Make Volume 20 features Adam Savage

MAKE, Volume 20 is out (and will be on newsstands and in bookstores next week) and it's one of my favorite issues. The special theme of this issue is kid-friendly projects.

Our projects editor, Paul Spinrad, sat down with Adam Savage to talk about his childhood as a maker. Adam is on our cover, which was illustrated by our pal Ape Lad (aka Adam Koford). Here's an excerpt:

Paul: I think of enthusiasm as the opposite of coolness, and adolescence is a turning point for this. Children are all enthusiastic, they're into what they're into, and it's great and they love it. But then something happens, and suddenly some of the kids start looking down on that enthusiasm and seeing it as immature or dorky. So they invent coolness as an alternative. I always gravitated away from that because I was interested in too many things. Adam: Yes, and enthusiasm also makes you vulnerable. When you like something, someone can take it away from you. I once gave a sculpture to some friends as a wedding present, and they turned it down. That was really upsetting to me. And that vulnerability itself is also embarrassing. The two emotions are deeply linked, which is why people try not to cry in public.

One of my favorite articles in the issue is "Productive Plastic Playthings," written by toy design Bob Knetzger. He takes a look at 1960s "maker" toys like the Vac-U-Form, the Time Machine, the Thingmaker, and the Mold Master. I had a lot of these toys when I was a kid, and when I read Bob's piece, it brought back the smell of Plastigoop.

Of course, we've got a bunch of great projects in this issue, including a hydrogen-oxygen bottle rocket (use electricity to split tap water into the two gasses), a laser light show you can fit into vintage metal lunchboxes, a DIY van Leeuwenhoek microscope, a guide to lashing, and much more. For a look at the complete table of contents, go to the MAKE Vol. 20 page at makezine.com

• [Anonymous]

  What is that alien doing with Adam’s leg?

• [Anonymous]

  Never gift art… it’s too hard to tell what they’ll like and what they won’t. Sell it instead… that way you know they want it because they just proved it with cash!

• [Anonymous]

  Yes, never give your Art. You know how hard it is to sell, well the 1 in 12000 people who would buy it, perhaps this person is not that 1 – it is kinda unlikely on numbers, eh. Unless you know they love a particular piece bad enough to buy it, then just get them a box of chocs instead. Zero issues to anybody & your ego intact :)

  • [paulatz]

    You can only give your art as a present to your partner and your mother. They are the only ones that love you enough not matter which kind of crap you fill their house with.

    • [Antinous / Moderator]

      Apparently, you never met my mother.

• [ROSSINDETROIT]

  Stuff that I make gets lent out, but generally I’m making audio gear. If I have trouble getting it back I know I’m on to something. Other people can be objective and that’s useful.

• [ROSSINDETROIT]

  I just read the full article and it’s really interesting. Savage’s life basically has been devoted to inventing and making stuff since he was a kid. It’s quite inspiring.

• [psychomashugana]

  Is Adam Savage really suggesting we fire Hydrogen-Oxygen Rockets off of children’s heads? I know the kid’s in a space suit and all, but SHEESH, it’d still probably at least knock him back into that crater he’s hanging out in.

• [ROSSINDETROIT]

  Also me. I’m in there on page 146 with a short article on modding stereo speakers. I’m right after how to train your cat to poop in a toilet. It’s my first magazine article and I’m very grateful to Mark & all at Make for the opportunity. So everyone buy lots of copies and after you’ve read the awesome Adam Savage story and potty trained Fluffy, please take a look at my humble speaker project.
  Cheers

• [okkent]

  The embarassment of makers….yes…I made my brother’s wife a nice wire sculpture as a house warming gift. A year later she couldn’t tell me where it was. It was one of my best pieces and I made it to fit what they liked. Now I’ll just make them crap to make them feel awkward…..