It's only fitting that a drone blew out the birthday candles for Burlington's Generator on its second birthday last Saturday. The young organization — which provides local makers with the tools and community to push their ideas to fruition — is a focal point of Burlington's creative tech environment.
The "Tech and Tux"-themed party was well attended: By 6:20 p.m., Generator member/volunteer Brook Martenis had tallied 252 heads. One of the primary attractions of the night was the photo booth, equipped with props — think laser-cut wooden ties and glasses and sculpted cardboard masks — made by Generator members.
Generator
Guests got a kick out of the photo booth.
Board member Doreen Kraft, executive director of Burlington City Arts, looked festive in a lit-up feathered hat. But Martenis stole the show in her LED-illuminated dress. (Never mind that the batteries died halfway through the party.)
Athena Kafantaris
Brook Martenis
Of course, Athena Kafantaris' electronically modified puppets and accessories were a big hit. Generator's latest maker-in-residence used the party as a sort of soft opening for her labors of love from the past month. Her work was installed in the entry hallway. My particular favorite was a black, horseshoe-shaped collar outfitted with bright red feathers and tiny fans. (It would be perfect beach wear for a hot, sunny day.)
Athena Kafantaris
"Fan Collar" by Athena Kafantaris
Amid the festivities, I caught up with Ken Howell, Generator board member and assistant professor at Champlain College's Division of Communication and Creative Media, who had nothing but kind words for the maker hub. "[Generator] is so much more than people making stuff," he said. "It's people actively working to make a better planet."
That's a broad statement. But considering the efforts of entrepreneurs such as Rob Rock of Pitchfork Farm — who has developed a "prone weeder" that allows farmers to weed relatively comfortably by hand — it's not far off.
Since 2014, Seven Days has allowed readers to comment on all stories posted on our website. While we’ve appreciated the suggestions and insights, the time has come to shut them down — at least temporarily.
While we champion free speech, facts are a matter of life and death during the coronavirus pandemic, and right now Seven Days is prioritizing the production of responsible journalism over moderating online debates between readers.
Comments
Comments are closed.
Since 2014, Seven Days has allowed readers to comment on all stories posted on our website. While we’ve appreciated the suggestions and insights, the time has come to shut them down — at least temporarily.
While we champion free speech, facts are a matter of life and death during the coronavirus pandemic, and right now Seven Days is prioritizing the production of responsible journalism over moderating online debates between readers.
To criticize, correct or praise our reporting, please send us a letter to the editor. Or send us a tip. We’ll check it out and report the results.
Online comments may return when we have better tech tools for managing them. Thanks for reading.