“People should think things out fresh and not just accept conventional terms and the conventional way of doing things.”

R.Buckminster Fuller

The Biosphere stands outside Montreal, Canada. it is one of the last remnants of the Expo 67 World’s Fair. Fuller’s Geodesic Dome is what I see as ‘pure’ design. Not, only ‘beautiful’ in its function in order to solve a spatial construction problem. Refreshing in today’s world where art and design is often formulaic stylisation at its best. So where are the Buckminster Fullers of today? Perhaps I can suggest where we just might possibly find them…

In early 2015 for a few months, I visited my long distance girlfriend for the second time in Montreal, Canada. The internet allowed my workplace to be mobile at that time! During my stay, the relationship ended suddenly. My feelings were shattered along with my plans. A few days later, I got offered an artist residency at ‘EchoFab‘, Fablab Montreal. They offered it to me after a short visit there. Sometimes bad things can happen, then good things are born…I love Fablabs!

So this is where I see where my fascination in the FabLab movement began in earnest.

The residency was extremely valuable for me, I got access to all the machines to explore and create an art piece. I learned how to make 3d prints, make laser cuts, program Arduinos along with many other things valuable maker skills. I now have this knowledge to expand on and apply it to my art projects in the future. After learning these new techniques, possibilities of what I could make blossomed in my mind ready to be made.

If you haven’t heard of a FabLab or don’t really know what they do they are,

Wikipedia gives an adequate definition-

“A fab lab (fabrication laboratory) is a small-scale workshop offering (personal) digital fabrication.”

FabLabs are for everyone They are open to the communities in which they are located in the spirit of ‘open source’. Perhaps most importantly, they allow for a networking and knowledge sharing space. At this point, they are fairly new but are growing in popularity. I for one, really hope that I am right in thinking that these spaces currently scattered around the world will grow and spread, like a ‘good’ virus, allowing people to access cutting edge maker technology at an affordable price within their local communities. We live in exciting times where we can create what we want to without having to gain access to a factory! If you have a FabLab near where you are, you must pay it a visit and even have a go at creating something. You may just happen to be playing a part in ‘the new industrial revolution’ and who knows perhaps you will be the Buckminster Fuller of the 21^st century!…

LINKS-

To check out what I did at the EchoFab FabLab-

from my blog

from the blog on their site

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