Open Call For D.Y.I. Tech Projects For The Pittsburgh Mini Maker Faire

On one level, I'm a little bummed about this--cause, our D.Y.I. scene here is so awesome and I wish/think we could support a bigger event here.

On the other hand, let's work with what we got and start small and great.

Sunday, October 23, The Pittsburgh Children's Museum will host the First Pittsburgh Maker Faire!

Organized by the staff of MAKE magazine, makezine.com and craftzine.com, Maker Faire is a newfangled fair that brings together science, art, craft and engineering plus music in a fun, energized, and exciting public forum. The aim is to inspire people of all ages to roll up their sleeves and become makers. This family-friendly event showcases the amazing work of all kinds of makers – anyone who is embracing the DIY spirit and wants to share their accomplishments with an appreciative audience.

We encourage you to join the fun and enter a project to exhibit.

■Student Projects
■Robotics
■Music Performance and Participation
■3D Printers and CNC Mill
■Textile Arts and Crafts
■Home Energy Monitoring
■Rockets and RC Toys
■Sustainability
■Green Tech
■Radios, Vintage Computers and Game Systems
■Electronics
■Electric Vehicles
■Biology/Biotech and Chemistry Projects
■Food and Beverage Makers
■Robotics
■Puppets
■Kites
■Bicycles
■Shelter (Tents, Domes, etc.)
■Unusual Tools or Machines

Entry deadline is Tuesday, September 20, at 5:00 pm

Check out all the details and submit here. http://pghmakerfaire.com/

Polish Hill Arts Festival Today: Art: Crafts: Poetry and Post Apocalyptic Films @Gooski's

Remember, when Gooski's was the only place people knew about on Polish Hill--other than that gorgeous massive church. The story was this was a place for a few bars and people who now drank to much to leave the area. This was never exactly true, but it also wasn't an obviously, happening place either.

Today, it's all goin on there. 12-8 PM in Polish Hill.

Here's a preview with more details on Blogki, The Polish Hill Blog

Readings

The New Yinzer presents… Special Edition

July 18 @2PM
Lili Coffee*Shop
3138 Dobson St.

"Kristofer Collins is publisher and editor-in-chief of Low Ghost Press, co-director of the TNY Presents Performance Series, managing editor of The New Yinzer 2005-09, an occasional book reviewer for The Pittsburgh Post Gazette, and owner of Desolation Row Records & CDs. A book of his poems entitled King Everything was published in 2007 by Six Gallery Press, The Book of Names was published by Low Ghost Press in 2008, and The Liturgy of Streets was published by Six Gallery Press in 2009. His most recent collection, Last Call, will be published by Speed & Briscoe in 2010.

Cyberpunk Apocalypse writer -in-residence Elwin Michael Cotman reads from his recently released dark collection of fantasies, The Jack Daniels Sessions EP, which combines urban fantasy, black folktale, punk rock, and magic brought to you by one of Pittsburgh’s most animated readers.

At the age of 20 Daniel McCloskey graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a BA in fiction writing. At the age of 21 he founded the Cyberpunk Apocalypse Writers’ Co-op, and at 22 he finished a clean draft of his first novel which jumps between comics and prose. Daniel’s work has been printed in Urban Velo magazine, in his own Cyberpunk Apocalypse publication, and he has a two page comic set to come out in Shrunken Wool issue 8.

Amanda Reynolds left Pittsburgh in 2002 for hurricanes and alligators in Florida. There she received an MFA in poetry from the University of Florida and a PhD in poetry from Florida State University. Her poems have appeared in journals such as: Gargoyle, Alimentum, Gander Press Review, Mississippi Crow, and The Aurora Review among others. She has a poetry chapbook entitled Degrees of Separation forthcoming from Pudding House Press in 2010. She has recently returned home to Pittsburgh to teach and write about the city she loves."

Post Apocalyptic Films @ Gooski's

The Post Apocalyptic Movie Theater will be installed at Gooski’s during the Polish Hill Arts festival. The work, created/curated by Jessica Fenlon, incorporates the work of independent filmmakers. Watch this space for more details about the Post Apocalyptic Movie Theater.

Post Apocalyptic Movie Theater
Free
Gooski’s
July 18, 4-6PM
3117 Brereton St.

FYI, yes it may be slightly hard to find parking but it's worth it.

Craft Congress in Pittsburgh

It's not too late -- you too can come to lovely Pittsburgh for the first ever Craft Congress. The Craft Congress has been organized by Handmade Arcade and will take place March 31 - April 1 at Spinning Plates. Information here.

The Pop City article mentions that some crafters have had their ideas lifted by national manufacturers, without acknowledgement or compensation. The congress invites organizers of craft fairs and artists' websites to Pittsburgh to discuss such issues.

The Craft fair has been getting some press locally and nationally in Bust magazine. A number of crafter blogs have been talking about the congress for a few months. Craft revolution has a recent post that lists some of the attendees, who are coming from all over the United States to Pittsburgh. In the article, they quote organizer Gloria Forouzan--

“The goal of Craft Congress is to build connections between the movement's organizers, who have been working to expand the craft culture primarily in their own communities. Craft Congress is an original concept; attendees will have the opportunity to share their knowledge and experience, creating a network that will foster sustainability.”

This is a wonderful idea and I am glad that this event is taking place in Pittsburgh.