From the mouths of makers: RVA Makerfest returns
These makers are returning to the second annual RVA Makerfest, and they’ve got things to say about what they do, why they do it, and what they like about sharing it with you.
Julian Cook, Central Virginia Blacksmith Guild, Capital One Employee/Blacksmith
What do you make?
The Central Virginia Blacksmith Guild (CVBG) promotes and teaches the craft of blacksmithing and metalwork. I make small household items like cheese slicers, bud vases, and banana hangers along with small sculptures.
How long have you been making it?
CVBG was founded in 1998. I have been doing metalwork for about five years.
Why do you make what you make?
I like to make useful household items because I appreciate the idea of art being something that becomes a part of everyday life rather than a decoration. Metalwork especially appeals to me due to the strength and endless flexibility of the material.
When do you make what you make?
Our guild’s members run the gamut from full-time blacksmiths to hobbyists who only occasionally pick up a hammer. Personally, this is a (very) part-time job for me.
What did you find most interesting/surprising about the Makerfest last year?
I was impressed at how seamless the transition was between the digital/electronic makers and the more “hands-on” makers. I enjoyed talking to the electronics designers a lot.
Who was your favorite maker?
Phoenix Handcraft of course, and Studio Two Three and their steamroller [printing maps of Richmond].
What’s your plan for this year? What can we expect from your makerspace?
Like last year we will have multiple stations set up and folks will be working all day and talking about what they are making. We will have items for sale, be signing up new members, and having a ball!
Emily Herr, HerrSuite (Muralist)
What do you make?
Murals! To be very specific, I hand-paint custom designs on pre-existing surfaces.
How long have you been making it?
I painted my first mural in my bedroom in 2007.
Why do you make what you make?
I love images. I thought I wanted to be an illustrator, but found myself painting murals more than anything else. Murals are more impactful, longer-lasting, and more flexible. Working with the context of a wall and its features (pipes, vents, corners, lighting, etc.) makes for interesting puzzles. Plus “muralist” has a much higher badass quotient than “illustrator.”
When do you make what you make?
For me this is a full-time job. I don’t have a secondary source of income. That doesn’t mean I paint murals full-time though, most of my time is spent meeting with clients, planning, designing, researching, and buying materials, prepping walls, cleaning up, documenting work…and for a few hours a week, I get to paint murals.
How long does it take you to make each one?
In the past few months I’ve learned that I can paint a giant wall in three days with a little help, and it can also take me two weeks of solid painting for a wall 1/4 of that size. From initial contact with a client to final documentation is usually around two months (see all intermediary steps above…).
What did you find most interesting/surprising about the Makerfest last year?
I just thought it was an awesome time–what I always hope a craft or art show will be, but never really is.
Who was your favorite maker?
From the sprint I did through everyone’s booths at the very end, I was most delighted to discover Join or Die Knives. I hadn’t seen Brent’s work before, and I love how each blade and handle has an origin story.
What’s your plan for this year? What can we expect from your makerspace?
Look for a one-day start-to-finish mural in progress! I’ve rounded up a couple assistants to slam out something big and awesome. I’ll also be talking up my plans for my upcoming giant project: the HerrSuite Mobile Studio.
Debbie Mickle, Science Matters, Project Manager
Science Matters volunteers spreading the science love at Makerfest 2014.
What do you make?
Science Matters is an educational initiative of the Community Idea Stations, Central Virginia’s PBS & NPR stations, and we love being at RVA Makerfest to engage kids and their parents in exploring and making through the lens of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).
How long have you been making it?
Science Matters has been exploring STEM through fun hands-on activities for kids for four years now.
Why do you make what you make?
We take science and give it a WOW factor! Kids get so excited about science when they can do something, make something, and learn something while they’re having fun. I love the looks on kids’ faces when their first LED lights up. They go “Look, Mom! I made light!” How cool is that?
When do you make what you make?
Making science fun is my full-time job!
How long does it take you to make each one?
This year, what we’ll be making can take a few minutes or you can spend all day playing with what you make.
What did you find most interesting/surprising about the MakerFest last year?
That RVA parents are just as curious and interested in making things and learning about science and technology as their kids. I can’t tell you how many times a parent said–“Make room for me, I want to do that too.” I was so impressed last year with the incredible variety of talent–the creativity, the art, the craft, and the science and technology being explored. Makes me proud to see so many makers in RVA! My two passions are science and art, so RVA Makerfest is my kind of place.
Who was your favorite maker?
Oh my, there were so many. We LOVED the 3-D hands being printed by Tomahawk Middle School students. They make working [prosthetic] hands for people around the world. Really amazing. I am always impressed by the knowledge and passion of the Robotics teams as well. I loved the PartyBot and the Virtual Reality games too.
What’s your plan for this year? What can we expect from your makerspace?
This year, everyone at our booth will get to explore “Lighting things up and making things spin!” We will have LED “pins” that kids can light up and wear home, we will have squishy circuits with batteries and Play-Doh that light things up, and we will have bristle bots to experiment with.
Here’s a great video recap that Science Matters did of RVA Makerfest 2014:
Alison Palmer, FIRST Robotics Team 1086 Blue Cheese (Deep Run High School), (Student Robotics Engineer)
What do you make?
We are a high school robotics team that makes a 120-pound robot each year within a six-and-a-half week build period. In addition, we do STEM community outreach events across the state and country as well as STEM legislative work on the local and national scale.
How long have you been making it?
We have been a team since 2002.
Why do you make what you make?
The robot is a vessel for high schoolers to learn about problem solving, communication, fabrication, manufacturing, and teamwork.
When do you make what you make?
Our robotics team is a year-long activity. Every year a new challenge comes out that starts a six-and-a-half week build period.
How long does it take you to make each one?
Approximately 20-30 students build our robot in six and a half weeks.
What did you find most interesting/surprising about the Makerfest last year?
The community around Makerfest was incredible. We were also amazed by the number of people who participated.
Who was your favorite maker?
CodeVa‘s dedication to exposing students to computer science all across the state was inspiring.
What’s your plan for this year? What can we expect from your makerspace?
This year we will be demoing our own robot and working with the Science Matters booth.
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Susan Howson
Susan Howson is managing editor for this very website. She writes THE BEST bios.
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