STEAMLabs To Unleash Monsters in the Lake at Maker Festival
Toronto Public Library is thrilled to once again host the Maker Festival – formerly known as the Toronto Mini Maker Faire – on Saturday, August 1 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Sunday, August 2 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) at the Toronto Reference Library.
Over 100 makers, tinkerers, technology experts and hobbyists, inventors, artists and other innovators will exhibit some truly amazing creations – everything from 3D printers to laser cutters, origami, robots, woodwork, and more.
Guests can also enjoy talks and lectures as well as register for workshops, including soldering, origami, and even cupcake decorating. A nominal fee may be charged for workshops to cover the cost of materials.
One exhibition that will be sure to delight kids and the young at heart is "Monsters in the Lake," which will animate the main fountain at the library entrance. We chat with Andy Forest from recently-opened makerspace STEAMLabs to get the full scoop on this super fun activity.
For more information about the festival, including a listing of satellite events, visit makerfestival.ca. We hope to see at you there!
Tell us what Monsters in the Lake is all about and what inspired the idea.
At the Monsters in the Lake activity, kids will be building their own sailboats out of wood, and racing them in the pond in the library! They'll be using real power tools to cut wood, install masts and sails and decorate their creations. The twist is that there are monstrous obstacles in the pond bent on capsizing their boats on the way. Bystanders will be able to control the monsters with their smartphones to choose the best (worst) time to trigger them.
What are you looking most forward to at this year's Maker Festival?
I'm looking forward to seeing all the amazing and inspiring makers! I love walking around talking to everyone and hearing about their creations. I'm also looking forward to talking to people about STEAMLabs and telling them about how we can help them.
Congrats, by the way, on the launch of STEAMLabs earlier this year. Please tell us what happens at STEAMLabs.
Thank you! STEAMLabs is a community makerspace, where people of all ages and abilities come together for access to high tech tools, to learn, and to create. We're located in the Centre for Social Innovation's new building at 192 Spadina Avenue.
STEAMLabs is an entry point for both kids and adults looking to get started in electronics, coding, 3D design and printing, digital fabrication, and all kinds of hands-on making. It’s also a space for seasoned makers, entrepreneurs and artists looking to work with serious tools needed to get things done. We offer full access memberships as well as stand-alone after school programs, weekend workshops and plenty of drop-ins.
You were also the brainchild behind Maker Kids. How does STEAMLabs differ from Maker Kids?
The goal for STEAMLabs is to enable as many people as possible to be makers – both adults and kids. We will be open for members use during regular hours. We will also have many entry level workshops and events to serve as an easy on-ramp to the world of making.
This is the second year that the library is hosting a large-scale maker festival. What's your opinion/take on the library hosting an event like Maker Festival?
Having such an explosion of innovation and creativity here in the heart of our city for all to attend is awesome and an inspiration for libraries and other community organizations around the world! Libraries have always been a community resource for learning and creativity.
By having such a large and free event, the library shows that they are dedicated to serving this same need as technology and society advances.
Children's workshop at recently-opened STEAMLabs makerspace.
Comments