Go ahead, Maker Faire my day
What do hydroponic vertical farms, tiny houses, and 'poop-eating-boat-machines' all have in common? They were among hundreds of creations on display at the 2011 World Maker Faire in New York.
Mon, Sep 19 2011 at 6:43 PM EST
Images: Matt Hickman
This past weekend I joined the hoards of dorks, dweebs, tinkers, techies, hackers, crafters, artists, weirdos, steam-punkers, gadget hounds, life-sized mouse trap enthusiasts, and excited kids (lots of excited kids) and ventured to the furthest reaches of Queens to the New York Hall of Science, site of the world's biggest, baddest DIY extravaganza, the second annual 2011 World Maker Faire N.Y. One word to describe the scene: Bananas.
Boasting the innovative, eye-catching creations of hundreds of "makers" spread across focus areas like Green, Engineering, Crafts, and Music along with numerous workshops and performances, Make magazine's circus-sized "showcase of creativity and cool technology that celebrates the DIY mind-set" didn't disappoint. Although there was a heavy emphasis on 3-D printing technology, I was happy to see plenty of eco-minded exhibitors who have appeared on this here blog in this past including environmental nonprofit ioby (they manned a super-cool homemade seed bomb booth), builder/activist Adam Katzman (showing off his newest creation, "Poop and Paddle"), Jay Shafer's Tumbleweed Tiny House Company (the inspiration for my favorite teenaged green builder, Austin Hay), TerraCycle designer Tiffany Threadgould's RePlayGround, and New York's "Temple of reuse," Materials for the Arts. Also, there was tons of excellent food.
Below is a photo tour of some highlights that I stumbled across during my time wandering around dazed and delighted at Maker Faire N.Y. Anyone else have the chance to stop by the faire this weekend? Anything specific that you got a kick out of? And although Maker Faire NY has wrapped up, keep an eye out for upcoming mini, community-produced Maker Faires including the Fort Wayne Regional Maker Faire (Oct. 1 and 2), the Phoenix Mini Maker Faire (Oct. 15), and the East Bay Mini Maker Faire (Oct. 16) in Oakland. Happy making!
Move over, Susan Boyle. Richard Carter's Sashimi Tabernacle Choir, a Volvo plastered with more than 250 operatic, computer-controlled bass, catfish, trout, sharks, and lobsters, wows the crowd with "Bohemian Rhapsody." Click here to see the STC in action.
The Sashimi Tabernacle Choir. I couldn't take my eyes off it.
A ping pong table transformed into a compost bin at an observational exhibit sponsored by Solar One, Build it Green! NYC, and the Western Queens Compost Initiative.
Jay Shafer's Sonoma, Calif-based Tumbleweed Tiny House Company makes a big splash at Maker Faire.
A furry member of Tim Laursen's MIDI Controlled Musical Robot ensemble rocks out.
Mr. Grumpy's Curious Poop-Eating-Boat-Machine, a "homemade boat project that utilizes plumbing, wetland plants, raw sewage and an act of ecologically engineered wizardry to bring you the first ever toilet-boat." From activist/green builder Adam Katzman of Jerko the Gowanus Water Vacuum fame.
Recycled CD case art from one of MNN's favorite upcycling organizations, Materials for the Arts (MFTA).
The indoor urban farm: A hydroponic vertical gardening system from Vertical Theory.
Naptime. Gorgeous recycled fence bed frame and mason jar lamps from Maker Faire first-timer Michelle Decurtis of ReYoo.
Who likes recycled metro card suits? This guy, apparently.
Step right up ... Carousolar, a minimalist, completely solar-powered carousel courtesy GE.
Ryan Doyle's Gon KiRin, a 69-foot fire-breathing dragon made from salvaged auto parts. More on Gon Kirin here.
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