RSS
Maker Faire Austin 2008
Projects and Makers By Topic
Arts | Crafts | Engineering | Food | Green | Music | Science
Arts
1 to 83 of 83Aaron Ristau Sculpture
Whimsical light and kinetic sculpture conceived from disassembled science, media, and communications devises
Ambient LED Thing
The ambient LED thing is a 19x24 inch "painting" built in LEDs.
Anda Mandala
Come watch animated mandalas and make one of your own. Anda Mandala
marries the accessibility and affordability of new digital technology
with old-school, hands-on, stop motion techniques. Stop motion creates
the illusion of movement by taking pictures at intervals in time as
objects change position in space. Sound complicated? It's really very
simple, even my 4 year-old can do it. The animations created here will
be edited together with an original musical score to produce a short
video that will be screened publicly.
Art In A Nutshell
ismael cavazos
What would motivate Leonardo da Vinci to stare at walls, claiming to see entire battle scenes go by? Why would someone spend $28,000 on a grilled cheese sandwich? And what does any of this have to do with astronomers and how they map the skies? My project exposes creatives to Abstract Extractionism, the study of images in abstract patterns and the techniques used to extract this information. Traditional patterns, or matrices, such as clouds, rocks, and scribbles will be reviewed but the showcase is peanuts. In the heart of every peanut is the germ, which, with a little imagination and some carving, becomes the head and beard of the Old Man in the Peanut. This venerable man, whose breath of life summizes perfectly, in a nutshell, everything needed to understand this artform, will be making an appearance at Maker Faire 2008. The Sage will reveal historical information that helps DIYs bring fresh eyes to their varied fields of expertise and will oversee workshops where viewers become participants in challenges of extraction. Come by and make at peanut carving stations as well as scribble reading stations!
Art Of Texas
Art Of Texas Artists
Art Unto Others
An interactive art experience where guests can make art they can give!
Austin Fiber Artists
The AFA Guild will demonstrate making felt, stamping, stenciling, beading, silk screening. Our intent is to introduce Austin to the new Austin Fiber Artists Guild. We will have on display work by our members.
Austin Metal Authority
Live forging demonstration of blacksmithing techniques including sculptural and functional projects.
Austin Underground Film Booth
Representatives from the AUFF will be roaming the event to
collect footage for a series of short subjects highlighting the
culture, innovations and personalities that Maker Faire brings
together each year during its celebration of the creative act. If you
see our camera crew, don't be afraid to say hi, and you could end up
being a part of this unique social document!
Baruzuland
The fiery shadow world of Baruzuland. Shadow puppetry layered with overhead-projector art, theater, soundscape, dance and fire to create an enchanting tale through a visual stream of consciousness. The shadow art gives stories an environment for the powerhouse fire and dance routines.
Batmobile Golf Cart
I have an electric golf cart that is converted into a batmobile.
Bats!
Using an oxy/acetylene cutting torch, and salvaged 55 gallon metal drums, I draw out bat shapes and create pieces of art. Each bat is unique.
I find my materials on Craigslist or by word of mouth.
It’s a great recycle / reuse project and lots of good, hot, dirty fun.
Best of Instructables
MAKE contributing editor Gareth Branwyn demonstrates four projects from Best of Instructables Volume 1: a marshmallow shooter, a vacuum former, an LED business card, and a keyboard wallet.
Beyond the Photograph
I will be demonstrating and talking about how my artwork goes 'beyond the photograph' from taking the digital image, to processing and stretching canvas (wont be printing there).
Will have 1 scheduled demo per day, but will talk all the time (just ask any of our other 'Art Of Texas' artists - they'll tell you I do talk a lot about my work ;)
Big Skull
paper mache skull for Day of the Dead centerpiece of food-makers area
Blacksmithing
Last year I did tool forging demos, showing traditional hand working techniques to make tongs. This year I am teaming up with 5 other smiths to demonstrate an array of hand forging and machine forging practices. We will be working on a unified sculptural project that will integrate group forging practices, or striking, with individual work. The process will also involve some sheet metal forming techniques (repoussage). We will use both a traditional coal forge and modern propane forges as heat sources. Stop in throughout the faire to watch the piece come to life.
