Through recent discussions on the state of Python packaging ecosystem, I learned about the concept of a Community Spectrum. Having recently had discussions about the various states of the online Maker Community, this was quite interesting.
My Maker Journey is similar to many others. I have always been creative in one way or another. I have always been curious. As long as I can remember I have wanted to understand how and why things work.
At the Catskill Mountain Maker Camp I delivered a Laser Ladle to Jimmy Diresta to use with his plasma table.
Learning communities are the basis for collaborative and social online networks. The promise and potential of learning communities was imagined at the beginning of networked computing, and it still being fulfilled and expanded. The most recent learning community I participate in extensively is the online Maker community of people who like to make stuff. This can be anything from crafting, cooking, to welding, to shipbuilding. It’s all about sharing your passion for what you love to do.
The two things I have learned in my journey making art and other things, is you have to get started, and you have to keep going. I didn’t think I would get much out of art and maker self-help style books, but I found there’s definitely something in there that makes me think.
The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) in Chicago, which has created an Open Source tool that seamlessly integrates image descriptions into its online platform.
Inspired by another maker, I created a quick-release camera mount for a vintage tripod. Modeled in Fusion 360, sliced in Cura, and printed on my Ender 3 printer.
My friend wants to try replicating a tabletop press in wood for the shop class he teaches. Here’s the pictures I took to help him out.
Makers are problem solvers. Many folks who call themselves makers enjoy the process of learning something new, they enjoy figuring things out. Some makers even invent challenges or problems to keep their work interesting.
Type something about the problem solving process and experimentation and exploration
What about connections? The exploration and experiments along the way lead us to make connections between stuff. Lot’s of inputs make the connections.
When you need to learn something new, do you do a deep dive to gather all the relevant information, or get just enough information to be dangerous and start figuring it out?
Nuggets of wisdom from the Reclaimed Audio Podcast host Phil Pinsky “we are these problem solvers, we are these creative people who like to make things”
What type of maker are you? A little of both, most likely, but sometimes one is the stronger impulse.
An overview of the do-it-yourself printing press ideas I have, and resources I have found, so far.
I found a new way to look at problem-solving in art and making, “the confidence of creativity”. Once you solve enough problems you begin to understand you can always learn more to get where you need to go.
Generalists build their problem-solving super power by always being ready to learn new things.
Make what you feear! and a free to use, open source font for laser/cnc projects, and tips on designing laser projects with monoline type.
“Let us then create a new guild of craftsmen without the class distinctions that raise an arrogant barrier between craftsman and artist! Together let us desire, conceive, and create the new structure of the future, which will embrace architecture and sculpture and painting in one unity and which will one day rise toward heaven from the hands of a million workers like the crystal symbol of a new faith.” – Walter Gropius
A lot of think about here, writing to develop your own thoughts, for a small, specific audience. I've almost intuitively been doing that, and now I have a name for it.