After attending Maker Faire Detroit at The Henry Ford over the weekend I can tell you this: creativity, ingenuity, and a sense of play are alive and well in Detroit. Children and adults marveled at the interesting inventions, took a spin on some clever contraptions, and dare I say it, learned something.
A few things I learned:
- Smashing objects and tearing things apart can teach you as much as putting things together.
- Kids don’t need carnival rides to thrill them; they thrive on new and interesting ideas.
- Silly is always good.
- Children have no idea what a vinyl record is.
- You can use any fizzy beverage to make the same magic as the Coke Zero & Mentos guys. However, they use Coke Zero because it’s less sticky than the other soda pops. (See video below.)
- You can try their experiment at home, just make sure you use room temperature pop, cold pop won’t shoot as high.
- Everything you attempt doesn’t have to be perfect, just keep putting yourself and your ideas out there.
- Remember to have fun and follow your passion.
Keep inventing, making, tinkering, and doing-it-yourself Detroit! You did our region proud. I’m looking forward to Maker Faire becoming an annual summer tradition in Detroit.
A bit of a splash from the Coke Zero & Mentos Spectacular.
A clown dances on the car that a 2-ton safe fell on in the Life Size Mouse Trap.
A lttle girl is entralled by the Sashimi Tabernacle Choir Art Car.
