What or who is a maker? The obvious answer is: someone who makes things. But lately, makers around the world have been gaining visibility and recognition as a group that embodies something more than just the art of making. Converging in different cities, developing an evolving credo and displaying their works in festivals, the Maker Movement now represents a “mindset” toward reimagining and reinventing the objects and systems that surround us.
According to Adweek, the Maker Movement is “the umbrella term for independent inventors, designers and tinkerers. A convergence of computer hackers and traditional artisans, the niche is established enough to have its own magazine, Make, as well as hands-on Maker Faires that are catnip for DIYers who used to toil in solitude. Makers tap into an American admiration for self-reliance and combine that with open-source learning, contemporary design and powerful personal technology like 3-D printers. The creations, born in cluttered local workshops and bedroom offices, stir the imaginations of consumers numbed by generic, mass-produced, made-in–China merchandise.”
“This event is an opportunity for people from different backgrounds to come together in the spirit of human ingenuity and invention.”
As part of its commitment to innovation and technology, MDC has partnered with MANO to present Maker Faire Miami, a large-scale event that celebrates invention, creativity and the spirit of making. More than 6,000 visitors are expected to attend the Faire which will take place at MDC’s Wolfson Campus in downtown Miami on April 8 and 9. Over 150 makers will be displaying their work, with over 20 of them visiting from Spain and Latin America, lending an international dimension to the Faire. Featured speakers and workshops are also on the agenda.
“This event is an opportunity for people from different backgrounds to come together in the spirit of human ingenuity and invention,” said Isabel Artime, MDC’s Director of Conference and Event Services. “It has a huge range of appeal. Everyone from techies to crafters can come together to display their work, share knowledge, and show the world how much fun and fulfillment you can derive from being an active maker.”
Makers range from trained scientists and engineers to DIYers and hobbyists who share a passion for creating things that are useful, fun and ideally, contribute to our general wellbeing. Among the inventions visitors can explore at Miami’s Maker Faire are: human-powered snow cones courtesy of Be the Hamster; Savior, the first independent video game made in Cuba and, Tapigami, the art of making just about anything with tape.
Driving this grassroots movement of curious and creative people is the desire to tinker with technology and reenvision many of our current social, business and economic models in order to create value in our communities using fewer natural resources.
The Miami Dade College community will be represented at the Faire via a number of exhibitors:
School of Entertainment, Design and Technology
- Create movie magic using forced perspective – it’s why Gandalf looks taller in LOTR.
- Make a home recording studio – produce your own music and podcasts.
- Shoot from home – make your living room a professional photography studio.
- Be a filmmaker – learn to light sets using foam board and work lights.
MAGIC
- Discuss the latest trends in animation and gaming with members of the MAGIC club.
- Learn the secrets of 3-D modeling using the modeling, simulation and rendering software, Maya.
- See how games are created with Unity – a multi-platform game development tool.
Miami Fashion Institute
- Upcycle It – bring old or discarded items and transform them into something new.
- Stitch & Bitch – hang out and create something fabulous while you chat with others.
Miami Culinary Institute
- Learn culinary tricks including “sous vide,” the popular technique of precision cooking using vacuum sealed bags.
MDC Art Faculty
- Join members of the art faculty from several MDC campuses for several demonstrations.
- Learn techniques for hand building in clay, jewelry metal forming, mixed media assemblage, wax casting relief printing, and paper collage.
- View a selection of faculty finished works.
The event is free to MDC students, faculty and staff: use code MDCmaker or show your ID at the door.
Admission for the general public is $15 (free for kids 5 and under). Get Tickets Now.
Check out scenes from the 2016 “Mini” Maker Faire: