MEDIA ADVISORY

August 7, 2009                                                          

Contact: Andy Cutler 401-743-7842

Rhode Island's First Ever Maker Faire To Be Held September, 2009

A Celebration of New Englanders' D.I.Y (Do-It-Yourself) Ingenuity and Innovation

www.makerfaireri.com

WHAT:

Beginning at the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution, Slater Mill in Pawtucket, and culminating in the Creative Capital, Providence, Maker Faire RI will feature hands-on workshops, building & hacking competitions, culinary crafting, garage technology, arts and creativity for sale, robot gymnastic demonstrations, and more.

WHO:

Builders, inventors, innovators, hackers, tinkerers, gadgeteers, designers, artists, fabricators, welders, craftspeople, fabric technologists, bricolaurs, engineers, scientists, garden wizards, and others, from across New England, will showcase their creations, share techniques, network and have fun. All events are open to the public. Events are free, except for the Steel Yard's Iron Chef fundraiser.

WHEN and WHERE:

September 6, 4 - 11pm: Kickoff Party with the Makers at the Rocktucket Block Party, 175 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI 02860.

September 12, 1 - 5pm: Iron Chef at The Steel Yard, 27 Sims Avenue, Providence, RI 02909. Teams of artists and fabricators compete in a head-to-head sculpture competition, plus barbeque and the Iron Chef sculpture auction. This event is a fundraiser being held by the Steel Yard. An entry fee is payable at the door.
(Rain date: Saturday September 19th, 1 - 5pm)

September 14-17: D.I.Y Workshops at Slater Mill, Pawtucket. Four days of hands-on, how-to workshops, finishing with a celebration September 17^th at Machines With Magnets in Pawtucket, RI. Two pairs of workshops per evening will be conducted from 5:30pm until 9:30pm. Each workshop will run approximately an hour and a half and cover a range of topics and technologies, from early technologies such as weaving, to modern technologies like microcontrollers. Part of the Pawtucket Arts Festival.

September 18, 7pm-11pm: Maker Meet-Up at Rhode Island's only net-zero energy commercial building, the Wolcott Eco Office, 28 Wolcott Street, Providence, RI 02909.

September 19, 11am-10pm: Maker Faire RI at WaterFire, the plaza at the intersection of Westminster St and Weybosset St, in front of the Turks Head building, downtown Providence, RI 02903. Makers, inventors and artists will showcase their creations, plus art, crafts, food and entertainment. The Waterfire portion of the event runs from sunset (6:10pm) until 12:30am.

ABOUT MAKER FAIRE:

Started in San Mateo, California in 2006, Maker Faire is the premier event for grassroots American innovation. Maker Faire Rhode Island is affiliated with, and inspired by, Maker Faire in San Mateo, bringing this grassroots event to New England for the first time in September. www.makerfaireri.com

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