Blinkybugs and LED Art
Blinkybugs: Blinkybugs are electro-mechanical "insects" that respond to their environment by blinking their LED eyes. Despite their lifelike appearance, they can be easily assembled from a few simple parts.
LED Art: In these pieces, LEDs are used to cast shifting patterns of color on a translucent canvas. The LEDs drift in and out of phase, creating endlessly changing images.
Drop by our workshop in the Maker Shed, and make your own Blinkybug or one-of-a-kind LED artwork!
Boiler Bar Theater
In the grand tradition of traveling sideshows, The Boiler Bar Theater comes to Austin. The bar and stage showcase not only Jon Sarriugarte's fine metalwork, attention to detail, and experience with fire accoutrements; they also provide a setting for several talented performers headed by Kyrsten Mate. The Theater evokes an earlier time in America, when acts were born in the backyard, and costumes were made out of whatever was at hand with a whimsical vision. The Bar is a fantasy of metal, rivets, and fire.
Brushbots by Christian Cerrito
BrushBots are tiny machines that work in tandem with the user in creating generative art. Released on top of a piece of paper, the BrushBots zoom, careen, and spin around the interior of the a simple wooden frame in wild and unpredictable patterns. The user then drops ink, paint, or liquid water colors onto the blank page, providing the Bots with a medium with which to work. As their autonomous paint brushes plow through the puddles of pigment, they mix colors and often leave beautiful patterns in their wakes. The user and the Bots work together, neither party having full control over the piece, creating a unique work of art. Brushbots allow the user to paint / draw with implicit freedom, as the composition of the work is completely out of their hands.
Capital Metro Art Buses
The Dell Children's Hospital bus wrap is a community collaboration showcasing artwork created by young patients of Dell Children's Hospital. The artwork is displayed on a 35-foot Capital Metro bus.
Carmadillo
Carmadillo is a fire-breathing armadillo on a gocart chassis. The primary purpose of the project is entertainment, of course, and it is an excellent example of artistic metal fabrication and whimsy. It serves as a teaching example for art car builders who wish to have more than a Ford Escort with fun fur glued to it.
Chia Car
Astroturf covered art car with a gnome hood ornament and lots of green fuzzy interior.
Copper Strike and Natural Seed Jewelry
Kathy is demonstrating how to cold forge Copper or Silver to make jewelry, patio hangings or other fun projects. She is also talking about making jewelry from local seeds. She is part of the Artist Market, the Art of Texas.
Cranky and Plucky
Cranky is a 14 ft long metal cone on wheels, that has 24 crankshaft music boxes pop riveted onto its exterior. They can be played one at a time, or several can be played by multiple participants to create an eerie carnival-like cacophony.
Plucky is an 8 ft long gramophone looking horn that has four strings strung across the top. It produces a bass-like sound. It can be tuned and experimented with, and the experience of it is in the hands of the participant.
Diet Coke & Mentos Mega-Fountains
Help the original Eepybird guys build their amazing Mega-Fountain using Diet Coke and Mentos! Soda practically explodes as carbon dioxide rapidly escapes from the bottle.
Digital Wheel Art by Young Hyun Chung
A digital drawing tool for disabled people to express themselves in artistic ways beyond their physical challenges.
Doodle Beast
The Doodle Beast is a decommissioned Air Force Van that has been painted with purple chalkboard paint. Feel free to doodle!
Dr. Octagon's Wishing Wellspring
Come lounge by the healing waters of Dr. Octagon's Wishing Wellspring, a large octagonal fountain on which attendees may congregate, converse, and make wishes to their heart's content. Meet the wISH doctors and share in the wellspring of comfort.
Dragonfire Glass Blower
A portable glass blowing studio used to take to schools and used for educational outreach in addition to the sculpture and commission work that the studio does.
FireLight by Tom Gerhardt
FireLight is a lighting system controlled by a candle's flame. Taking the position of 'hearth' in the modern home, FireLight can be used as an accent or main light source while still providing the organic qualities of a candle flame.
