Call it the do-it-yourselfer festival, the "I made it for you" Mardi Gras, the city's official small-scale manufacturing celebration, but whatever terms you use don't miss the creations and inventions that will be on display.
Perhaps when peaches are being canned on the kitchen stove, or the birdhouse is being tacked together or the engine being rebuilt in the garage, or the painting is drying in the basement studio, or the new dress is getting stitched in the sewing room, the people involved don't consider themselves "makers" but those are exactly who the Mini Maker Faire organizers are thinking about. This event happens on Sept. 20 at Civic Plaza - inside and outside - but organizers are calling on people who make things to step forward now.
"The Call for Makers will be closing soon, and I hope you will consider applying and encourage other Makers you know to do so as well," said Kathleen Angelski, primary organizer of the event and co-ordinator of MakerLab (the weekly maker sessions held each Thursday evening at the Two Rivers Gallery).
"We're encouraging all types and levels of Makers to participate; it's free for a non-sales space and only $75 to sell items as a commercial maker," Angelski said. "Mini Maker Faire is not designed like any standard trade show, conference, market or fair - it is a fun, interactive maze of demonstrations, exhibits, workshops, and displays; environmentally friendly and simple in design. Billed as the Greatest Show (and Tell) on Earth, Maker Faires are a family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity and resourcefulness; a celebration of the Maker movement. It's a place where people show what they are doing and share what they are learning."
Makers are people who practice and value the do-it-yourself spirit, especially when it involves new and unique applications of technologies.
"Ranging from tech enthusiasts to artists and crafters, from homesteaders to scientists to garage tinkerers, these Makers come from all ages, backgrounds and skill levels but tend to share a strong focus on learning practical skills and applying them creatively," Angelski said. "Prince George is home to a highly diverse range of do-ers who collectively have the skills, resources and pioneering mindset to become leaders in the global Maker movement."
Participate as one or more of the following:
Maker (non-sales): An individual or group demonstrating or promoting what it is they do, typically in an interactive environment. This could be as simple as a tabletop with things you've made and you talking about how you did it. No pressure to have a highly polished exhibit; works-in-progress and even non-successful attempts are welcome. Free.
Commercial Maker: Show off, demonstrate and sell your made-by-you product(s). Preference given to commercial makers who can offer a demonstration or hands-on component. $75.
Activity Area Volunteer: A hands on, fun, interactive area that encourages audience participation to learn how to make or do something. Paper Rockets, Learn to Solder, or the Re-Fashion Station are just some of the activity areas that will be featured.
Interactive Performance: A performer or group of performers who engage, entertain and encourage interaction. The performance may be tied to one area or roam through the Faire as a kind of street theatre. Performances can be musical, theatrical, and/or involve a collaborative building process. Performers may qualify for an honorarium.
If you'd like to help out or have an idea, please contact Angelski directly at [email protected], or 250.614.7800 ext. 485. See online details at http://makerfaireprincegeorge.com.
