A2 Makers’ Memo
May 2024 : issue 0.2
A letter from this issue’s editor:
Hello!
This is issue 0.2 of the Makers’ Memo, a series of prototypes for a monthly communication from A2 by A2. It’s been more than a year since any kind of newsletter has been sent out, and several members & I have taken the initiative to get it back into recirculation.
Why do we even care about a newsletter? Perhaps i t doesn’t seem to hold much importance to you. Perhaps you take a quick glance or scroll and move on to your next email (I assume most didn’t even read the first issue!).
BUT the newsletter is one crucial way an organization can maintain contact with their broader audience. We subscribe and receive them from almost every museum, nonprofit, author, artist, and even farms we want to keep in touch with. But what about Artisan’s Asylum?
Newsletters provide a reminder that we still exist. That we are still active. That we are still open to and engaged with the community. They can be filled with generic corporate content, or have a distinct voice and character (hence news- 'l etter’ ). Regardless, it’s a connection we can maintain with those who aren’t able to be physically or actively engaged on a regular basis, or start new ones.
- Soon-Young
Other contributors this month: Karin Keane, Michael Mittelman, Dick Rubinstein, Doug Ruuska, Sarah Nagle, Wardis Vizcaino
Images of the Moon in the header, Saturn in the footer, and stars in the background of this newsletter were captured by the telescope created by Zachary Steinbery, featured in our instructor profile below!
- Announcements -
Studio Membership & Perk Changes
A reminder that the studio membership structure has changed! Studio holders will now pay their studio rent separately from their membership rate. This separation helps distinguish goods (studio) from services (membership).
The 24/7 access membership rate is unchanged at $240/month. Studio rent will be added to their invoice as follows:
Rental Cost
50sf: $2.40/sf = $120 (No change)
100sf: $4.80/sf = $480 ($120 increase)
200sf: $6.00/sf = $1200 ($360 increase)
Changes will be effective on July 1st. Updated Contracts to be released simultaneously.
Perk Structure change
Perks have also changed for shop worker volunteers (e.g. tool testers) and Deskies. They will no longer receive monthly credit to apply to studios and classes as compensation for their volunteer work. Studios must now be paid in full. They will still receive a complimentary 24/7 membership. However, in lieu of credits, classes will now be offered at a 50% discount.
Credits will no longer be applied after May. Existing credits can still be used until they have expired–6 months after their date of origin.
A2 is not operationally and financially sustainable. Rate & perk changes are a consequence of this, and an attempt to keep A2 financially afloat. Please direct questions, concerns, and proposals for realistic alternatives to cha…@artisansasylum.com .
- News -
Limited Antwerp Parking
Construction in the Antwerp parking lot commences this month as HRE finishes hook-ups from building roof drains to a leaching field installed under the parking lot last year. During this time, the Antwerp parking lot will have less than half of its spots available. Alternative parking areas to be announced.
Surprise Gift from Former Tyler St. Member
In April, A2 received an unexpected & generous gift of $100,000 from the National Havoc Robotic League World Championships Tournament Grant Opportunity at the recommendation of Jamison Go. Jamison, who previously had facilitated robotics events at Tyler Street, received the 12lb 2nd place award. Winners recommend the STEM charity of their choice to receive a grant award. Check out his website: www.jamisongo.com
Grant for Digital Lab (& Photography Shop)
A2 was awarded a $97,500 grant from the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture’s Cultural Space Fund for necessary upgrades to the Digital Lab including hardware, software, server equipment, and technical support and training. This grant is made through the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture. Kudos to the volunteers on the Development Committee for all their hard work!
- Reminders -
Gallery at Asylum’s First Exhibition
A reminder that the Gallery at Asylum wants to welcome all Artisan Members to submit work for their first exhibition. The theme is ART PARTY! Submissions are open to all members: https://tinyurl.com/a2artpartyz. Deadline to submit is June 30th.
- - Instructor Profile: Zachary Steinberg-
Written by: Dick Rubinstein
Those of us who have been doing 3D printing for some time remember that we were supposed to print coat hooks, replacements for broken knobs, and the parts for other people to make more printers.
How about printing a telescope? That’s what Zachary Steinberg has done with 11 students (so far) in his classes at A2. The telescope, a 4 ½” reflector, has a Chinese mirror, some metal tubing for strength, and a few other bits of hardware, but the main parts are 3D printed. These are not small parts, taking many hours of printing time for each telescope.
xa
Zachary is new to astronomy—he got interested only a year ago, made a telescope, loved what he saw through it, and decided to share the experience with other makers at Artisans. “It’s a really cool thing!” I agree. He notes that people have been building telescopes for themselves for hundreds of years. Grinding your own mirrors can take months or years, so using a ready-made mirror makes the project practical in a few weeks. Students also learn enough about our 3D printers to get tool tested to use them in the shop.
Zachary appreciates the range of tools and helpful people at Artisans. He has wide interests beyond astronomy, including generative art (making art with code), electronics, improv, and of course, making stuff. Professionally, he is a programmer and mathematician.
Zachary does have the astronomy bug. He’s working on a bigger telescope with a 12” diameter mirror, using an unusual approach. Instead of grinding a glass blank (forever), he casts a high-temperature mold from a CNC-routed wood model (made here). It’s a negative mold, that is, convex. He will place a sheet of glass on top of the mold and heat it in a kiln at A2 for a day or two, allowing the glass to slump down and take the shape of the mold. The result should be a fairly accurate concave shape that he can grind to the precision needed for the mirror.
If making your own telescope appeals to you, watch for the next offering of Zachary’s course.
- Community Events -
A2 Speaker Series - Wayne Strattman
May 14 7:00pm - 8:30pm Tickets (FREE)
Wayne Strattman, plasma Artist, engineer, designer, and author, operates Strattman
Design. The leading maker of plasma displays for museums, trade shows, theme
parks, and movie companies worldwide. Strattman holds a PhD in the Neon Arts
from the University of Sunderland in England for his research, writings, and long
advocacy for plasma and neon as sculptural media. He recently published the book
“The Art of Plasma” and previously the 4th edition of “Neon Techniques: Handbook
of Neon Sign and Cold Cathode Lighting”.
His talk is about the field of Plasma Art. Beginning with a brief description of
this fourth state of matter, he will attempt to justify it as the first state of matter. He will also describe its origins, how it’s produced, and how he uses it as an artistic medium. He will show works from his multifaceted career , and how he built a studio practice for 40+ years blending a mix of art and science.
Boston Area Robotics Fiasco (BARF) Tournament.
May 18 11:00am - 5:00pm Tickets ($10 - $25) here.
A non-combat, double-elimination tournament of Capture the Cube for robot enthusiasts, BattleBots competitors, RC Hobbyists, & You! Randomly paired teams of two will test their robots in five-minute matches. Each robot may weigh up to 3lbs. Refer to Capture The Cube Rules 2.0 for further explanation of the rules.
- May Classes -
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Thanks for reading! Here’s a Gold Star 
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If you have any feedback, are interested in contributing content monthly, or volunteering to develop future editions , let us know here!