When the FireLight Candle Module is lit, the FireLight lamp immediately turns on, subtly responds to the candle flame's flickering, and turns off when the candle is blown out.
FireLight uses typical 'tea-light' candles and comes with a recharge base station for the FireLight Candle Module.
This is part of a suite of projects from ITP students and faculty.
Flying Fox Puppet Works
Five different fifteen minute puppet performances interspersed with interactive puppet making and puppeteering demonstrations.
Free Form Casting
I will be melting silver and pouring it into a straw broom. Then for the first time, I will be using the same broomcasting technique but use different media to pour into. Finally, using the pieces I get out of the castings, I will be making jewelry.
Glass and Recycled Paper Bead Making
Bead making dates back to the stone age. Glass and recycled paper beads are modern expressions of the art of bead making. Experience beads of molten glass formed with tools and fire along with the bead that leaves nothing behind, the ultimate in recycling: the paper bead.
Hawgfly Productions, Inc.
Hawgfly Productions, Inc., is a special effects makeup company that specializes in gore and wound effects, custom prop fabrication and temporary tattoos. This year at Maker Faire we will bring a variety of props (heads, arms, etc.) as well as a few more fun surprises!
Homemade LED Sci-Fi Space Light Props, Robots, Models and VFX!
John P Funk started a home based independent VFX company after leaving the Computer gaming Industry in late 2004. His dream was to get back to making "real" props and robots and Sci-Fi visual effects just like they used to when "Star Wars" originally debuted.
John's unique process of Recycling old toys, Circuit bending electronics /LED's and Kit Bashing model kits gives his creations a "Unique" style with a clean edge of design that is completely his own! John likes to tout that his designs are mostly recycled, even the plastic styrene he purchases comes out of the recycle bin from the local plastics warehouse!
John had his "Quest for the Dark Planet" display at Maker Faire Austin last year and had so much fun he had to do it again, this time with new inventions to show people!
HoopCircle
Laura Scarborough
HoopCircle is Laura Scarborough's homegrown hooping promotion campaign and website. "Hooping" refers to the use of larger, weighted adult sized hula hoops for fitness, fun, dance, and empowerment. The hoop is a powerful rhythmic tool that helps you burn calories & strengthen all parts of the body while allowing for play and exploration!
A number of demo hoops will be provided to public for day long use. She will demonstrate how to make them yourself and give tips on how to hoop. She will have info on hoop classes in Austin and will have hoops available for purchase. Her mission: To encourage more hooping experiences for EVERYONE!
Howtoons
Howtoons comes to Maker Faire. Come hang out with artist and co-creator Nick Dragotta. There will be an array of DIY projects on hand from the educational comic. Come build, draw, create and play!
Intertropes
I make devices that I call "Intertropes." These devices resemble zoetropes, however they are an entirely new medium for animation for which I have a patent pending. They present 2D and 3D animation independent of the need for strobes or any other special viewing apparatus.
I will have several of the intertropes at the faire that viewers can interact with. I may provide a "blank" device that faire-goers will be invited to provide animations for.
Karmageddon: An Art Car & Other Groovy Things
Karmageddon is a multimedia art car from Houston. She began with a simple paint job depicting the evolution & destruction of life over the past 3 billion years, ending in Earth's final devastation by the hand of Homo sapiens. Then I Built a Huge Pterodactyl on the Roof & added LEDs & Mirrors & stained Glass..
La Flamebeau
The Flamebeau is a 42' long, biodiesel-powered pirate ship stage made from a 1984 RTS bus. She sports two flame breathing propane cannons, two potato cannons, a mast and sail to project on to, and a platform stage for those scally-wags who like to play music.
Large Kite Flying!!
Watch and learn how to fly large and interesting kites!
