Category: News

Burlington is a powerhouse for innovation, creativity, and art. The Generator community is composed of people from all demographics, backgrounds, interests, and goals. These articles highlight different members stories and how Generator is part of a bigger creative community.

  • A new chapter at Generator

    A new chapter at Generator

    From the Generator Board of Directors September 12, 2019:

     

    With great appreciation and thanks, Generator announces that Chris Thompson will be stepping down as Executive Director at the end of the calendar year.

     

    Chris is a founding member of the maker space and we are pleased that he will be rejoining the Board and pursuing his artistic practice. In his time as Executive Director, Chris has moved the organization from a scrappy little start-up to a vibrant, mature, and financially stable organization. In particular, he has improved our business model, created a healthy reserve fund, revamped staffing, greatly expanded our community relationships and partnerships, increased programming, launched a highly successful entrepreneurial boot camp and free, public lecture series, oversaw an expansion to over 11,500 square feet, improved our operating and administrative systems, earned the wide respect of our maker community, and much more.

     

    “It’s been my great pleasure to work with Chris since Generator was just an idea, and we are very pleased that he’ll be rejoining the board of directors” said Generator Board President Dan Harvey. “Chris embodies the maker ethos that ‘intersects art, science, and technology’ and he’ll be difficult to replace.”

     

    We are sorry to lose Chris as our Director, thank him for his considerable contributions, and welcome him back on the Board where his wisdom and energy will continue to serve the organization and the broader maker community. Going forward, we are excited to identify a new leader who can build on what Chris has created and lead us into our next generation of growth.

     

     

    Could you be our next Executive Director? Learn more here.

  • Artist in Residence: Overnight Projects

    Artist in Residence: Overnight Projects

    Overnight Projects Presents Liminal States: What Were Some of the Things You Missed from Home?

    Abbey Meaker, Maya Jeffereis, and Elliott Katz

    In Liminal States: What Were Some of the Things You Missed from Home?, artists Maya Jeffereis and Elliott Katz collaborated on a two-channel video installation and itinerant library that examines the longstanding history of separating families and incarcerating minorities in the United States.

    As grandchildren of Japanese American incarceration survivors, the artists have created an experimental documentary that weaves personal, cultural, and historical memories together through a combination of interviews, family photos, and archival images.

    The artists linked the history of Japanese American incarceration with the current practice of separating immigrant families and detaining children in government facilities. One such facility, Fort Sill in Oklahoma, has served as a relocation camp for Indigenous Americans and a residential school for indigenous children in the 19th and 20th centuries, a World War II Japanese American incarceration camp, and a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility today.

    Drawing a comparison between these histories, Jeffereis and Katz
    created a found footage video montage comprised of propaganda films, news coverage, and home videos. The artists invite visitors to further engage with these histories in the Itinerant Library which contains a selection of books recommended by the artists.

    In Liminal States, the artists link the past with the present in an attempt for history not to repeat itself.

  • Member Made: Milton Rosa-Ortiz’s Goddess of the Storm

    Member Made: Milton Rosa-Ortiz’s Goddess of the Storm

    Milton is a former architect and current nurse and artist working on a sculptural commission, loosely based on the Puerto Rican Goddess of the Storm.

    The female figure carries a red lantern, much like the figures stationed on ship heads that are meant to safely guide sailors.

    Milton used the CNC Wood Router to drill holes in plexiglass — which he would have otherwise done by hand.

    The beads are hung from the plexi glass and are are suspended at different heights, swaying gently with the breeze. He’s using onyx and charcoal beads, as well as red for the lantern.

    Although Milton has been creating art and exhibiting his work for years, this is his first piece made at Generator. He was lacking the space at home to create this sculpture. After a tour, he was excited to learn that he could secure an affordable, safe place to build his sculpture while accessing the the wood, metal, and jewelry shops.

    Learn more about Milton’s work here, and learn about becoming a studio member of Generator here.

  • Art Hop 2019 at Generator!

    Art Hop 2019 at Generator!

    We have so much in store for the best weekend of the year: South End Art Hop.

    Check out our program of events, including exhibiting artists, demos, tours, and interactive art and performances.

  • MAKER on Vermont PBS

    MAKER on Vermont PBS

    [vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][vc_column_text]We’re thrilled to share MAKER, a film by Rob Koier, now streaming on Vermont PBS.

    From Vermont PBS: “Portraits of eight different individuals who are current or past members of the Generator Maker Space in Burlington, VT. From a retired architect living at Wake Robin who makes puzzles of Vermont, to a young up and coming green fashion designer, to an organic farmer that makes and invents new farming equipment in the winters.”

    Inspired? Learn more about taking a class, a tour, or becoming a member.

     

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  • Maker in Residence: Colin Gaunt

    Maker in Residence: Colin Gaunt

    Meet our current Maker in Residence: Colin Gaunt.

    Colin Gaunt Sipping Safe Maker in Residence

    Colin is a recent Saint Michael’s College grad developing an affordable, portable device using ultra-efficient LED technology to disinfect water on an individual or family-sized scale.

