Inventions, Freaks, and Corn dogs - Report From the Maker Faire

[EmilyD]

Life Size Mouse Trap (photo by Ken Duffy)

CROSS-POSTED on Political Artwork Blog

Yesterday I was invited to bring my VainVan ArtCar to the Maker Faire in San Mateo, CA. It was a really fascinating experience. I've been to many types of festivals and fairs over the years and while I do love having my annual corndog, I always get the creeps from the carnies, the immense, pasty, Americans waddling around, and the scary toothless, drunk, fools hootin and hollarin as they peel out in their 12' tall pick ups. It almost doesn't matter what state you're in or what the fair is about, the components seem to almost always be the same. WELL, not today!

The Maker Faire is just about the coolest mix of the good things about county fairs, wood working...

















Custom Conference Table & Chairs by BecauseWeCan.org


science fairs...


















Giraffe photo by Scott / Laughing Squid


crafts festivals...

























Log Pillow by Erika Kern My Imaginary Boyfriend


and Burning Man...



















Neverwas Haul photo by my web-host, Scott Beale / Laughing Squid


PianoMotion by Mark Chang

It was like anywhere U.S.A. Summer fair but instead of rednecks, it was populated with pierced, tattooed freaks and artists. IT WAS GREAT! It was especially fabulous to see how many cool kids are being introduced to creative thinking, art, inventions, and the common-ness of being weird. And...I even got my corndog!























!!!UPDATE!!!

I'm happy to report that Jennifer Marsh, who I did a story on last Fall, has finished her amazing International Fiber Collaboration. Here's a photo of the finished piece installed over the derelict gas station in Syracuse, NY. Click on the link for more photos. WOW!


















International Fiber Collaboration © 2008 Jennifer Marsh

All is not lost as long as people are willing to create, laugh, and help each other through life!

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[slim]

That is so cool! I'm dying to take my son (who takes apart cell phones and re-purposes their parts into minibots) to the Maker Faire. Have you seen Make Magazine? It's crazy fun.

[EmilyD]

Yes slim, they had dozens of copies in the bookstore at the Faire. I was tempted but ooo it's expensive. I did buy a book about yarn crafts though, and a pink tee shirt. I can't resist cool pink tees (as you can tell by my photo.) Your son sounds super handy, that will serve him well in the new gear-head culture. What I loved about the Faire was the combination of tech and handmade. You could really see the future developing at this thing...it was swarming with smart, hip kids.