Day One of Miami Mini Maker Faire 2016

Day one of Miami Mini Faire 2016 was filled with the exciting sights and sounds of makers from South Florida and Latin America. I was especially interested to see the exhibits from Fabrica de Arte Cubano (F.A.C)- a creative space in Havana, Cuba, and I was impressed with their display. The F.A.C. makers had a wide array of techniques and products on display, including some creative uses of reclaimed and recycled materials. The exhibit space was created at Miami Industrial Arts from shipping palettes – it was simple, yet elegant, and I’m already thinking of how to use this concept at our local Maker Faire.

Cuba clearly has a great maker community – and with the improving U.S. & Cuban relationship, I’m excited for the future possibility of a Maker Faire in Havana!

I love to discover and talk to makers that are displaying their work for the first time –  and I loved chatting with Roger Maxfield Jr. – this is his first time exhibiting his work, but you would never guess from the size, scope, and presentation of his work.

Maker Faire highlights the community-building organizations and spaces in that city, and I was very impressed by Moonlighter – a new collaborative space in Miami. Not only did they have an impressive art installation made from PVC pipe, but there were a number of makers that work out of the space presenting their work, and speaking very positively about how a community space enabled them to grow as makers.

Moonlighter Collaborative space booth hands-on projects

Nocturnal Press by @isprojects

Black Dot – @wearblackdot

Miami Mini Maker Faire also had many of the Maker Faire standards, such as Learn to Solder, FIRST Robotics, and more – and this year added a stage with a concert!

MATRIX IOT platform dev kit (as a Raspberry Pi HAT)

FPV camera on a quadcopter

Beautiful laser-cut folding cards

I enjoyed watching “Uncle Bo” show off the Arduino-controlled dehydrator we’ve been building since we accidentally applied three phase power (not good!) to it at Maker Faire Orlando.

And even though I keep saying I own too many event t-shirts, I couldn’t resist these adorable Miami Mini Maker Faire t-shirts.

Huge kudos to the Miami Mini Maker Faire organizers – Day one was a lot of fun – and I’m sure day two will be just as exciting. I hope to see you there!