be updated about new workshops?
You can add yourself to the email list form here.
Do you offer tickets at sliding scale?
For workshops coordinated directly with me, I offer sliding scale pricing on a case-by-case basis. These include private workshops, community workshops, and team bonding activities. For workshop spots that are sold through another business (for example, Allied Woodshop), I have no control over the ticket prices.
Will the workshop venues be ADA accessible?
Accessibility plays a big factor in my vetting process, and I try to select venues that are as accessible as possible. If you have any accessibility questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at ali@alichenstudio.com.
STAY in touch!
To stay updated about upcoming workshops, new projects, and more, feel free to sign up for email updates below.
Photos by Jamie Issuh.
