Our Explorers had a very interesting February. We were stuck inside most of the month and had to cancel our weekly activities because the snow just seemed to like to come on Tuesdays when our group met.
Fortunately, we were able to have an outstanding workshop with AS220 in Providence in their print labs. What is AS220? Here is an excerpt from their website that I think describes their makerspace better than I could myself:
"AS220 is an artist-run organization committed to providing an unjuried and uncensored forum for the arts. AS220 offers artists opportunities to live, work, exhibit and/or perform in its facilities, which include several rotating gallery spaces, a performance stage, a black-box theater, a print shop, a darkroom and media arts lab, a fabrication and electronics lab, a dance studio, a youth program focusing on youth under state care and in the juvenile detention facilities, four dozen affordable live/work studios for artists, and a bar and restaurant. AS220’s facilities and services are available to any artist who needs a place to exhibit, perform, or create original work and its classes and public-access studios are among the most affordable in the nation."
Fortunately, we were able to have an outstanding workshop with AS220 in Providence in their print labs. What is AS220? Here is an excerpt from their website that I think describes their makerspace better than I could myself:
"AS220 is an artist-run organization committed to providing an unjuried and uncensored forum for the arts. AS220 offers artists opportunities to live, work, exhibit and/or perform in its facilities, which include several rotating gallery spaces, a performance stage, a black-box theater, a print shop, a darkroom and media arts lab, a fabrication and electronics lab, a dance studio, a youth program focusing on youth under state care and in the juvenile detention facilities, four dozen affordable live/work studios for artists, and a bar and restaurant. AS220’s facilities and services are available to any artist who needs a place to exhibit, perform, or create original work and its classes and public-access studios are among the most affordable in the nation."
I was so excited when they agreed to have us come and do a workshop with them. The kids got to work on 3 different badges (Make a Stamp, Make a Screen Print and Use a Letterpress.) They also let the kids use their badge-making machine to bring an extra souvenir home AND use the laser cutter to turn their screen-prints into cool puzzles.
The instructors were all outstanding and great with our kids. Everyone was really impressed and loved this workshop/field trip. The kids loved all the hands-on projects.
If you are in the area, I highly recommend you check out AS220's classes, open house dates and special events, like their Maker Faires.
The instructors were all outstanding and great with our kids. Everyone was really impressed and loved this workshop/field trip. The kids loved all the hands-on projects.
If you are in the area, I highly recommend you check out AS220's classes, open house dates and special events, like their Maker Faires.