Christopher Sweeney is growing MycoLights

This week we’re catching up with Christopher Sweeney to find out what he’s up to as an educator and to get the low down on his MycoLights. In 2018 Christopher answered our questions here and he goes in to more depth on our podcast this week about growing lights from mycelium.

What was your favorite exhibit at the Faire?

I enjoyed the variety of the exhibitors at the last Faire, but I have to say anything that was truly DIY I saw was my favorite. 

What connections did you make?

Talking to people I know from social media, always nice to meet face to face.

What was the best moment for you as a maker?

During the beginning of the pandemic, being able to 3D print pieces for the healthcare workers, as well as hat clips for migrant workers in California. Besides that, being a finalist in DesignPhillys’ “Best in Emerging Design” show for my MycoLights this upcoming October.

What’s new with you?

Being a finalist in DesignPhillys’ “Best in Emerging Design” show for my MycoLights this upcoming October, teaching, and working on hydroponics and irrigation systems using Micro:bit and Chibitronics micro controllers.

What did you make during 2020?

I created a DIY forge, and was into casting pewter in my backyard. I also took a class at GenSpace and learned our bioluminescent fungi and bacteria, so that was something new and amazing I did in 2020. I did many other fabrications (as well as etching copper plates for printmaking) using the Glowforge once I was teaching my students in a hybrid mode. I had some down time in 2020, so lots of things were explored.

Christopher Sweeney Online

Web site https://www.sweeneyartist.com/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sweeney2400/

Twitter https://twitter.com/csweeneyartist

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/christopher.sweeney.7771

Donors Choose https://www.donorschoose.org/classroom/csweeneyartist

Christopher Sweeney & Philly Maker Faire

Philly Maker Faire 2018 https://philly.makerfaire.com/call-for-makers/entry/47/

Philly Maker Faire 2019 https://philly.makerfaire.com/call-for-makers/entry/397/

Meet the Maker post https://philly.makerfaire.com/2018/06/22/chris-sweeney/

On the podcast https://anchor.fm/phillymakerfaire/episodes/Christopher-Sweeney-e15us31

Meet maker John Abella 3D printer builder

What do I make?

I’m interesting in digital fabrication in all forms, and have spent the last 9 years playing with 3D printers and CNC routers off and on.

Who do you make it for?

Generally for myself, for my family, and just for fun. This isn’t what I do for a living, but I enjoy teaching and showing people what’s possible.

Where are you located?

I live in Glen Mills, PA.

When did you start making?

Depends on how you define it, but I’ve been building 3D printers since 2009.

What inspired you to make 3D printers?

I’m interested to see how I can use modern tools to look at some more traditional works – especially those that I would normally not be good at: woodworking, carving, etc.

What makers inspire you?

Nervous System!

What’s next?

The Carvey CNC that I’m demonstrating at Philly Maker Faire is being donated to the Easttown Library in Berwyn. Thanks to Inventables for the gracious helping hand with getting their Maker Space started.

Anything else you’d like to add?

I organized and ran the first ever 3D Printer Village for World Maker Faire for the first 5 or 6 years, growing it from a group of 10 people in a few small tents to about 185 people in 80 tents by the time I stepped aside. Along the way I probably brought 15 different printers to World Maker Faire, won a few ribbons, and eventually ended up teaching 3D printer assembly workshops in Philly and Wilmington circa 2013. I had the opportunity to write for Make for a few years and have met some of my best friends through the connections I’ve made at various Maker Faire events. I’m excited to see what the city thinks of the first ever Philly Maker Faire.

Meet Chris Sweeney the maker behind Makers Slam

What do you make?

I create 3D printed fabrications, interactive designs and art, and much more. My art and designs incorporate drawing, coding, painting, robotics, and bio design, to say the least. I use many materials and media, and I like to cross pollinate different ideas and techniques for the final outcome.

Who do you make it for?

I make these items for myself, but also to share with other people and for them to enjoy. If I just kept them to myself, or they were in an art gallery with a limited audience, what fun would that be? I like my projects to be interactive, for groups to work on them, to cross boundaries and genres.

Where are you located?

Philadelphia, Pa

When did you start making?

As far as the fabrication side (non-fine art), I started when I attended National Art Education Association National Conference in San Diego in 2014 and learned from fellow art educators about 3D printing,MakeyMakey, and other maker technologies. I bought a 3D printer soon after that, and the rest is history.

How long have you been making?

I have been an artist all of my life, but I did not start making until 4 years ago.

What inspires you?

For myself, my curiosity into all avenues of learning from art, design, science, and technology and more, and the interconnections they make in life. For my latest projects in involving 3D printing molds to use with mycelium, I really enjoy using bio design as an environmental tool to reduce waste, and using high tech with low tech is really intriguing and interesting.

What makers inspire you?

Corinne Takara (@CorinneTakar), Erin Riley(@eeriley99), Josh Burker (@joshburker), Nettrice Gaskins (@nettieb), Erik Nauman (@openblackboard), Colleen Graves (@gravescolleen),Dr.Ji Qi (@qijie) and so many more artists, designers, and makers I hope I am not forgetting.

What’s next?

I plan on continuing to teach, learn, explore, and do more workshops for educators, as well as with the public, especially the local community. I am really happy to work with awesome companies that I am an ambassador for such as Chibitronics, Ultimaker, MakeyMakey and Morphi. They are super supportive of my work and my teaching at Charter High School of Architecture and Design here in Philadelphia, as well as my studio work, and other places I teach. I am currently working with the Smithsonian this summer. This lessons will be for the Smithsonian Learning Lab collection, and I will be creating this summer curricula that will hopefully be incorporating items from the Penn Museum here in Philadelphia, as well last the Cooper Hewitt museum in NYC.

What would you like to ask the maker community?

I would like to ask the maker community how can we include others from the art, art education, and design community into the folds of the maker movement, and involve them further? Also, how can we help make a makerspace more economical to those who do not have the means to buy and/or use the maker technology such as 3D printers, laser cutters, and CNC machines?

Anything else you want to add?

I want to thank the organizers of this great event, it has been a long time coming to Philadelphia to showcase out talent in this great city of ours.