Making Communities at The Edge

Making Communities at The Edge

People may come to the State Library of Queensland fabrication space here in The Edge basement to 3D print unobtainable parts, build their Etsy business with the laser cutter or make a cat palace in a workshop, but they all become part of a community of makers. Libraries exist as community spaces for knowledge sharing, and everything that happens in the Fabrication Lab contributes to this tradition. Recently, I have been digging into the digital grottos where the bones of past community projects are found, making these historical relics ready for public display – and now they are!

A new rabbit hole has opened up in State Library of Queensland’s wiki, accessed through The Edge front page (or directly through this link) where you will find a wonderland of community projects run over the past several years, with designs, plans, products and the smiling faces of happy participants . Also lots of cardboard and hot glue, bespoke electronics and a couple of Kaiju.

This page also links to our latest community extravaganza: The Greater and Grander Rumpus (Grumpus for short) which is accelerating towards lift-off even as you read. Taking inspiration from the unruly imagination of young children, adding the skills of student designers and random makers to produce an exhibition full of giant things made from cardboard, huge signs made from cardboard and a forest of unearthly flowers nodding and blinking, and made from cardboard.

You don’t need to be grumpy to join in, just willing to look at the world with a child’s whimsy, challenge yourself to build something awesome, and make a contribution in our workshop. Joining the Grumpus community is as easy as coming to the fabrication lab when we are open, talking to the staff about what making is on the go and jumping on board. What will you make?