This week are getting to know Generator’s Operations and Safety technician Alex Hahl! A freelance maker and teacher who specializes in metal fabrication, Alex grew up in the idyllic suburbs of northern Virginia and went on to get a degree in geography from the University of Kansas. After a subsequent career as a pizza artist, he hit the road and found himself working as a commercial fisherman on the coast of Maine. Now in Burlington, Generator is where Alex spends most of his time. His goal in life is to learn how to do everything, or at least everything that interests him.
Current Home Location?
Burlington
Hometown/Birthplace?
I grew up in Falls Church, Virginia
What is your job title at Generator, and what do you do?
My title is “Operations and Safety Technician.” I usually tell people that my job is fixing tools and teaching people how to use them.
How did you first discover Generator, and how did you end up working here?
I first arrived looking to make jewelry, and then I started learning all the other tools. Every time there was a chance to increase my involvement at Generator I took it. I’ve been the metal shop lead, member representative to the board, guy who puts up posters for events, and many other things. Then one day I woke up and it was my full-time job.
When you’re at Generator, what brings you joy? Why?
Being able to improvise something quickly with our tools that solves a problem. I also enjoy seeing the members feeling at home in the place, just hanging out.
What’s one rewarding/fulfilling aspect of working at Generator you either didn’t expect, or didn’t know would be part of your job?
Hearing about the lives of the people who show up here. Many of them are in transitional moments and have interesting stories.
What’s one aspect of your job you wish you could do more of?
I really enjoy teaching, but it takes a lot of time and energy.
If you didn’t work at Generator, what would you be doing right now?
Running a used bookstore in a sleepy beach town. The woman who owns the pub across the street visits from time to time, but something about her says she has a dark past, so I keep my distance.
If you had 2 weeks to do whatever you wanted to do, and all the money you needed to do it… What would IT be?
Visiting uninhabited islands by sailboat. Possibly looking for pirate treasure along the way.
What projects have you been working on in the space or in the past? How has that been fulfilling you for?
I’m currently working on a couple of large public sculptures with the artist Clay Mohrman. In the past I’ve used Generator to make many things, from a shovel, to film festival award statues and drinking troughs for crickets.
How has Generator been a part of your personal journey as a creator/maker? Have you seen any growth since the start of your time up until now?
Generator has absolutely been the most important place in my career for me to learn new skills and find new projects. It also has given me the opportunity to learn and practice teaching as I pass on the skills I’ve gained here.
Here at Generator our mission is more or less to help people make stuff. What is it about making something that is so important, and why should other people care?
The outsourcing of America’s industrial capabilities to countries with lower wages and environment/labor standards has created a situation where most people don’t know how to produce or repair the things they use in their daily lives. In the event that the US dollar loses its status as world reserve currency, we’re all going to be in a lot of trouble if we don’t know how to do anything other than write emails.
Thank you Alex… and thank you to Susan Le! Susan is a student at Middlebury College who spent the summer interning here at Generator. In addition to producing this article with Alex, Susan also helped out and support our youth summer camps, worked on a number of fabrication projects, and helped to document the building of a large member project. We were really fortunate to get to work with Susan this summer and wish her well in the future!
