Throughout December, NYSCI’s Maker Space will be bustling with “Cardboard Creations.” Using cardboard and tape, design, make and build your own arcade games. This program was inspired by 9-year-old Caine Monroy, who built an elaborate cardboard arcade inside his dad’s used auto parts store. Free with NYSCI admission.

(Source: explainers-nysci)

Here’s a peek at the creation of Shih Chieh Huang’s 99Plus, one of ten original installations that make up ReGeneration, NYSCI’s new exhibition exploring cultural sustainability opening October 27. The piece is an integration of science and technology, reflecting the various adaptations and interactions of living beings in a complex, evolving environment.

The installation is constructed largely of items found at dollar discount stores throughout Queens neighborhoods, combined with LEDs, computer fans, microcontrollers and inflatables. The resulting exhibit features electronic, kinetic sculptures that make noise, generate patterns of light and movement, and generally interact with one another in an animal-like ecology.

As the world becomes more connected geographically and electronically, across linguistic, cultural and physical boundaries, it becomes more important to synthesize an ecological understanding of the way humans interact in a cooperative environment. Viewers will ideally walk away from the exhibit with a notion of themselves in an incomprehensible but beautiful and ultimately generous understanding of social structures.

A mere glimpse at day one of World Maker Faire 2012.

Photos: Andrew Kelly