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Maker Movement comes to Denton Community

By: Katie Olson, Editor-in-Chief

A student works with Sketch Up in a 3D Printing and Fabrication class.
A student works with Sketch Up in a 3D Printing and Fabrication class.

To explore a wide range of mediums through hands on activities and demonstrations of various DIY activities, check out the Denton Mini Maker Faire held on Saturday Oct. 17 in the Denton Civic Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will encompass various booths on everything from the archaic, such as large scale weaving, to the unique, like making ukuleles out of cardboard, or more technological, such as making custom light sabers.

TWU associate professor of visual arts Dr. Colby Parsons explained that the Mini Maker Faire is part of a larger creative movement that overlaps with the concept of DIY and is often associated with the publication Make magazine. In the maker movie, people of all skill levels tinker with all kinds of creative activities and technologies.

Parsons said: “It’s kind of a way of saying you don’t have to be a professional to get involved in creating things. And certainly, there are professionals who get involved with this. But it’s more about being amateur in the best sense, like loving learning how to make something.”

Parsons’ 3D Printing and Fabrication class will also be participating in the faire, where students will demonstrate using a 3D scanner on attendees by creating a scan of their torso and emailing a copy to patrons. Patrons can access their scan and manipulate it using free programs that Parson’s class will also be showing. A 3D printer will also be present to allow participants to see a print coming out. Student participation is required at the faire for Parson’s class, where Parson hopes students will gain applicable experience to use in their field, whether they decide to teach art or create it.

Parsons shared: “I think you learn something better when you’re showing it to someone. I think that they’ll also get a sense of how it’s exciting to see that just showing something simple can get someone else excited.”

He added. “I think it’ll give them some satisfaction to realize how much they’ve already learned this semester that they can share it with someone else.”

Visual arts instructor Barbara Core will also be demonstrating papermaking and book binding with some of her students. Other organizations and sponsors affiliated with the event include UNT, Denton Public Libraries, Scrap and even the Perot Museum. Many types of creative interests are represented at Denton’s Mini Maker Faire, which Parsons hopes will have a positive turn out from the community and encourage people of all ages to try new activities that transcend technology and art.

Parsons concluded: “I think that’s the spirit of the maker movement, to say that creativity is available to everyone. It’s a whole different experience to make something rather than to just go out and buy it, and to encourage people to get involved.”

For more information visit http://dentonmakerfaire.com

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