Life Size Mousetrap
The unique design of this giant, Rube Goldberg-style contraption was cleverly gleaned from the memories of childhood, twisted out of scale, then sketched beyond life size. It features an enormous construct of crazy stairs, a flame-throwing lamppost, careening bowling balls, and a hand-built, 30-foot-tall crane capable of lifting and dropping 5 tons! The object of this 25 ton vaudevillian encounter is to "accomplish by complex means what seemingly could be done simply!" So our lucky players get to lift a 400-lb cast-iron bathtub 13 feet into the air, crank cranks, load springs and turn impossibly huge gears, all in a supreme effort to crush a trinket of meaning (say, a 1,200 lb pumpkin) under a falling 2-ton bank safe! The Mousetrap is impressive as a static sculpture, but it is the motion, started by a human, that is the heart of its existence.
Living With Fire
Fire sculptures made of stainless steel and found objects. Lit with forced air and propane, they come alive with fire and noise.
Make Video!
Project shows how to film and edit your own videos using both free and low cost video options. Users should come away with many ideas how to produce better media for the social web, as well as tips on how to document their own Maker projects.
Make: television
Stop by our booth and learn more about Make: television, coming January 2009. This will be a great opportunity for folks to learn more about the series, check out the projects we'll be highlighting and audition for a chance to be on Make: television. We'll be joined by members of the Geek Squad, the major funder of our series.
Maker Faire Information Booth - O'Reilly
Got questions? We've got answers. Need a rest? Hang out in the shade. Want to make some art? Participate in our "Vision of the future" project. The Maker Faire Information booth is the place to go. Just look for the red and white striped tent.
Mechanical Confections
My plan is to run a wire using turnbuckles secured to posts between two posts. The wire will be fairly light and at 3' height. I'm going to make 3-4 windup Mechanical Confections ( or maybe electrical ) which run along the wire. Participants will be able to place the pieces on the wire and self demonstrate with my assistance. I'll need a table for the pieces when they're not on the wire & to show a loop video of my work. I'd also like to sell copies of my video compilation which features Kinetic Sculpture and Animated Films.
Mechanical Flower
Inspired by a stainless steel vegetable steamer, this flower opens and closes, lights up, and plays music and sounds when you move in front of it.
MegaModel
MegaModel is a large, abstract, continually growing model that can be interpreted as a futuristic cityscape, or some other densely-packed landscape. More than simply a model, it is a kinetic sculpture that contains lights, motors, and many moving parts. It was constructed over a period of two years from recycled plastic packaging, found objects such as radio tubes and ice-cube trays, and a multitude of other recognizable and unrecognizable objects.
The model is nine feet long, five feet high, and approximately three feet deep. I will be adding to the model and inviting others to build as well.
metal art
My sculptures are made of at least 50% recycled metal such as fire extinguishers, car parts, and industrial scrap. The projects range from fire ants to 3 dimensional abstract pieces.
Metal Brazing and Welding
Our demonstrations allow people to see metal brazed and welded together. This is interesting because it shows how the heat source melts filler metal and draws it into the joint by capillary action. It creates a metallurgical bond between the filler metal and part surfaces.
Metamorphosis Design Studio
We are doing demos on DIY linocut, silkscreen, and mosaic techniques.
Mice'Pace Maze
Mice'Pace players are given audio information through the use of wireless headphones, creating a maze using sound as the walls, and challenging players' abilities to move through a space with only what they hear. It's a human mouse maze with no walls.
Micro RC Jousting
My project combines the worlds of paper craft, micro RC cars, and Renaissance festivals.
I transform ordinary micro-RC cars into action-packed jousters.
I want to expand people's imagination by adding movement to paper craft. By using paper, you can build almost anything. With micro-RC cars, you can move your imagination.
mittlermade
Lisa Mittler is a fiber artist, a metal sculptor and a photographer. Her work has been shown in juried exhibitions and galleries all over the country and is included in several private collections in the United States, Canada, Japan and China.
Mixed-Media Works
Through various stages and a slideshow, I am showing people how I create my 2D mixed-media works that combine my photography, digital technology and welding.
