#maker library network

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Come play with tech @ Fak’ugesi

Maker Library Network is hosting a range of activities and workshops during the festival which you can’t miss out on. Come and learn a new skill all for FREE!

Between 19th August – 3rd September, the Maker Library Network will be hosted at the Festival hub at the Tshimologong Precinct. You can pop in to explore projects, new technologies and share ideas with some of the country’s most inspiring makers and thinkers who will also be facilitating workshops. You will need to register for these though, so select the ones you are interested in and book your spot.

The 3D Age Gaming / 20 August (Sat) / 10:00 – 13:30 / Geekulcha

Get hands-on with 3D scanning and 3D gaming. You can build your own games, print your characters and create animations, working with Intel RealSense 3D cameras, 3D Printers, Holograms and Animation. This is open to anyone to attend.

Register for The 3D Age Gaming

African Emoji Holograms / 21 August (Sun) / 10:00 – 16:00 / Geekulcha

Designers and creatives are invited to imagine and design a new series of African emojis and then bring them to life by building holograms. This is open to artists, graphic designers and game designers.

Register for African Emoji Holograms

Open Data Quest / 24 August (Wed) / 10:00 - 16:00 / Drop-in Sessions on the hour, every hour / Geekulcha

The Geekulcha Maker Librarians in collaboration with Code4SA and CSIR, will challenge the workshop to come up with story angles from online data about Women and Human Settlement online. The workshop seeks to explore and address social dynamics in South Africa, and visualise the data creatively in order to contribute to a dynamic, collaborative story board. This workshop will appeal to all but particularly Students and practitioners in Sociology and Human Sciences; Marketers, Designers, Journalists, Historians, Storytellers.

(Participants should bring along their laptops to use during the workshop.)

Register for Open Data Quest

Making Time Capsules of Space / 25 August – 28 August 

Maker Librarians will collaborate to capture site-specific sounds, from the streets of Jozi, and interpret these in physical formats that will enable the public to interact, listen and interpret these moments.

Poetic soundclips will document moments in different spaces around the city, and these will be translated into physical forms, using different technologies.

This project will be led by Maker Librarians, Thingking and The MakerSpace as well as guest librarians Robyn Farah (KAT-O) and Tom van den Bon (Binary Space) who will mentor a group of young female engineers (electronic and mechanical) and programmers. Participants need to be available for all 4 days.

Register for Making Time Capsules of Space

Make a Radio Satellite / 31 August (Wed) / 10:00 – 16:30 / Geekulcha

Make your own amateur radio satellite and explore methods for space observation, such as accessing data to build a mini weather station or an observatory.

Hosted in collaboration with South African National Space Agency (SANSA); SA AMSAT (South African Ameteur Radio Statellites) and Binary Space.

Register for Making a Radio Satellite

Let’s Talk about Space / 31 August (Wed) / 19:00 – 21:00 / Geekulcha

This will be a good opportunity to see where South Africa is as far as Space Technology is concerned. Hosted by SANSA, the South African National Space Agency, Mandla Maseko will share his experience as the first black African who has gone to space and SANSA will answer questions about space technology and South Africa’s experience in exploring other realms….

Join the conversation on twitter and follow @Geekulcha, #SpaceTalk

3D Age Fashion Experience / 1 September (Thurs) / 10:00 – 17:00 / Geekulcha

Pop in to experience a virtual reality fashion show and meet local fashion designers from the Tshwane Fashion Project who are collaborating with Geekulcha Maker Librarians to explore ways in which the world of 3D technology will shake up the fashion industry.

Register for 3D Age Fashion Experience

Make a ‘Junk’ Robot / 2 September / 10:00 – 17:00 / Geekulcha

Create a robot by hacking together everyday objects such as old toys and found materials to create a creature of your imagination. Bring your toy to life with arduino technology, jumping wires, sensors and motors.

You should bring along old electronic toys, and interesting household items with which to construct robots.

Register for Make a ‘Junk’ Robot

Full festival info at http://fakugesi.co.za/

#connectZA #afrotechriot #makerlibraries #creativehustles

[connectza]

The Afro Tech Riot

Engage in virtual reality performances, digital master classes, live debates and dynamic immersive video installations at the Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival 2016!

We have partnered up with Fak’ugesi again this year and are delighted to welcome a diverse range of artists, designers, makers, tech gurus and thinkers into the mix from SA and the UK, fusing an eclectic range of creative styles and practice. And everything is FREE!!

