Two Rivers Gallery offering prizes and fellowship to those who join them in the fun of the ReMakeIt Challenge.
Families, local agencies, businesses, even solo crafters are joining tonight at the gallery's MakerLab studio for the kickoff of this special team challenge - a secret challenge that will be revealed in detail this evening.
"MakerLab's throwing down the gauntlet to all you fixers, upcyclers, artists, and creatives...rally your team," declared director of public programs Carolyn Holmes. "Find out tonight what your special assignment is, then you have one week to pour all your creative juices, teamworking skills, and innovative ideas into creating your awesome team project."
But there is another mystery wrapped in this secret mission. MakerLab co-ordinator Kathleen Angelski has a special curve ball prepared for the teams who take on the challenge. When the finished products are presented at 6 p.m. on June 19, she will reveal that surprise plot twist, and everyone will have to quickly make the alterations.
"You will have an amount of time - about an hour, perhaps a little longer - to make the modifications, and then the judging begins," said Holmes. "The winner will be announced that night."
The week of creative collaboration is in the spirit of popular TV shows like Junkyard Wars and the international MakerFaire movement. Prince George is holding its own Mini MakerFaire (a do-it-yourselfer festival) in September so the ReMakeIt Challenge is a reminder that it's coming.
"Getting people together to build something, on your own or using each other's talents, is what MakerLab is all about," said Holmes. "That's why we are gearing up for MakerFaire. This is a little taste of what that event represents - building new things or revisioning old ideas, celebrating all those creative things people do in their garages and kitchens and basement workshops. You can do things with your hands and your minds, collaborate, and have a lot of fun. You don't need special skills. This secret project doesn't require you to weld or use some complicated tool, it is a task that can be performed by virtually anyone - alone or in a group."
The big reveal happens tonight at 7 p.m. where the mission packages will be handed out to the participating solo, duo and group (maximum of five people) entrants. If you cannot come out to the gallery in person, the packages will be available the next day for pickup at the gallery's front desk or download from their website.
