maker fair...

... or maker's fair ... or maker faire

whatever you call it, the "Maker Faire" is something i was introduced to just a few years ago.  have you heard of it in your region? 

the ann arbor mini maker faire is where i first ran into ATC almost a year ago.  i had asked an acquaintance who also went to MIT if he ever felt like he was wasting himself in the auto industry.  his answer was a little more optimisitc than mine, but never mind that.  he directed me to some really (really) cool workshops opening up in the area, like Maker Works (more on that in a later post), and told me about this mini maker faire happening in ann arbor - free, near home, and on a saturday on which i had nothing better to do.  i don't know what actually got me there -- i didn't really have any intention of doing it -- but i did, and the rest is history.

so what is a maker faire?  a few years ago, the Henry Ford was hosting maker faire detroit, a mile or less from my office.  it seemed like a very big deal and i asked around as to what it was.  here is what they say:

Motor City to Maker City, meet the Makers! 300+ exhibiting makers, demonstrations & hands-on workshops. 
Robotics, electronics, rockets, food and fashion finds. If it’s made, it’s displayed at Maker Faire Detroit. The most happening event in Detroit, don’t miss this two-day, interactive and family-friendly event that takes arts, crafts, engineering, food, music, science and technology projects and the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) mindset to the next level. It’s a celebration of unbridled creativity and discovery that will blow your mind. Only at the home of innovation, The Henry Ford, July 27th and 28th.

the Maker movement is all about creating, tinkering, hacking, making and playing.  workshops like Maker Works and others are popping up all over the country where your average creative person can go to build, test or create anything from metalshop items to crafts.  the faires include demonstrations, hands-on activities, and PLAY for everyone.  seriously, it can range from "music and fire arts" (yes, FIRE) to new inventions, from sustainable living solutions and green technology to making musical instruments.  do you know what a 3D printer is?  you can find them here.  wind activated lights?  an all-electric motorcycle?  DIY cotton candy machine?  (NOW you're talkin'!)  home automation?  mini-robots?  light-up textiles? 

just the mini faire was a marvelous experience.  i can't wait to go to the detroit one!  oh, and if you're in the area, stop by at either:  ATC will be at both and i will probably be staffing the exhibits at some point!



Ann Arbor MiniMaker Faire:  sat, june 8th, morris lawrence building at washtenaw community college

Maker Faire Detroit:   july 27-28, the henry ford, dearborn