Comments on: At the Edge of Commercialization: The Maker Faire http://www.processedworld.com/carlsson/nowtopian/technology/at-the-edge-of-commercialization-the-maker-faire economy, 'technology', public space, San Francisco past and present, class, books Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:25:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: skapoko http://www.processedworld.com/carlsson/nowtopian/technology/at-the-edge-of-commercialization-the-maker-faire/comment-page-1#comment-385 skapoko Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:27:51 +0000 http://www.processedworld.com/carlsson/nowtopian/?p=999#comment-385 One of my favorite things about the Maker Faire was the whole craft side of things. In addition to all the art installations and kit sellers were multiple spaces to create. I spent hours passing between a craft room with a clothing swap and sewing machines and another area with scrap parts of computers and other machines, glue guns, and soldering irons. It was great to see kids and adults sitting around tables creating art and learning about different tools. I saw one girl go absolutely gaga creating a huge tower out of scrap motherboards. I also spent a lot of time in the craft tent with a bunch of exhibitors that may have had a space so I would remember to buy my yarn from them, but the focus was on sharing skills. I had the chance to speak with some really wonderful people about their crafts, and I learned how to make yarn, knit (i crochet), and some specificities of needlepoint. While the event was just a little too crazy with so many people buzzing about, it was just nice to go to an event so focused on doing, rather than watching. Are there many other large-scale events like it? One of my favorite things about the Maker Faire was the whole craft side of things. In addition to all the art installations and kit sellers were multiple spaces to create. I spent hours passing between a craft room with a clothing swap and sewing machines and another area with scrap parts of computers and other machines, glue guns, and soldering irons. It was great to see kids and adults sitting around tables creating art and learning about different tools. I saw one girl go absolutely gaga creating a huge tower out of scrap motherboards.

I also spent a lot of time in the craft tent with a bunch of exhibitors that may have had a space so I would remember to buy my yarn from them, but the focus was on sharing skills. I had the chance to speak with some really wonderful people about their crafts, and I learned how to make yarn, knit (i crochet), and some specificities of needlepoint.

While the event was just a little too crazy with so many people buzzing about, it was just nice to go to an event so focused on doing, rather than watching.

Are there many other large-scale events like it?

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