Here’s what you can look forward to:

 Maker Library Network

The project that connects makers and designers around the world will occupy the “glass box” at the Tshimologong precinct. Pop in to explore 3D age gaming, design African emojis, create storyboards, make junk robots, radio satellites & a whole lot more. Learn more HERE

 Creative Hustles

Two interactive sessions led by industry professionals will form part of the Festival Talks. They will explore Africa’s digital and tech landscape, along with how technology, creativity and innovation meet.

Register to attend the Digital Hustle HERE 

Register to attend the Creative Hustle HERE

 Market Hack

Come through to The Grove at Southpoint for this open ‘tech’ market which showcases unusual cutting edge creative technology. It’s for everyone…Really!

Find out more HERE

Fak’ugesi Soweto Pop Up

This interactive day of creative technology and live digital installations, offers an opportunity to get up close with a range of cutting edge activities from Virtual Reality to interactive video installations.

Find out more about the pop-up HERE

 SDNA digital trail as part of Alight Festival

This digital installation trail encourages you to explore and discover the newly pedestrianized precinct, with stunning projections and intimate digital imagery animating the hidden corners, surfaces and random objects en route, giving you a glimpse into the area with new eyes.

Find out more about Alight HERE

Register to attend the workshop HERE

 Entry Point to Virtual Reality workshop with CiRCA69

If VR is your thing - this day long workshop aims to give participants a starting point to begin creating their own VR (virtual reality) experiences.

Register to attend the workshop HERE

 Storytelling with emerging technology & pop-up surgeries with Karen Palmer

Are you a filmmaker, emerging technologist or simply have an idea that you want to turn into something digitally amazing? Come through to Karen Palmer’s 1-on-1 pop-up surgeries.

Book your appointment HERE

Full festival info at http://fakugesi.co.za/ 

#connectZA #afrotechriot #makerlibraries #creativehustles

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A 24 HOUR MAKERTHON WITH THE MAKERSPACE

Durban based Maker Librarian, Stephen Gray, takes us through a recap of the Makerspace’s 24hr Makerthon, which took place in May this year.

The MakerSpace project is all about unlocking the latent creativity in every person and Makerthon weekend was a practical expression of this. Over 40 people engaged in the making process from projects as simple as lino printing to complicated projects like building a CNC machine. Our engagement extended past our local community and included a research student from Canada (researching MakerSpaces’ and 3D printers’ effect on the economy) as well as a Lecturer from Pretoria, join in on the making madness.

We got to work straight away at 12 midday on Friday with the String Art wall mural. Many people got involved in this process of hammering 100s of nails into the wall and then strung hundreds of metres of string to literally express “creativity” on a wall. Here is a video from that experience. The making progressed through the day into the evening with acid bathing copper plates to create designs and building and firing trebuchet catapults. Many people collaborated in the building of a CNC machine that will be put to use and opened up to The MakerSpace community. Nothing like some gourmet burgers, craft beers and camaraderie to get a job done.

By the end of the 24 hours we felt a great sense of accomplishment but had some very weary makers. We are very happy with the number of people who attended and got involved in the projects. Having actively engaged 40 people and completing 24 projects, it was time to go home and get some well-deserved rest.

Here is a list of the 24 projects completed:

1. String Art 2. Trebuchet build 3. 3D printed heads 4. 3D printed cookie cutters 5. Lino cutting and printing 6. Cardboard pendant light making 7. Wooden Tree light 8. Cheap DIY Digital Synthesizer circuit building 9. CNC machine build 10. Birch plywood Lectern/Podium build 11. Honeycomb display shelving 12. Laser etched cutting boards 13. Laser etched hammer 14. Copper Will remain - Acid etching

15. Console for Raspberry Pi Arcade machine 16. Wall Art 17. Crafting the best cappuccino in Durban 18. Longboard cruiser skateboard deck 19. Animal modge podge wall decals 20. Tool Wall build 21. Quad copter FPV kit assembly 22. Custom Quad Copter flotation Landing gear 23. Galvanized Pipe Lighting 24. Can Bot (Robot in a can)

For more information on how you can get involved in our upcoming events and workshops, click here.

- Stephen Gray (Makerspace)

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75 Harrington Street (CPT) Showcase

For the ultimate celebration of Making, visit the Maker Library Network's Anniversary Showcase - 27th February to 1st March 2015 at 75 Harrington Street, Cape Town.

