For this issue, we wanted a fresh set of eyes to take a look at what’s happening in Columbus with those who are blending the world of art with technology. Though the author of this feature, Kent Grosswiler, has been immersed in the arts in Columbus for decades–he’s a talented drummer who has played for several bands over the years and is currently enjoying an exciting and creative venture into painting–he wasn’t familiar with this community of artists and arts organizations and the work they’re doing.  Grosswiler happily dove in to learn more and to share his perspective.

Foundry and factory are words that evoke images of the industrial revolution. They’re also the second half of the monikers of two of Columbus’ finest innovative and creative organizations that blend art and technology. When it comes to the arts, a handful of mediums immediately come to mind whose creative processes are relatively easy to grasp; music, writing, painting and sculpting. Stirring serious technological elements into the creative pot often can make the recipe too daunting for many. After spending some time with the fabulous folks at both the Columbus Idea Foundry and The Fuse Factory, I’m here to testify—there’s nothing in this mix of art and technology for anyone to feel leery about.

Whether you’re a casual hobbyist who wants to build a birdhouse or an inventor who wants to build the latest state of the art, high tech robot, the Columbus Idea Foundry can accommodate you. If you have an idea for a cutting-edge, robotic birdhouse that you want to build, patent and market, they can accommodate you as well. As I found out, the Columbus Idea Foundry can accommodate just about any creative endeavor—and they do so with enthusiasm and a large smile.

The Columbus Idea Foundry is the largest makerspace in the world. That’s right, the…entire…world.  What is a makerspace you ask? Simply put, makerspaces are community centers with tools. According to makerspace.com, these centers combine manufacturing equipment, community and education for the purposes of enabling community members to design, prototype and create manufactured works that wouldn’t be possible to create with the resources available to individuals working alone.

On June 1, I attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Idea Foundry’s new location at 421 W. State Street in Franklinton.   The event included some special touches: ice cream made with liquid nitrogen, homemade draft sarsaparilla dispensed from a custom-made, aftermarket, pickup truck tailgate that had been fitted with taps, and Mayor Coleman cut through a diamond plate aluminum ribbon with a plasma torch. It was exciting but a little overwhelming.

To learn more about their facility and mission, I made a second trip to the Idea Foundry to meet with Alex Bandar, founder and CEO—also a recipient of the Greater Columbus Arts Council’s 2011 Emerging Arts Leader Award.  Joining us was Casey McCarty, chief operations officer.  Both Bandar and McCarty proved more than willing to break this whole art and technology thing down into easily digestible pieces.

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