Mockingbird: The Game Making Game
Mockingbird brings game making to the people. Point and click your way to your very own casual game using game kits, or build a game from scratch where you write the rules! Play your game while building it, build your game while playing it! Mockingbird provides an easy, web-based app for creating your very own short, casual games. It's casual game development.
Modern Crochet and Yarn Works
Immerse yourself in the art, tools, fibers and techniques behind the evolution of modern day crochet! Did you know that crochet is the last fiber art that cannot be replicated by machines? Every crochet piece in the world has a hook and a hand behind it, capable of making thousands of remarkable stitches!
Come get a unique peek into the world of crochet like you've never beheld it before. Crochet is a marriage between various types of hooks and various types of fibers, any combination of which can bring about drastically different results! Attend a demonstration regarding a variety of hooks, their uses and learn a little about the master craftsmen behind them. Play with the fiber petting zoo for a tactile exploration of texture and the sense of touch in design. Observe the fiber-sense (science) behind color combinations of various textures and watch how 3-dimensional texture can alter the mind's perception of color! Learn how you can incorporate your own plying techniques into crochet to create new looks. And witness a variety of modern fiber art, all created with a hook.
Basic crochet lessons will take place throughout the weekend, along with simple fiber projects that will introduce kids and beginners to new skills that they can make their own!
Momo by Chei-Wei Wang and Kristin O'Friel
Momo is a haptic navigational device that requires only the sense of touch to guide a user. No maps, no text, no arrows, no lights. It sits on the palm of one's hand and leans, vibrates and gravitates towards a preset location. Akin to someone pointing you in the right direction, there is no need to find your map, you simply follow as the device leans toward your destination.
Mosaic Tile Quilt
This is a tile quilt that was put together in 7 stages. It is made of foam, tile and cement.
Oil Paintings
I paint plein-air oil paintings of plants and flowers - all growing in the ground - still living. I do not paint cut flowers or arranged bouquets. My paintings range in size from 6x8 to 48x36 with most in the small intimate range which I arrange in assemblages of several hanging on a wall in an oval group - a group of "friends" creating a garden on the wall. The oil is painted on handmade gold gesso mixed of rabbit skin glue, marble dust, and pigment.
Open Heart Kit
I am the Open Heart kit developer and will run workshops to help people build the kits. I will also be giving a couple of talks about Charlieplexing.
Pierced Silver Pendant
I will be working on various projects where I will be piercing out designs in sterling silver and will then solder on bezel settings with a torch. Finally, I will add cabochons and finish each piece.
Portable Glass Flamework
Using an inexpensive, desk- mounted torch you can make small scale glass sculptures at home! It's like drawing mid-air with molten glass!
Pyrotechnics Meets Art
Sculpture + propane + forced air + metal salts + spark = awesome!!
Enjoy the excitement when flame effects and pyrotechnics meet art.
Refashioned Fashion Show
Several local d.i.y. clothing and accessory designers unleash their recycled creations on the runway. The guiding concept is creative reuse of materials and features collections from this year's Treasure City Thrift Store Recycled Fashion Show.
Sashimi Tabernacle Choir
What can be more annoying than a billy bass singing fish? Try 250 bolted to a Volvo and singing Opera. This award winning art car from Houston has 300 pounds of batteries, 2 computers, and more than 5 miles of wire in the control system.
Space Squid: Hand-Scrubbed Sci-Fi & Humor
Space Squid is a hybrid publication of hand-scrubbed speculative fiction and humor.
Surely you've seen the 'zine at your local zine superstore? Of course you were amazed at our snarky, outrageous stories, comix, and art. Or perhaps you attended one of our slam fiction events or readings.
For Maker Faire, we'll be offering:
* on-demand story readings!
* free copies of Space Squid issue 6!
* draw us a monster and we'll publish it in the mag!
* let us turn you into a superhero and email it to you!
* improv haiku: give us some info about you and we'll immortalize you in verse!
* add a sentence to our community-written Maker Faire story!
We're based in Austin but our contributors come from all over. They include Bruce Sterling (father of cyberpunk), Chris Roberson (Clockwork Storybook), Jay Lake (John W. Campbell Award winner), Jennifer Pelland (Nebula nominee), and a lot of other cool people.
