Tag: wood working

  • Maker in Residence: Michael Zebrowski

    Maker in Residence: Michael Zebrowski

    Our January/February 2019 Maker in Residence is Michael Zebrowski and his public art and design studio, UP END THIS.

    Some may recognize Michael from a couple months back when he was at Generator finishing his project Water Molecules, a temperature sensitive light sculpture installed at Spruce Lodge at Stowe Mountain for their Festival of Lights.

    Photo credit: Spruce Peak Lodge

      

    Michael’s work spans art and science with an emphasis on interactive and useful structures and public art. He first ventured into designing products with his project Eclipse Survey, 100 pairs of eclipse viewfinder glasses that he designed and produced for the Gibbes museum of art in Charleston, South Carolina.

     

    Photo credit: Up End This

     

    Photo credit: Up End This

    Michael plans to use his 2-month residency at Generator to dive deeper into the product design process.

    His goal? To build the first full scale prototype of one of his “satellites,” a mobile and dynamic architectural structure.

    Michael asserts that the satellite isn’t like a tiny house. “It’s more in line with an inspired by the motor vehicle,” he said. He aims to make his beautiful and simple satellites DOT approved so they can be transported, and to add casters on the bottom that will allow them to spin in their locations so they take advantage of sun, shade, or different views. This will also help maximize the satellite’s solar power potential.

    While it’s easy to picture the satellite as a mobile living space, Michael can also see them being cafes, shops, and meeting places. He’s curious to see what uses people may have for the structures and to develop a business that serve’s peoples’ needs.

    Michael prefers basswood and foam board to 3D modeling programs, and we’re enjoying watching his colorful studio space pile up with different models. He plans build the first satellite over the next two months behind Generator. He’ll spend time in the wood shop with the CNC router which he’ll use to develop a radiant floor heating system. Michael also plans to use the plasma cutter and the electronics lab for outfitting the satellite with mechanical and electrical elements.

    Want to follow Michael’s residency? Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram at @generatorvt.

  • Generator Stories: Meet Clay

    Generator Stories: Meet Clay

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    Meet Clay.

     

    Clay Mohrman started playing with lighting and driftwood while he worked for an industrial light supplier in the greater Boston area. He was a hobbyist in those years, refining his craft and making one-off light sculptures for friends and family.

     

    When Clay moved to Vermont, he rented a small studio on Pine Street. He meticulously sawed, sanded, and assembled his pieces with hand tools.

     

    Despite growing interest in his light sculptures, Clay’s time-consuming, labor-intensive process prevented him from pricing his work to sell.

     

    Clay knew he had a unique idea and that there was a market for his original, elegant work, but needed help turning his art practice into a sustainable art business.

     

     

    Enter: Generator’s Jump/Start program.

     

    Jump/Start is a business accelerator program developed by Generator in collaboration with LaunchVT. The 11-week program consists of weekly lectures on topics ranging from accounting, to intellectual property protection, to marketing. The program also facilitates in-depth tutoring with business professionals and mentors.

     

     

    Clay and three other talented makers were given the use of free studio space, 24/7 access to Generator, a stipend, and free tool training classes to help them refine their product prototype.

     

    “I couldn’t afford the kinds of woodworking tools I needed to be efficient, let alone a full wood shop, so having access to these things at Generator was amazing,” Clay said.  “The pneumatic nail gun alone was a game-changer.”

     

    Through the Jump/Start program, Clay received support in developing a foundation for his business, including bookkeeping, branding, pricing, scheduling, and more.

     

    He received personal mentoring from Burlington’s lighting legend, Steve Conant.

     

    Clay also met with manufacturing experts M&E Design to improve his production process.


    Clay cited Generator’s network of makers, entrepreneurs, and business professionals as a huge asset to his business.

     

    “Starting a small business takes so much support, both emotionally and physically,” Clay said. “Having people around you going through the same process is invaluable.”

     

    At the conclusion of the Jump/Start program, Clay became a Generator studio member.

     

     

     

     

    “Generator keeps feeding me and my business,” Clay said. “I couldn’t be doing what I’m doing without the ongoing support and expertise of so many people here.”

     

     

     

     

    Clay cites his participation in Jump/Start as the source of his confidence to launch his business, Clay Mohr Lighting.

     

    The business has had numerous successes post-Jump/Start, including:

    • month-long shows at Karma Birdhouse and Frog Hollow Gallery where his sales far exceeded expectations
    • a 2018 Seven Daysies nomination for Best Sculptor followed up by a feature article in their “Nest” issue
    • a collaboration with local musician Ivamae, Casting Coalescence, a traveling art installation that combines his lights with her music
    • wholesale orders from shops as far away as Colorado
    • and most recently, a winning bid for a light installation at Stowe’s Spruce Lodge for their Festival of Lights. Clay built and installed his largest piece yet — four feet in diameter. The piece was built in Generator’s common space.

     

     

    “My business is continuing to evolve.
    Jump/Start gave me a foundation to build on.”

     

     

     

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    With your support, we can help more people like Clay access opportunities to learn, create, and launch themselves and their businesses at Generator.

     —

    Will you make a year-end gift to support innovation?

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  • Generator Stories: Meet Ali

    Generator Stories: Meet Ali

    [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]Through the end of the year we’ll be sharing stories about the people who make Generator tick.

    Our goal is to raise $5,000 to support and expand Generator’s offerings in 2019. We hope you can help and please spread the word!

    Meet Ali.

