Mini Maker Faire 2010

I ran into a friend of mine Friday night who is the Director of Maker Faire.  She was kind enough to tell me about the Mini Maker Faire at Sonoma Country Day School in Santa Rosa that was taking place the very next day.  She said Grady would love it.  She was absolutely right.

I've heard of Maker Faire and Make Magazine, but I haven't had the opportunity to attend - yet.  What an amazing concept.  Makers of all kinds  (toy makers, food makers, robot makers, music makers, and on and on...) gather and show what they've got.  There are 600+ makers scheduled for this year's show in San Mateo.  It's DIY on steroids.  There is a 40 foot rocket scheduled to be on exhibit and it's all about innovation and having a damned good time while you're innovating it.  It sounds intensely smart and stimulating, as well as engaging for all ages.

At this Mini Maker Faire there were kids teaching Grady robotics, as well as a table full of computers and VCR's that he could dismantle and use the components to rebuild his very own one-of-a-kind creation (which he promptly set about to do, as pictured above).

We also attended a film (maker) festival wherein high school kids created the movies we watched.  It was fascinating and refreshing to see the potential in all of the young minds that showcased their work that day.

We left the event energized and both of us were eager to learn more about the Maker Faire coming to our neck of the woods in a few weeks.  I hope I don't find my dying DVD player reincarnated into something else.  Actually, nothing would delight me more.