Maker Faire (Queens): NY Hall of Science

Musical, Fire-breathing, Jungle Gym for Kids Young and Old

I'm planning to attend the Second Annual Maker Faire in New York City today, the second/last day of the fair.  I purchased tickets at my designated local Radio Shack to get a bonus $5 off from the ticket price, but I had to educate the sales people who had no knowledge of the fair and tried to sell me the wrong tickets (student rather than adult for the the adult price).

I'll add more to this posting when I get back from the fair, but I wanted to put up this posting early so folks with time today could attend this last day of the fair (rather than wait until next year).  I'm excited to see all of the new inventions, crafts, and whatnots.  Be back soon!
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The Maker Faire was absolutely amazing and had something of interest for everyone!  There were high tech booths where visitors could wait in line and make gadgets like flash lights and electronic sequence games like Simon.  There were also awe inspiring displays that demonstrated 3D automated carvings and plasticized sculpture (see the cathedral sample sculpture at right).  I also thought that the robotics areas were pretty cool, and although I didn't get a chance to try it out, the remote control motor bots (see left) seemed like they would be lots of fun.  For tech aficionados this fair is a little nirvana.

ASIDE: I wonder if re-naming this "Innovation Faire" wouldn't better attract all the people who would love this event.

There were great crafting stations and Etsy-like handmade crafts (jewelry by the likes of Jenine.net (see Jenine blowing glass for incredibly colorful and unique glass jewelry at right--last year she was featured on the Martha Stewart Show after the fair) and Jantar, paper-made gift by RePlayGround.com, wood working art, etc.) for sale in the middle part of the grounds.  I loved the buttons crafting area by BurdaStyle.com (see my headband craft at left) as well as the diverse demonstrations that were scheduled every hour and sponsored by Craftzine.com (I won a fantastic book/magazine called "Craft: Transforming Traditional Crafts" in a raffle after the paper crafting session led by Tiffany Threadgould).  

HINT: Be sure to get your liability waiver bracelets if you want to participate in more dangerous activities like glass blowing with instructor, Kim Fraczek (which I loved) or swinging through water sprayers (which I passed on).

There were also a steady stream of performance artists at the various stages sprinkled inside and outside of the New York Hall of Science.  My favorite was "ArcAttack!" (recently featured on a TV competition show), and some liked the theatrical "Life-Sized Mousetrap" (human sized sequential mouse trap similar to the board game).  The Volvo decorated with singing lobsters and bass fish, "Sashimi Tabernacle Choir," made me laugh out loud (see left).

I also stood in line to get my 1 minute matchbook portrait drawn by 0H10M1ke (see below right)--very cool.

I will definitely be back next year.  And now that I know how much is available (it can be overwhelming if you are not organized and plot out your day) I will make sure I am better prepared to schedule my attendance at my favorite events, performances, demonstrations, etc.

Check on the Maker Faire toward the beginning of September next year.  You won't regret it.

Museum of Arts and Design: Columbus Circle

Bead Tapestry Made of Obama Campaign Poster Paper

This museum was once called the American Craft Museum but relocated and reopened as the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) at Columbus Circle.  It's in a fantastic location, close to Central Park, the shopping at the Time Warner Center, and within a stones throw of Lincoln Center (see my prior post on Lincoln Center).  It is a great place to spend an hour discovering hand crafted contemporary and modern art from all around the world.  Admission is $15 for adults, and they have a pay-what-you-wish on Thursday evenings; check out their website MAD Info for current exhibitions, hours and admission.

I had been to this museum a couple of years ago when my husband and I saw what I thought was one of the best art exhibitions I'd ever seen (yes, my husband enjoyed it too).  I went back earlier this week to see their current exhibits, which included a lot of African and African-inspired art, ceramic jewelry, and American tapestries by Judy Chicago and Audrey Cowan.  Highlights for me include the Algernon Miller tapestry called "Change" made of beads made of rolled Obama campaign paper (see above), South African Heath Nash's modern and whimsical lighting made from plastic bottles (see right), and fanciful toile wall paper of African Americans (see below left) made by a Harlem artist, Sheila Bridges (I first saw this paper on the Nate Show's tour of Gayle King's kitchen).  They also have better known artists' work like Missoni and Keith Haring (one of his famous Apartheid lithographs).

The museum curates exhibits that go well with one another, with great lighting that makes viewing comfortable, and each floor's moderate footprint makes it possible to take in the art in manageable chunks.  It really is a lovely museum that one doesn't need to rush through.  Also, I would highly recommend reserving some time and energy for the gift shop.  They have jewelry, glass, fabric, and novelty items made by modern artists and artisans for sale--I couldn't help but buy a jewelry kit of hand made paper beads (a la Miller and the ladies of the Kwetu Afrika Womens Association Angels who made the recycled beads).  Hey, how can you beat $18 for modern art? 

My favorite piece in the gift store?  Well, you can't get more dramatic, delicate, and fanciful than Dutch-born, London based Tord Boontje's "Blossom" chandelier of Swarovski crystal (see right).  One day I'd love to have a house where something like this would work--in the meantime, I'll keep trudging through NYC.... 

Crafternoon at the NY Public Library

I, along with what seemed like 200 other New Yorkers, discovered "Crafternoons" at the New York Public Library today.  Rather, we experienced it today.  Most of us discovered it through the February 2011 issue of Martha Stewart Living Magazine or her show which was taped February 1st (see my prior post on Martha Stewart) and premiered on Hallmark Channel on February 3rd.  Crafternoons have been going on for about a year and a half at the New York Public Library, hosted by librarian Jessica Pigza of the Rare Book Division and Crafternoon author Maura Madden.  They bring crafters together with inspirational items from the New York Public Library and host afternoons of enthusiastic crafting about once a month (for more information, please see http://www.crafternoon.com/blog/ and  http://www.nypl.org/blog_series/hand-made).

I wondered if the grey weather and rain would dissuade folks from attending, but when you combine a Saturday afternoon with free crafts sponsored by Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc., there is no keeping back the hoards in New York City.  No reservations were necessary, but the line for entry started forming about 30 minutes before the event was scheduled to start.

The Editor in Chief of the magazine, Vanessa Holden, as well as the Crafts Editor, Athena Preston, were in attendance.  They brought loads and loads of crafting materials to be used during this session (and future sessions), raffled away Martha Stewart prizes of books and crafting goodies, and provided all attendees with a copy of the February issue of the magazine.  Supplies were plentiful, and thanks to the reusable donated supplies as well as the monies raised through the raffle, I imagine that future Crafternoons will also be well-provided for.

I am not sure if past or future sessions will be as ad hoc in terms of the actual crafting, but I was a little surprised by the complete lack of instruction and the chaotic scramble for crafting papers.  I avoided the fray in general, but was reminded of holiday shopping frenzies.  The crafters raced to the papers area, then fought and complained about the lack of access to the papers they wanted.  We were told to make Valentine's Day cards and provided some inspirational examples, but no "how-to" instructions or templates.

The hosts were fun and charming, and crafting en masse in NYC was an unexpected enjoyable activity.  I will also say that I liked the cards I crafted for the occasion (see pictures in this post), and I plan to attend the next session on March 5th.  Fingers crossed that the event remains successful, but personally, I hope that the group size becomes a little more manageable.  Maura Madden had said that past Crafternoons had attracted under 20 people (last month it was 8), so I'm hoping somewhere between 20 and 200 would result a better experience.