The Innovation Hubs

Darkness Dragon 2.0 designed by Tadashi Mori, folded with modifications by Bogdan Kruts

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, robots, woodwork, and even "Monsters in the Lake."

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.

Returning this year is the popular Origami Society of Toronto, who will run workshops all weekend in front of the Browsery on the first floor. Be sure to also check out their amazing display near the Browsery, which will be up for the month of August.

In this Q+A, Society member Helen Lee gives us a preview of what to expect at the festival and what she's looking most forward to.

Please tell us what you will be doing at this year's Maker Festival.

We had loads of fun last year building a city from thousands of business cards with festival visitors. This year we'll be showing people how to transform paper into toys that can snap, jump and spin!

Other than your booth, what are you looking most forward to at this year's Maker Festival?

Definitely meeting other makers, seeing the wonderful creations on display and the innovative spirit of the Festival. We also love multidisciplinary projects that make unexpected and clever use of technology, product design and paper arts.

Please tell us about the Origami Society of Toronto and how people can'take part in your activities?

We're a non-profit group dedicated to exploring and sharing the art of paper folding. Fun fact: we'll be celebrating our 30th anniversary next year! We have monthly meetups on the third Thursday at The Japan Foundation and welcome the public to drop by one of our meetings and see what we do.

People bring in their latest origami creations, teach a new model they learned, exchange ideas and generally have a great time. Membership is annual with individual, family and student memberships available.

Periodically we hold workshops at various Toronto Public Library branches, so look out for us at your local library as well as at other events throughout the year!

OST members are folding a cosmosphere – which will be similar to the one above by Polish origamist Heinz Strobl.

What is your favourite and/or most complex origami project?

Most of us enjoy folding for a broad range of projects, though some subjects such as dragons and mythical creatures, dinosaurs, ornate boxes and abstract geometric forms are regular favourites.

Several of our members are currently working together on a version of Miyuki Kawamura's Cosmosphere. It's a kind of modular origami and consists of 1890 units that form a sphere-like structure. It's like LEGO bricks for paper, except we make the pieces as well as assemble them. When completed, the surface pattern will feature the Canadian flag.

This is the second year the festival is being hosted at the library. What's your thoughts on Maker Festival being hosted at a venue like the library?

Libraries have a long history of fostering learning and knowledge accessibility, and hosting the Maker Festival is a natural expression of that vision. The library is also a great community hub where people can connect, discover and nurture their creativity — all qualities at the heart of maker culture.

Conveniently, the library offers resources that supplement the learning process, whether it's books, demonstrations or rooms for group activities. It's a fantastic and inspiring avenue for the Festival.

Skeleton Triceratops designed by Issei Yoshino and folded by Osamu Miyabe.