Maker Faire Wayne County is a family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity and resourcefulness and a celebration of the Maker Movement. It’s a place where people show what they are making and share what they are learning. Makers range from tech enthusiasts to crafters to homesteaders to scientists to garage tinkerers. They are of all ages and backgrounds. The aim of Maker Faire is to entertain, inform, connect and grow this community.
The Daily Record said it best: “Dubbed the ‘Greatest Show and Tell on Earth’; over 1,200 people flocked to the third annual faire at the University of Akron Wayne College the summer before last. It was a fresh experience with favorite makers from previous years along with new makers and new things to see and do.
Akron Makes event this Saturday
This free, interactive, family-friendly event is a completely unique opportunity to engage with Akron’s curious and creative.
Since 2013, children, adults, and families have enjoyed hands-on exhibits at the Library’s annual celebration of makers. Past exhibitors have included coding, robots, drones, skee-bowl, egg drop, vortex cannon, guitar pedals, 3D printing, crafting, knitting, cosplay, modified Nerf guns and so much more!
Come early to Akron Makes and attend a special screening of Hearts of Glass, an intimate portrait of social entrepreneurship at the intersection of disability rights and sustainable, local food production. The show starts at 10:30 am in the auditorium.
Maker Faire Wayne County 2022 is a go!
The University of Akron Wayne College is proud to host Maker Faire Wayne County for its fourth year, scheduled for Saturday, May 21, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Plan to attend and plan to participate, it’s free! Maker Faire is all about everyone showing off they are passionate about, their hobbies and crazy inventions. Be part of the fun! Projects of all ages are welcome: adults, schools, businesses, and kids alike. There is something for everyone at Maker Faire! We will announce soon when we will start taking applications.
Maker Highlights
We are proud to showcase Ohio makers who participated in Maker Faire Wayne County. A group of these are students from Barberton High School. It offers a class focused on 3D design and printing. Students print and assemble prosthetic hands as well as design some of their own ideas.
Students engage in advanced tech studies. Barberton High School’s S.T.E.M. Lab features 3D printers. Students even designed low-cost functional prosthetic hands that will be given to needy children around the world, a story featured on Cleveland’s Fox 8 News.
Another person who participated in Maker Faire Wayne County is Jerry Rockwell. At his booth, people experienced an opportunity to learn some very simple tunes on his handcrafted dulcimers, and also got an introduction to building of a dulcimer. The history of this unique American folk instrument as also discussed.
Jerry is one of a handful of folk musicians who, since about 1970, have been national and international advocates for the mountain dulcimer. He is an accomplished player, teacher, and custom builder of this American folk instrument. Jerry specializes in the gentle, soothing, and hypnotic sounds of Celtic airs, waltzes, and folk tunes, and is committed to helping his students explore the dulcimer in the deepest and fullest way possible. He lives and works in the Appalachian foothills of southeast Ohio, and regularly teaches mountain dulcimer at workshops across the country. In July of 2007, he performed, taught, and lectured at a folk festival in Siglufjord, Iceland.
Rounding out our participating makers is Abel Wharton. Abel builds handmade slingshots in a variety of different mediums including 3D printing. While one would think that 3D printed items are not strong, but Abel proves otherwise. 3D printed slingshots can withstand over 20 pounds of force and almost 70 pounds of pull at the fork tips.
At Maker Faire Wayne County, Abel allowed attendees to try his slingshots with mini marshmallows which was great fun! Abel is a multifaceted tinkerer and creator. He enjoys everything from making slingshots to leather working.
If you would like to know more about Barberton High School’s S.T.E.M. program, Jerry’s handcrafted dulcimers, or Abel’s 3D printed slingshots, please reply to this email!
Until next week,
Tom