Here's something fun for next weekend at the Library! Circuit-bent kids toys, tape machines, retro synths through guitar pedals, along with other oddities such as solar panels, nabbed from broken garden lamps that become audio oscillators when mashed together with computer fans and bike lights - built upon the works of my buddy Adam Ben-Dror.
Anyone working in education or with a passion for city planning is welcome to stop by for a chat about ways that STEAM projects and creative spaces, with collaboration and connectivity across Dunedin, could be provided to people of all socioeconomic backgrounds both easily and affordably by harnessing resources that are lost via waste streams.
The e-waste world is full of musical items that provide a tangible and engaging link to the principles of physics, electronics and engineering.
A motor from a tape machine demonstrates gear reduction, the copper wire pulled out of the motor and rewound can demonstrate electromagnetism, which taped to a piece of paper and connected to an amplifier shows how electromagnetism transforms electricity into sound waves.. and so on.
The hugely popular MakeRoom Wellington, where I used to work, have been lightyears ahead on all of this 👏 👏 👏
Although they give 110% every day, as well as a large portion of their family home to make it work and have almost no holidays, I've witnessed how incredibly challenging it has been to upscale and achieve wider acknowledgement and recognition under their own steam. It's a difficult one to unpack why it's like this, or how such a brilliant example can continue to fly under the radar of those in a position to support and enact greater change.
In saying all of that, thanks to the Dunedin City Council Waste Minimalisation funding team for their support with this project and I'm really looking forward to updates on the upcoming waste plan!
If you happen to be in the neighbourhood on Saturday the 18th of May around midday, we'll be in the Library helping anyone to connect up miscellaneous gear and make cool sounds!