I was a newcomer to Maker Faire this year and found it to be an inspiring, if somewhat overwhelming experience. With 3 hours to walk around, it was a challenge just to catch a glimpse of everything the exhibition had to offer. From battlebots and video games to homemade stuffed animals and dresses, it pretty much ran the gamut in terms of what people like to create, either in their spare time or as an occupation. Though I expected the focus would be mainly on technology and electronics (I knew about the event from listening to 'The Amp Hour', an electronic hobbyists podcast), many other crafts - from modern times to ancient - were prominently featured as well. One of the coolest tents to check out was put together by The Crucible in Oakland, which had live demonstrations of glass blowing, welding torch art and blacksmithing. Walking around the grounds you would see silicon valley dads, burning man sculptors, hardcore cyclists, organic farmers, d.i.y. fashion designers, young entrepreneurs, street musicians, highschool geniuses, renaissance fair hold-outs, 'Halo' soldiers and lots and lots of kids all rubbing shoulders in the same small space. The day after "The Rapture", it was fun to see so many people anticipating a future - whether hi-tech, post-apocalyptic or some combination of both - in which creativity, perseverance and learning are the most important flags to fly.