    From Saint Michael’s:

    “Gaunt said the market niche he is trying to fill with the Sipping Safe is ‘a family unit essentially,’ explaining, ‘there already are products that can give water to 1,000 people really well or to one person fairly well, but there isn’t a product that can give water to a family of 6 to 12 without a plumbing network of some kind.’ His device would not need to be pressurized like many existing devices, which is another big advantage. ‘I’m thinking of any developing nation or city that doesn’t have access to a steady plumbing system,’ he said.”

    Colin Gaunt Maker in Residence Sipping Safe

    Colin is also a Jump Start Collegiate cohort member, so he’s been spending a lot of time here making his first prototype using the Prusa 3D printer and Epilog laser cutter. Next step? Make the thing! 

    Follow along on Instagram to see Colin’s progress.

  • Call to artists: Art Hop with us!

    Call to artists: Art Hop with us!

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    Want to participate in the 2019 SEABA Art Hop at Generator?

    We’re lining up demonstrations, performances, and installations and submitting them for listing in the official Art Hop guide.

    We’re expecting 1,000+ visitors to come through Generator September 6th through 8th, so it’s an incredible time to show off your work.

    Send us a description of your work by Sunday, July 14th — 12 words or less — to be included in Generator’s Art Hop listing.

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  • We’re Hiring: Community Outreach Director

    We’re Hiring: Community Outreach Director

    We’re hiring!

    Could you be our Community Outreach Director?

    People working together in electronics lab

    The Outreach Director oversees the development and implementation of projects and programs that engage and inspire our local and regional community in STEM education, workforce development and entrepreneurship. The Outreach Director collaborates with staff, members, volunteers, educators and non-profit partner institutions to deliver programming that is responsive to the needs and aspirations of our community.

    SPARK program participants complete the marshmallow building challenge

    We’re looking for someone with 2-4 years of community outreach and engagement experience, teaching experience and curriculum development experience specifically in the 7-12th grade environment, and ideally with experience in make fabrication technologies such as laser cutters, 3D design programs, electronics, etc.

    Design Lab kids experience virtual reality

    Check out the job listing and apply on Seven Days.

    Thanks for spreading the word!

  • Member Made: Corrine’s stamps & community mural

    Member Made: Corrine’s stamps & community mural

    Local artist and organizer Corrine Yonce recently utilized Generator’s Epilog laser cutter to create rubber stamps from hand drawings. These stamps were for use in a community mural in the Old North End’s new community center.

    The stamps made it easy for folks to contribute to the mural regardless of whether they felt they had “artistic talent.”

    Corrine Yonce Old North End Community MuralWords from Corrine:

    “This project has been lead by high school students of the BTV City and Lake Semester – their mission was to represent this thriving new community that is the Old North End (ONE) Community Center, which is the former St. Joseph school.”

    Old North End Community Mural

    Old North End Community MuralThe mural was to represent its vibrant history and exciting future. They asked to show the true diversity of ages, cultures, and ways people use the space. The students loved the activities that bridged communities- food, play, sports. They wanted people to see themselves in the mural, no matter who they are.”
    Old North End Community Mural
    The ONE Community Center is a critical resource in the Old North End. The center is home to Vermont Adult Learning, the The Family Room, the Association of Africans Living in Vermont, Spectrum’s after school program, Very Merry Theater, the Vermont Hindu temple, the Burlington City Lake Program, among others.”
    Old North End Community Mural
    The students at Burlington City and Lake Semester worked hard to guide my hand in this piece, to bring community together, and ensure this mural would have a enduring & inclusive message for all communities that use the space now, and will use the space in the future.”

    Old North End Community MuralA big thanks to Megan Humphrey whose 1,200 photos of the Old North End (still exhibited at the ONE Community Center!) inspired us so much that we use some in the mural. Also a big thanks to Burlington Parks, Recreation, & Waterfront who bought the supplies and dealt with our mess, to Champlain House Trust who hosts space to these critical community organizations, and to all the wonderful organizations who showed up to this event to have a hand in the final piece. Vermont Adult Learning, The Family Room, Robin’s Nest Childcare, AALV and the Champlain Senior Center.”

    Corrine Yonce Old North End Community Mural

    Corrine Yonce Old North End Community Mural

    Corrine Yonce Old North End Community MuralPhotos by Montgomery Sheridan.

  • Member Made: Marc’s Stand Up Paddleboard

    Member Made: Marc’s Stand Up Paddleboard

    Member Marc Heinzer is BYOSUPing— building your own stand up paddleboard.


    Marc hails from Switzerland where he built boats and movie sets. He had this to say of his building experience:


    “Boat builder is one of the few jobs where you build something from start to finish. With house builders, there are people that frame, and then people that put plumbing in… not so with boats.”


    Instead of the standard foam most paddleboards use, environmentalist Marc chose wood due to its ease of availability and sustainability. He used the Epilog laser cutter to cut the frame and glued up and assembled the frame in our big build space. He’s now starting to think about next steps — including adding a window in the board that allows riders to see what lies beneath.

    Marc wanted to create something that inspired people to engage in local recreation and he’s thinking about how to make the board available to the public. He’s considering inviting local kids to help him decorate the board before finishing to make it a true community effort and asset.

    Stay tuned for progress! We’re excited to see the board in action on the waves of Lake Champlain this summer.