Square Band by Rory Nugent
The Square Band is a portable square wave synthesizer. The Square Band is worn around the wrist like a watch and includes a set of eight buttons to trigger tones of varying octaves. Additionally, a light sensor is used to change the pitch of the tone within the octave allowing for a wide range of musical possibilities.
As the Square Band is worn throughout the day, a flexible solar panel generates power that is stored within the Square Band for use whenever you choose. The Square Band is designed to be as ubiquitous as possible so that when creativity strikes you, it's no easier than just plugging in your headphones.
Teeter Totter
These three large 10-foot-long teeter totters are colorful and playground STMP-compliant.
Texas LEGO User Group (TexLUG)
The Texas LEGO User Group will be presenting a train/town and space themed layout built entirely of LEGO building elements. Working trains and other motorized creations will be on display.
There is also a play area for children near the display for children to make their own creations.
the amazing hancock brothers
We'll bring out our electric printing press and print our woodcut blocks and cut on site and just make a bunch of pictures. people can bring t shirts and we can print on them for a nominal cost, we might print on fabric so people can make patches or whatever. we sell stuff if people want to buy it, its all about the democratization of art, through printmaking of course
The Elements
This art car is a 1967 Imperial Crown completely covered in yarn. It took about a year to create, but it's always a work in progress. There are about 4 miles of yarn on it.
The Moving Finger/ Meaning Machines
"the Moving Finger writes, and having writ, moves on..." This transient optical experience presents one of the five Fitzgerald translations of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. The poems are “written” onto a spherical shell of space by a multicolor LED which is mounted on the end of a mechanical “finger,” translating a 12th century Arabic poem into a language of fleeting streaks of color and electromechanical chirping. Dynamo-powered oracles accompany this performance.
The Robot Group
Through the synergy of fusing art and technology, The Robot Group has stimulated the public into a playful interest in high technology, and art now has new vehicles for affecting culture. It is based in Austin, Texas.
Three Arm Coalition Project
Three local blacksmiths made this flame throwing bug sculpture from scrap metal.
Tiger Truck
This art car blows huge flames, bigger than any other we know of! The Tiger Truck is painted like a tiger with huge vertical flame throwers.
tybob's ride
This art car is a 1987 Chevy Caprice Classic with welded steel, found objects, and paint. The vinyl roof has been replaced with smashed aluminum pot lids. It looks great transporting six people in comfort and creative style.
Video Folk Art
I make video folk art and stuff. I have several different collections of video folk art. I mix homemade crafts with storytelling & dream of a world uniting the best of independent film and the folk art craft world. I enjoy incorporating different types of folk art in her storytelling, she exclusively writes, produces, directs, edits, makes all of the wigs and costumes for her productions as well as creates unique animations and designs one of a kind handmade limited edition DVD bags for each of her projects. Check out my website - buddhagouda.com
I would love to inspire other crafters to make independent film and incorporate their craft in the video and beyond.
Watercolor Painting
I am a scuba diver and underwater photographer. I use the photographs I take to create watercolor paintings of marine life and coral reefs. I also paint beach scenes, tropical subjects and flowers. I will be painting during the show and explaining my techniques and the materials I use in my work.
Workers of the World
Workers of the World is a guerilla-style performance for autonomous cleaning robots. The robots are aware of people passing, or stopping to watch and listen to them. They respond in a variety of ways depending on their mood. Their remarks always point up the differences between workers and the rest.
X-Bee and Arduino
Kipp shows how to use X-Bee radios to talk to your Arduino microcontroller. Use them together to make a remote controlled 120V AC controller to run pumps, lights, anything!
You Rock
My project involves Texas river rocks. I create caricatures from odd-shaped rocks and call them "Women That Rock." I have done 4,000 of them. I also use smooth river rocks to create individual people on rocks and create them in 5 to 10 minutes while the person waits. My artcar represents what I do. It is called the Women Rock Artcar. It is a Chevy Astrovan.
Maker Faire is sponsored by:
