On Saturday, July 28 and Sunday, July 29, more than 400 makers will bring their MacGyver-style do-it-yourself wonders to the home of innovation, The HenryFord, for Maker Faire Detroit 2012, the Midwest’s largest two-day festival dedicated to those that build, tinker and create.
Presented by Pure Michigan, Maker Faire Detroit features fun demonstrations, hands-on activities a little bit of everything for the whole family from robots, flame shooters and animatronics to solar-powered mechanical sculptures, fashionable finds and musical performances.
Michigan Makers making their debut or displaying new projects this year include 14 year-old Kathryn DiMara, who has been working on rebuilding a 1986 Pontiac Fiero by herself for the past two years; Dozer Studios, with steel sculptures created out of recycled motorcycle parts; Hydro-Electric Motown, a project that uses water to power a gas motor through the integration and use of electromagnetism and wireless applications; former presenter Jacqueline Swain from Fused Glass Adornments giving a demonstration on how fused glass is created into a finished product; and Lansing Makers Network member Brian Adams and “Megoperation,” a giant-sized version of the classic surgical dexterity puzzle.
Maker Faire Detroit veterans returning for 2012 include The LifeSize Mousetrap, Cirque Amongus, i3Detroit Hackerspace, the Coke and Mentos Guys, Handmade Detroit and Royal Oak-resident and Lego Studio owner Nick Britsky who will be hosting a Lego Brick Challenge Game Show in the Anderson Theater. Along with entertainment, guests will also have a variety of culinary delights to choose from including a selection from The Henry Ford’s award-winning culinary team.
Tickets, at $30 for adults (13-61), $20.50 for youth (5-12), and $27 for seniors (62+), can be purchased now. Children 4 and under are free. Prices for a two-day pass are $54 for adults, $38 for youth, and $48.50 for seniors. Members of The Henry Ford receive free admission to Henry Ford Museum and can purchase Maker Faire tickets at a discounted price. For more information, please call (313) 982-6001 or visit www.thehenryford.org/makerfaire
Guests wanting the ultimate Maker experience can download the Maker Faire App for daily schedules, maps and a chance to win an iPad 3 through a new augmented reality game. Built by event sponsor Compuware, the Maker Faire App will be available for download through the iTunes store.
Since its inaugural event in 2010, more than 40,000 people have attended and more than 600 makers have displayed their wares, fares, ideas and inventions at Maker Faire Detroit. Maker Faire Detroit is independently organized and operated under license from O’Reilly Media Inc. Maker Faire Detroit is sponsored by Ford Motor Co. Fund, Compuware and BANSEM, the Business Accelerator Network of Southeast Michigan.
Join the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MakerFaireDetroit.
Source: WWJ-950