Capturing Impact: Sharing Stories of Makerspace Successes

Abstract

On an incredibly hot Saturday afternoon in August, a group of ten kids are gathered around a table with Mars Patterson, the current Bubbler Artist in Residence, hands twitching to touch the collection of Instax cameras in front of them. Parents look a little skeptical, but the kids listen carefully to Mars’ instructions.

Mars lays out the children’s task—she is encouraging kids to look at their environment (the Madison (WI) Public Library’s Children’s Area) with fresh eyes—to take photos of interesting shapes, lines, colors, and textures that they see. There are enough cameras for some of the parents, too, and so, armed with guidance and equipment, families set off together on a mini adventure.