Hey Artsy Smartsy Types! Maker Faire for Creative Tech Arts This Weekend in San Mateo, CA
Posted by Kyle Design - Designs by Kyle on May 30, 2009
The coolest fair ever, the Maker Faire – science masquerading as art, high tech passing as toys, creative solutions to world problems pretending simply to be fun – is this weekend, May 30 and 31, 2009 in San Mateo, CA.
Get yourself a creative business card holder that reflects both hands-on and high functioning.
Any of you (and your kids) who love crafts, computers, music, making, DIY, tinkering, technology, recycling, building, inventing, collaborating, this is THE place to be. You’ll come away inspired, informed, invigorated and happy. Find suppliers of really unique crafts and tech materials for future projects, websites with cool things to do, and entrepreneurs who have turned hobbies into fun businesses. A “DO NOT MISS” for families.
This year’s theme is Re-Make America, in keeping with President’s Obama’s call to action for “the risk takers, the doers, and the makers of things” to help re-invent the USA. This is the fourth annual fair, and in past years things that captured my family’s attention were the crazy parts bikes, the motorized giant cupcake-mobiles, Fiddlesticks bendable fabric building sticks, the computerized elaborate egg decorating machine.
Robot Memory Box in Wood - A creative way to store memories of fun events.
I’ve always loathed the term “artsy fartsy” because it seems intentionally disrespectful to those are trying to do something different. If you never try, you’ll never succeed! So I much prefer the term “artsy smartsy” because it better represents what inventors, designers and artists are all about. It certainly sums up this show. Bright ideas and creative execution. Really smart, funny people who express that humor in their art and technological products. I love being an artist and I LOVE this fair!
The Maker Faire website describes the event as “The ultimate DIY festival – It’s county fair meets science fair meets farmers market meets burning man for families! Maker Faire will showcase individual creativity and grassroots innovation in the largest festival devoted to DIY culture and technology in the country.”
Have a crafts room or workshop? This Building Tools DIY light switch plate is the perfect finishing touch.
The fair is open 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday and 10:00 – 6:00 p.m. on Sunday at the San Mateo County Expo Center.
Maker Faire Tips:
Buy your tickets off-site or ahead of time online. The crowds keep growing every year and I can only imagine what it will be like this year. Chronicle story in the paper yesterday about it, too.
Come early – lines are long just to get into the parking lot, let alone the door.
All you black sheep out there who are making a living in an unexpected way, here's a wallet that reflects your independence!
Bring food if you don’t like fried, (keep it in an ice chest in your car). Plus you can, once again, avoid long lines. (Although I am hopeful that there might be more of an emphasis on good food with the suggestion that there will be a Farmers Market.) This fair is so fabulous you will be tempted to starve rather than miss anything waiting in a line somewhere!
Wear a hat: Half the events and projects are outside, although this year it looks like it will be overcast most of the day.
Take a quick peek into each building first: Each building has a different theme and you can get stuck in any one of them for hours, so see which one looks like it is most interesting for you and your kids before getting involved. You WILL run out of time and not be able to see or experience everything.
If you appreciate creative approaches to life, please check out Kyle Design for unique gifts and home decor. We have switch plates, business card holders and practical gifts for those interested in robotics, crafts, science, music and more.
Remember to Recycle! Recycling pill box for a daily reminder for vitamins and life!
Technorati: Maker Faire, Makers Fair, Maker Fair, Makers Faire, High Tech, Crafts, Art, Science, Computers, DIY, Burning Man, Families, Kids, Events, San Mateo, San Mateo County Expo Center, Make Magazine, Kids, Music, Farmers Market, Obama, President Obama, Re-make America, Risk Takers, Doers, America, USA, Creativity, Innovation, Artsy Fartsy, Artsy Smartsy, Bright Ideas, Technology, Learning, Making, Doing, Invention, Inventing, Black Sheep, Switch Plates, Switchplates, Business Card Holders, Business Card Cases, Wallets, Metal Wallets, Wood Boxes, Maker Faire Tips, DIY Festival, Recycling, Recycle, Pill Boxes, Vitamin Box, Wall Plates, Memory Boxes, Unique Gifts, Unique Gifts, California, Home Decor
