Monthly Archives: June 2016

Meet the Maker: Cosmic Copper

Posted on June 17, 2016 by tara | Leave a comment

As we race towards the 3rd Annual Reno Mini Maker Faire, we are meeting some of the amazing makers who will be sharing their craft and knowledge. In today’s installment of Meet the Maker, we’re going to hear from metal artist Don of Cosmic Copper in Reno, NV.

The Basics:

Don Kennedy | Cosmic Copper | Reno, NV

Website: www.cosmiccopper.com

What does being a Maker mean to you?

Being a maker, to me, is keeping an ancient skill alive. My work as a Maker is defined as creating something from raw material.

What kind of making do you do?

I make copper vessels, wall hangings, stand along sculptures (mostly flowers), and fire art. Each piece is created from a flat piece of copper.

What is your favorite part of being a Maker? What is your least favorite part?

My favorite part of being a Maker is that I am able to make something few do. Machines may have taken the place of some skills I have, but I still do it the “old” way. My least favorite part of being a Maker is pricing my art.

Where do you find inspiration as a Maker?

I found inspiration as a Maker through the Welding for Art program at Truckee Meadows Community College where I met John Septien, Jack Taylor, Jon Carpenter, Dave Luke, Damien Meeks, Ted Beasler, Grant Mills, Bill Nork, and Greg Wilbur. The people I met through the Welding for Art program all had their degrees and took the class to further their leisure and art skills.

Tell us about the last thing you saw/read/learned about that made you say, “Wow!”

I recently met Bob and Sheila Dinwoodie of http://copperartist.com in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Their art is much like mine except they do not hammer vessels. Their ability to fire paint their art made me say, “Wow!”

If you could give advice to an up-and-coming Maker, what would it be?

The whole game is about time and attendance. Something you like may not be popular with others. Don’t let anyone talk you out of an idea.

Why did you decide to participate in the Reno Mini Maker Faire?

I decided to participate when I was down on the river with the Great Basin Basketmakers two years ago. I thought it would be nice for people to see another ancient skill. It isn’t as old as basket making but it goes way back.

Where do you see the Reno Maker culture going in the near future?

Hopefully, the Maker culture in Reno will continue to be on the rise. Indie Reno, http://www.indiereno.org, is a great starting point for Makers just beginning, and for those of us who have been out there for a while.

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Meet the Maker: Handmade by Hannah

Posted on June 16, 2016 by tara | Leave a comment

In today’s installment of Meet the Maker, we’re going to hear from fiber artist Hannah of Handmade by Hannah in Reno, NV.

The Basics:

Hannah Merritt Woods | Handmade by Hannah | Reno, NV

Facebook: www.facebook.com/handmadebyhannah.nv

Instagram: @handmadebyhannah.nv

What does being a Maker mean to you?

I define a maker as someone who takes basic or raw material and turns it into something else – a fresh act of creation. I would also define a maker as an artist, as most acts of creating come from passion, vision, and inspiration.

What kind of making do you do?

Inspiration and passion take many different forms – for me that for is fiber (wool, cotton, linen, etc.) That means I take raw wool, process it (washing, carding, etc), then spin it into yarn. I also take that yarn, as well as commercial yarn, and make various items in different ways. Each item, while intended to be sold, still has meaning to me and I consider each piece a work of art. Some are more artistic than others.

What’s your favorite part about being a Maker? What’s your least favorite part about being a Maker?

Some of my favorite parts of this passion are the quiet moments thinking about a new project – what could I make, what material will I use, how will it look, who will end up using it or wearing it? My least favorite side is the business end of things – while I enjoy talking with people about my craft and passion, I still have to have an income, and being an introvert at heart makes interacting on that level pretty exhausting. Fortunately, I have time at home to renew. That time also allows plenty of time to do whatever project I want.

Where do you find inspiration as a Maker?

A lot of my inspiration come from other similar artists, but also from nature – the particular shade of purple on an iris, the gray of a quail, the many, many shades of green that abound in Reno in the spring. A soft merino yarn has been the basis for several projects based on its feel alone. And currently I’m working with a handspun Shetland lace yarn that is a wonderful light shade of gray – the lace shawl inspired itself!

Tell us about the last thing you saw/read/learned about that made you say, “Wow!”

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/KateStories/bird-cherry

This shawl is simply amazing! I saw it and said, “Wow!” This artist’s work is wonderful…definitely a recent inspiration to my making process.

What is your favorite material to use?

Oil paints and canvas are pretty great, but digital painting, using a tablet and pen, are much more practical and accessible.

Where are your thoughts on Reno’s burgeoning Maker community?

I’m excited to be a part of this movement – making, being a maker, talking to others about it, encouraging budding makers to go for it and just do it – it’s what Reno is all about. While yes, there are other industries that employ a lot more people, those people need hobbies. Hobbies turn into passion, inspiration, and encouragement for others. There is a real need for all different kinds of art and their artists. Buying local, buying handmade – that’s what a lot of people are looking for and I’m glad to facilitate a small part of that.

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Meet the Maker: Build My Drone

Posted on June 15, 2016 by tara | Leave a comment

Leading up to the third annual Reno Mini Maker Faire we will be featuring some of the amazing makers who will be exhibiting their creations. Today, let’s meet Mason Wheeler of Build My Drone of Reno, NV.

Who are you?

Mason Wheeler | Build My Drones

Website: http://buildmydrones.com/

What does being a Maker mean to you?

Being a maker means creating something new for the use of people.

What kind of making do you do?

