UNC Maker Capstone Event

Students at the Bee Fair in the Makerspace in Murray Hall 

Our Maker in Residence project on Native Bee nesting sculptures held a Capstone Event for participants to demonstrate their works and explain what they had learned about native bees to fellow undergraduate students.

They set up stations and talked about a variety of issues related to native bee biology, including:

-the sculpture process;

-the difference between honey bees and native bees;

-native bee nesting behaviors;

-the dangers of insecticides to bees;

-direct and indirect threats of human activity to bees;

-the importance of bees to food production.

They set out a delicious array of snacks for their visitors.

Student leader Isaac Boulter offering refreshments

NC State entomologist Dr. Elsa Youngsteadt, who had given a presentation on native bee biology during the course, had a bee display.

She even brought some live bumble bees.

Claire Lorch, who directs the UNC Community Garden, informed students of the activities of the garden. The student sculptures will be on display there over the winter and spring. Here she shows Sarah Wright's piece. Sarah volunteers at the Community Garden.

Student Leader Abby Gancz and Brooke Kilker from the Community Garden at the Garden display.

Zachary Gonzales with his sculpture. Zac left his piece with the original aluminum surface, and adorned it with bees that were produced on the Makerspace 3D printer.

Laurina Bird created an abstract form and coated it with a tarnished bronze patina.








Helina Wolf also went abstract and finished her sculpture in bright yellow.

















Nancy Dianderas made a "Curious" owl, which she finished with multiple tarnish bronze and acrylic touches.

Annie McDarris sculpted a brightly colored flower.

Liza Zhytkova conjured up an Aztec sun God

Nissa Coit remember Alice in Wonderland with this fanciful creation with a tarnished bronze surface and a wood message made on the Makerspace laser cutting machine.

Ritam Chakraborty experimented with "trompe l'eoil" with this tree branch finished with extensively tarnished bronze

Finally Zita Voros created this tarnished bronze flower. She is shown here wearing the T-shirt that she designed for the participants of the Fall 2016 Resident Maker Project

As the Maker in Residence, I am so grateful to the UNC staff,

the student leaders and most of all the students who made this one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life.








Thanks so much,
 Forrest