Originally published July 3, 2012
Excerpt: Vermont’s “makers” — a term that originated in the early 2000s, meaning any amateur or professional inventor of physical objects — are farmers, programmers, artists, educators and kids.
Thanks to the formation of Vermont Makers; the unveiling of the University of Vermont’s new fabrication laboratory, or “fab lab”; and the announcement of the first Champlain Maker Faire in September, the state’s makers have been emerging, sharing ideas, collaborating on projects and developing physical spaces where they can work together.
“The maker movement is really about taking back control of our consumerism, being more thoughtful about our relationship to the things that we use,” says Ken Howell, the interim director of Champlain College’s MFA in Emergent Media.
Seven Days peered into the Burlington area’s wild and woolly maker scene, which seems to be growing exponentially — just like the technology that fuels it.
The fourth Champlain Mini Maker Faire takes place Saturday and
Sunday, September 26 and 27, at Shelburne Farms.
This article appears in Sep 23-29, 2015.
Got something to say?
Send a letter to the editor and we'll publish your feedback in print!
