Fayetteville artists headed to San Francisco for Maker Faire

There really isn’t anything better as far as we’re concerned than a story about Fayetteville people doing extraordinary things, and getting some recognition for it.

This is one of those stories.

Fayetteville artists Haley Duke and Mark Krause will be heading to San Francisco this weekend for Maker Faire, a two day festival to “make, create, learn, invent, craft, recycle, think, play and be inspired by celebrating arts, crafts, engineering, food, music, science and technology.”

The festival is in it’s 4th year, an is put on by Make magazine. Around 100,000 people are expected to attend, and geek-celebrities like Bill Nye the science guy (remember him?) are regulars.

One of Mark’s Steel Sculptures

For those who aren’t familiar with Make Mazagine, it is a hybrid magazine / book, that for lack of a better explanation, shows you how to make things.

A quick look at the event schedule will give you an idea of the kinds of things that happen at Maker Faire- everything from demonstrations on how to forage for wild food to how to build a robot. In other words, yes.

Haley and Mark first planned on just attending the Maker Faire, when Hailey decided it was worth a shot to go ahead and apply as a “maker.” She sent in her application, and Dale Dougherty, editor of the magazine was so impressed that Haley and Mark were not only accepted to be festival, but will also be featured makers during the event.

The Swamp Kirin

Hailey is the director of Seabat studios, a collective of creative people that is ever changing and evolving. Haley and Mark will represent Seabat studios, and will be taking their creation “Swamp Kirin,” which is a 9 foot tall, hoof to horn tip, four legged, moss covered, creature that towers over the masses as it ambles lazily through the crowds (see video below) as well as three of Mark’s forged steel sculptures “sent spinning from the slightest push,” another puppet (raccoon hide with fabricated angel wings), as well as materials to make Haley’s “wishes.”

Wishes are glass orbs w/ corks in the top, covered with sealing wax and feathers, with all sorts of odd things inside. According to Haley, “when you buy them, they’re yours, but the only way to get the wish is to break the glass orb.”

“So far I’ve had 100% success with those who’ve bought them’s wishes coming true.”

For more on Seabat Studio’s, I highly recommend checking out the website. You can also follow along with Haley and Mark via their facebook group, and the Swamp Kirin will be making an appearance at this year’s Firefly Festival June 21st at the Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks.

It’s pretty incredible that we have such creative people in Fayetteville, and even more so that they have an opportunity to be recognized nationally. Go Fayetteville!

Halo and Opio’s Seabat pieces from haley duke on Vimeo.