On October 12, the Arts Research Center at UC Berkeley and the Curatorial Practice at the California College of the Arts are partnering to host a live-streaming of the Creative Time Summit, an annual conference in New York that brings together cultural producers–including artists, critics, writers, and curators–to discuss how their work engages pressing issues affecting our world. To jump-start the conversation in advance of the event, attendees have been asked to submit a paragraph on a keyword associated with one of the summit themes: Inequities, Occupations, Making, or Tactics. This posting is by Rachel Tsao, American Cyberculture student at UC Berkeley.
Keyword: Making
Growing up, I thought Barbie was stupid. I enjoyed building small motor race cars from scratch and making robot toys that moved. In a world of hackers, programmers, and technologists, I enjoy being a maker. In my free time, I take on DLY projects. I make blinky light boxes, race cars, jewelry, and self-print wrapping paper. Making is an art-fo rm. It allows me to combine my interests in science, art, and technology and craft cool gadgets and devices that I can play with. Even at 21 years old, I am never too old to play with toys. In New York City and the SF Bay area, making has become a movement. Every year, both areas hold a Maker Faire, where makers come together to make, create, hack, learn, innovate, build and play. One of the small joys of my life is making something that I can truly call my own. Making allows me to do that.