To celebrate it's first year of activity, Maker Library Network is hosting a showcase to tell the story of this exciting project thus far. Activating three key principles of MAKE, SHOW, READ. The exhibition will feature a collection of work that has been made by members of the network, objects that have been displayed in their galleries and examples of books that have inspired the Maker Librarians.

A full programme of exciting workshops and open collaborations will compliment the Showcase. Facilitated by designers from the UK and South Africa, these sessions explore a range of practical making, such as DIY, wearable tech, screen-printing stencils, making large-scale inflatables; and even toy-making.

Please visit the Maker Library Network website for the detailed programme.

South Africa's very first mobile Maker Library van will be touring Cape Town starting at THE GUILD on Thursday 26 Feb and ending at 75 Harrington Street on Sunday 1st March. 

Come by. Say hi!

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Anatomy of Footwear Showcase

WEDNESDAY, 25 FEBRUARY 2015

18:00 - 20:00

5th Floor of Situation East Building, Maboneng Precinct.

Join us at Grind Studios in our pop-up Maker Library to celebrate the four day Anatomy of Footwear Course, facilitated by Eelko Moorer, Course Director at London College of Fashion.

At 7pm, a panel discussion chaired by SA Fashion Week's Lucilla Booyzen will involve Eelko and several local designers in a lively exploration of disciplinary and collaborative design.

The Maker Library Network is a new initiative that connects designers and makers in the UK and South Africa. Combining reading, showing, and making, a Maker Library is a new type of creative space that encourages local and international knowledge sharing and collaboration. Each Maker Library is connected via an online platform where Makers can share resources, take part in mentoring sessions and exchange skills and ideas.

The Anatomy of Footwear Showcase is a special Maker Library Network event hosted by British Council Connect ZA, the London College of Fashion and MoAD at GRIND STUDIOS JHB

Visit the Maker Library Network website for more info.

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Anatomy of Footwear (De-)Construction Workshop

The London College of Fashion Maker Library, which is run by Eelko Moorer, is delighted to offer 15 places on the Anatomy of Footwear (De-)Construction Workshop which runs from Monday 23rd until Thursday 26th February, from 10am until 5pm daily. The workshop, led by Eelko Moorer, Course Director MA Fashion Footwear at London College of Fashion, explores alternative pattern-cutting techniques, drawing on methods used in historical footwear design.

During the workshop participants will gain an understanding of the structure of a shoe and test the possibilities of its design. Participants are asked to push not what a shoe is but what it can be.

See more at: www.makerlibrarynetwork.org

To participate:

As the workshop will accommodate only 15 participants, interested individuals are encouraged to sign up for the 4day course as soon as possible, by sending an email to the Maker Library Network’s Janine Johnston - [email protected], with the following details included:

·       Full Name + Contact Details (tel + email)

·       Short introduction to your interest in Footwear Design, and your design background

The Maker Library Network was created by Daniel Charny and developed with From Now On as part of the British Council’s Connect ZA season of exhibitions and events across the arts in the UK and South Africa.

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Maker Library Network - Mentor In Focus: Faudet-Harrison

http://makerlibrarynetwork.org/mentors/faudet-harrison/

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MLN at Łódź Design Festival

The first FixHub Maker Library will be featured as part of the Brave Fixed World Exhibition at Łódź Design Festival. This new evolution of the Maker Library model is dedicated to fixing and encourages visitors to explore the concept of fixing and how it is relevant to them.

“The Brave Fixed World exhibition explores how we use making to solve problems. The title derived from Huxley’s futuristic fiction invites critical debate about what we value. From basic mending to celebrations of the repair process itself, from new materials to principles such as modified behaviour, the projects share an underlying commitment to agency”

- Daniel Charny, From Now On

Curated by Daniel Charny and developed with From Now On, the exhibition is set in five themes and includes examples of fixing things, fixing process and fixing materials, alongside ambitious proposals for fixing systems and fixing attitudes.

The exhibition will be open from 9 to 19 October at Art Inkubator and will feature workshops and seminars from a range of fixing champions.

Connect ZA photo gallery of the Maker Library at Łódź is here: http://on.fb.me/1yhnIur

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MLN at Łódź Design Festival

WHERE: Art Inkubator, Księdza Biskupa Wincentego Tymienieckiego 3, Łódź, Poland 

WHEN: 10:00-19:00, 9-19 October 2014 

LINK: http://bit.ly/1q8wnap (MLN site) and http://bit.ly/1oY2GZe (Łódź Design Festival site)

ENTRY: 50/100 PLN (with/without registration)