I 3D Print drone frames.

What’s your favorite part about being a Maker? What’s your least favorite part about being a Maker?

I get to build things that I enjoy. There is a least favorite part about being a maker?! 😛

If time, money, materials, space were no object, what would you make and why?

A drone that is big enough to ride on! (Maybe a land racer from Star Wars…)

As a Maker, what is your favorite tool to use?

Soldering iron because I use it on just about every build I do.

Where do you see the Maker culture in Reno in the next 3-5 years going?

There is a lot of great ideas out in the world and Reno is becoming a very large incubator for these new ideas. I see a lot of great places that foster those ideas and make them amazing!

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Meet the Maker: Elizabeth & Bob Schuler

Posted on June 14, 2016 by tara | Leave a comment

Leading up to the third annual Reno Mini Maker Faire we will be featuring some of the amazing makers who will be exhibiting their creations. Today, let’s meet Elizabeth and Bob Schuler of Feather and Faun in Carson City, NV.

Who are you?

Elizabeth & Bob Schuler | Feather and Faun | Carson City, NV

Facebook: facebook.com/featherandfaun

Twitter: twitter.com/featherandfaun

Website: featherandfaun.net

What does being a Maker mean to you?

Being a maker means arranging molecules into a new, unique arrangement of molecules, changing the way something looks or creating something entirely new from scratch. A Maker is one who makes!

What kind of making do you do?

We are visual and musical artists, though what we focus on in the Feather & Faun studio is crafting Anthropomorphic artwork through digital and physical painting, sketching, and drawing.

What’s your favorite part about being a Maker? What’s your least favorite part about being a Maker?

Being able to dream something up one night and turn it into reality is my favorite part, but not having enough hours in the day to make is the worst!

If you could give one piece of advice to an up-and-coming maker, what would it be?

Strive to make everything better than what you made before, even if it’s just a little bit. Before you know it, your skills will no longer be the thing holding you back.

If time, money, materials, space were no object, what would you make and why?

I would focus entirely on oil painting and creating massive works of anthropomorphic artwork!

Why did you decide to participate in the Reno Mini Maker Faire?

We LOVE the convention and event scene — it’s our element! Talking to people about what we do is the best.

What is your favorite material to use?

Oil paints and canvas are pretty great, but digital painting, using a tablet and pen, are much more practical and accessible.

Where do you see the maker culture in Reno in the next 3-5 years?

Constantly growing. There are so many creative people, we just need to coax them out of the woodwork!

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Meet the Maker : DeLaMare Science & Engineering Library

Posted on June 13, 2016 by tara | Leave a comment

Leading up to the third annual Reno Mini Maker Faire we will be featuring some of the amazing makers who will be exhibiting their creations. Today, let’s meet Erich Purpur, representing the DeLaMare Science & Engineering Library at UNR.

Who are you?

My name is Erich Purpur and I’m the GIS Librarian at DeLaMare Science & Engineering Library at the University of Nevada, Reno

http://www.delamare.unr.edu

Twitter: @DeLaMareLibrary

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dlmlib

Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dstl_unr/

What does being a Maker mean to you?

To us at the DeLaMare Library, Makers are people who create knowledge objects. In the science and engineering community today, in order to really create knowledge you have to get your hands dirty. We provide the resources people need at UNR to create new information and to bring to life their learning, teaching, and research.

What kind of making do you do?

All things related to science and engineering at UNR. Our patrons do this through 3D printing and scanning, laser cutting, vinyl cutting, soldering, sewing, high end software and lendable technology.

What’s your favorite part about being a Maker? What’s your least favorite part about being a Maker?

My favorite part of being a maker providing the resources to see the amazingly creative things people create on campus. Seeing what science, technology, entrepreneurship, and creation has come from the DeLaMare library is really inspirational. My least part of being a maker…. that is a tough one! I think sometimes I am jealous of the awesome stuff people do and wonder why I didn’t think of that first!

If time, money, materials, space were no object, what would you make and why?

If money, materials, and space were no object, there is no telling what our users would make. One thing would definitely be of interest is the ability to prototype in metal. So having a high-quality laser cutter and 3D printer to allow the use of metal would be really great.

Why did you decide to participate in the Reno Mini Maker Faire?

We are participating in the Reno Mini Maker Faire because it is a great opportunity to engage with the making community in the Reno area. We are hidden away at the University most of the time and this allows us to meet with the greater community, learn from them, and share what we have available at DeLaMare. And our very own Geoscience Librarian, Chrissy Klenke (in the photo below) is the lead producer of the faire, interned at the flagship Maker Faire in San Mateo, and is representing the entire state of Nevada at the National Week of Making – truly a making rockstar!

All photos by the talented Nick Crowl: ncrowl@unr.edu

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Volunteers Needed!

Posted on June 6, 2016 by tara | Leave a comment

The Reno Mini Maker Faire is looking for volunteers and we want YOU!

Want to be a part of the Biggest Little City’s 3rd Annual Mini Maker Faire? Want to give back to your community in a way that is both fun for you and encourages others to follow their curiosity and passion? Love robots and crafts and drones and art and all things maker-related? Then come be a volunteer at the Reno Mini Maker Faire on July 9th at Idlewild Park. You can volunteer for as little as two hours or as many as six. (We promise, the time flies by as you help people have the best experience possible!)

As a token of our gratitude, volunteers who work at least 4 hours will receive a free ticket, a rad Reno Mini Maker Faire T-shirt (see below!), a badge, snacks, and food.

Sign up here!