    When we talk about Generator we usually lead with stats and program descriptions rather than the people we serve. It’s our community’s generosity that allows Generator to meet people where they are, as was the case with Ali. That’s where success happens.

    Ali is a senior at Burlington High School. He heard about Generator about a year ago from both his art teacher as well as a mentor.

    “As an engineer, I always have ideas,” Ali said. He knew he wanted to learn how to design and make things and he thought Generator might be able to help.

    One day after school Ali walked a mile from his home to Generator. He connected with Jon, our Community Outreach Coordinator, who gave him a tour and asked about his interests.

    Ali was interested in learning just about everything. The challenge was finding a pathway into Generator that could help him grow his skills.

    Fortuitously, just days later, Mayor Weinberger’s office reached out with a request. Could Generator revamp the portable podium that travels with the mayor to various speaking engagements?

    The podium project was an opportunity to go through a design-thinking process with a high profile client. Their request for multiple options required multiple prototypes evolved from various design programs, tools, and machines.

    Elliot, our Operations Director, was tasked with the podium project. He saw the project as a way to work with Ali and provide one-on-one mentoring and training to increase Ali’s confidence and skills in preparation for independent projects of his own.

    When you support Generator, you make it possible for us to provide the kind of personalized attention to people that leads to transformation, as it did with Ali.

    Ali has been coming to Generator after school for four weeks now. We suspect he’ll be a regular at Generator until he goes to college next fall. He’s received personal training on the Epilog laser cutter, the CNC router, in the wood shop, and in various 3D design programs.

    “This is a huge opportunity for me,” Ali said. “Seeing people’s process and projects… I get to see others’ points of view. I learn how to use different tools and systems.”

    At this point, Ali has worked with several folks at Generator. “There’s always someone to help,” he said. “My next project will be on the 3D printer, just because I want to learn it.”

    Ali recently finished making his first two prototypes of the portable podium and had his first check-in with the Mayor’s office. He’s now working on a third prototype based on their feedback. Ali plans to complete the podium project before the end of the year. We’ll be sure to update you when the final podium is complete.

    “The more I learn, the better off I’ll be. I want to go into electrical or computer engineering. I’d like to get ahead for college. I think of the future and what I can do to better myself.”

     

    There are countless eager makers who could benefit from the resources at Generator, and our aim is to grow to accommodate them.

     

     Will you make a year-end gift to empower more Vermonters like Ali to create and innovate at Generator?

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  • Member Made: Christine DeMello’s CNC Routed Floating Letters

    Member Made: Christine DeMello’s CNC Routed Floating Letters

    Christine DeMello floatinglettersco.com
  • Member Made: Clay Mohrman’s Wood Light Sculpture

    Member Made: Clay Mohrman’s Wood Light Sculpture

    Clay Mohrman
  • Member Made: Cameron Jonas’s Birch and Resin sink

    Member Made: Cameron Jonas’s Birch and Resin sink

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    Prototype Laminated Baltic Birch Sink

    Cameron is interesting in trying new forms of sinks, as well as better methods of construction and resin pouring. Cameron cut one piece at a time on the band saw, flush trimmed to a template on the router table, threaded rod and glue holding everything together, resin shell, aluminum rods through countertop with West Systems Epoxy resin filled voids.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Seven Days: Jake Blend’s Spirograph Is One for the Record Books

    Seven Days: Jake Blend’s Spirograph Is One for the Record Books

    Jake Blend broke the record for largest spirograph during Art Hop at Generator! All it took was experimenting with laser cutters, CNC routers, rubber, and wood to bring his vision to fruition.  Read the full Seven Days article>>

  • ECHO is getting creative around their exhibits!

    ECHO is getting creative around their exhibits!

    Say Hello to Generator’s New Company Member: ECHO

    Jacob Mushlin is leading ECHO’s initiative to create their own exhibits.  We are excited to see which direction they take their access to tools to further other’s experiences of Marine Biology.
    ECHO has a traveling exhibit hall and most of the time what’s on display has been rented.  As ECHO’s educational and interpenetrate capabilities have grown the science and aquatic center is looking to produce more of it’s own exhibits.  This fall we’re designing, fabricating and opening an exhibit called The Innovation Playground.  It’s exciting – I get to build most of the physical elements, from display cases with Generator and Alternator objects, to this carriage for part of a video game designed at Champlain College’s Emergent Media Center. ECHO is, relatively speaking, a small institution. Most science centers and museums have exhibit work shops. We don’t. So Generator is ours. We have a corporate membership and there’s no substitute for it.  I can’t tell you how valuable this wood shop, community, and organization is to what we’re doing at ECHO.
    -Jacob Mushlin

    ECHO is building a sweet show-puppet area fitted with a projector case, a ship’s wheel, a rocking horse, and a case for a digital piano for one of the EMC video games, AND an edgy lamp display! Jacob is already busy working on how to set up an effective display for artistic lamps.  Want to get involved in the recycled lamp competition? Get more info here.

  • Member Activity: Brian Merrill

    Member Activity: Brian Merrill

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    Generator member, Brian Merrill is hard at work again. Check out his laser cut/hand crafted wood flutes! It’s amazing what can be accomplished with a combination of tools from different disciplines. Take a tour at Generator anytime between 11am to 9pm to check out what members are working on.

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  • Pop up bar is MADE!

    Pop up bar is MADE!

    m//e (https://www.mattanderikdesign.com) and alice & the magician (https://www.aliceandthemagician.com) have been working hard to present to you their pop up bar!!!!!!! Experience it first hand at the next 3rd Thursday in January!

    photo 3 (8)

    photo 1 (12)