Food Security Technology


THE GENERATOR



WHO & WHAT IS "THE GENERATOR"



The Generator is built to be a collection of people, talents and tools. We share our skills, knowledge and resources to help each other build our ideas. At the individual we are providing a large collection of skills and resources to help you create.


In exchange we hope to encourage you to share your skills and resources with the larger community. It’s a bit like a school where everyone is both a student and a teacher. Artists teach carpenters how to paint. Carpenters teach makers how to build. And makers teach artist how to tinker. We call it a “Self Organized Collaborative Environment.”


The generator website

OUR SPACE @ THE GENERATOR



In May of 2016 Food Security moved into space as RESIDENT ARTISTS at the Generator. We donate our time and resources to set up an educational demonstration aquaponics system in a greenhouse with the intention to hold classes at the site.


Eventually with our new RENO/ SPARKS family we will be able to create a system demonstrating 4 types of growing systems, NFT, flow throw media beds, floating tray, a seed tray and ebb and flow hydroton media bed. As the staff at the Generator is nearly all volunteers, FSC hopes to teach and inspire people to join us by providing Aquaponics classes.


reno project info

ABOUT - THE GENERATOR



  • Radical Inclusion – Everyone is welcome. Our dream is to build a home base for all people to create, play and laugh together. Share and share alike – We’re generous with our time and resources. If you can be too, please do, but we don’t expect a one-for-one trade. We are looking for people willing to share their time, skills and resources to help build a greater community together.

  • Decommodification – No commercial sponsorships. No advertising. No selling. No entry fees. No membership fees. (And No hidden costs. No kidding!) (But please note we don’t necessarily provide materials.)

  • Radical Self-reliance – Much as we love to collaborate, your mom doesn’t work here. You’re responsible for your own stuff and your own good time.

  • Radical Self-expression – Only you can be you, so do that. We don’t have a party line you need to adhere to. We don’t care if you fly your freak flag high, or if its hidden away in your code. Just be you. ​

  • Communal Effort – We have a lot to learn from each other, and we value creative cooperation and collaboration. Together we can build any huge idea you can come up with. Creation is less about knowing how to do everything and more about finding the people who make you stronger.


THE PHILOSOPHY



  • Civic Responsibility – With the freedom to do your own thing comes the responsibility of doing your part to uphold public welfare. Be safe. Be courteous. Make sure your actions don’t compromise your safety or the safety of others. Act with a kind heart and people will follow.

  • Leaving No Trace – It’s 5 minutes later and your mom STILL doesn’t work here. You must clean up after yourself. While you’re at it, follow the Campsite Rule: Leave it better than you found it.

  • Participation – You’ve heard of Burning Man’s idea of “Radical Participation,” where no one’s a spectator? Yup, it’s just like that at the Generator. Everyone is invited to work and play here. ​

  • Immediacy – Stay with us; we’re going to get a little philosophical here. You know how sometimes while you’re going about your everyday life you can lose track of yourself, of what you really value? We’re not going to tell you what you should value, but we will tell you this is a place where you can hold onto your dreams, cultivate the heck out of them, and let them loose. We want to see you flourish creatively. We think that’s good for everyone.


YOUTH GROUPS AT THE GENERATOR



This is an interview with William Horner, the Operations Manager at The Generator. Outside of his managing work, Horner has dedicated his time and skills to teaching local at-risk youth free workshops on using tools, fixing cars, woodshed, welding and anything else that they want to gain knowledge in. He holds these workshops after school so that the kids stay out of trouble and spend their time learning things that are fun and that they can apply to life. This story has a greater meaning because William dedicates his personal time to help kids in need. He goes beyond what is expected of him to further help others. ​



Bill Horner, operations manager for The Generator, poses in front of a painting. The Generator, located in a former warehouse in Sparks, offers free space for artists and builders to work. It was once a tired, old warehouse in the industrial part of Sparks. But two years ago, a creative idea by local artists helped breathe new life into the huge, vacant building on Icehouse Avenue.


Today it is called The Generator, and it attracts a diverse group from all walks of life. The list includes artists, painters, sculptures, wood workers, mechanics, inventors and hobbyists who create and display their favorite craft. And The Generator’s moto is simple: “Help good artists become great, help decent artists become good and introduce everyone to the joy of creativity.”


The Generator has 34,000 square feet of art space open to anyone who wants to build something, from small projects to big ones. Best of all, it’s free. The place gives artists a chance to start and complete desired projects and assignments without the hassles and expenses of garage space, tools and supervision. “The Generator is the only free collaborative makerspace for artists and builders in the United States,” said Bill Horner, operations manager for The Generator. “Here we combine skills from other artists to teach, learn and help others who lack the skills but have the desire to learn.”


First, an artist or builder presents an idea for a project. Once approved by a Generator instructor, the artist is given space, tools and supervision to complete the task. Artists can work in a wood or metal shop, art gallery or auto shop. There’s even a laser cutter, 3-D printer and a sewing room. The center uses volunteers and donations to operate. Tools are donated or provided by the artists. The Generator is filled with a variety of ongoing projects and creations. Two years ago someone made mahogany canoes from scratch.


A team of builders from Colorado has started work on a floating dock for the Sparks Marina. A sculptor from Carson City makes bronze and ceramic faces. But the biggest array of art activity at The Generator happens during the summer months in preparation for the annual Burning Man festival. Last summer more than a dozen Burning Man projects were designed at The Generator. In fact, the center draws artists from around the world for the event. A team of six engineers from Germany found the perfect setup for tools, space and resources to construct a table and chair for an Alice in Wonderland stage.


Jeremy Evans, an artist and volunteer instructor, has been creating and supervising art projects since The Generator opened. He recently completed the Funnel of Creation for Burning Man. He’s now polishing up his toy in preparation for an open house at The Generator on Friday. He says that for him The Generator is more than just a place to make things and mingle with other artists. He says that without this facility he, along with most of the other artists and builders here, would have a lot of trouble completing these types of projects. “Most places, such as a garage, would charge me for the space and tools.


The type of projects I do would end up costing several thousand dollars, so this is a great resource for our community,” Evans said. The space attracts younger visitors as well. Evans’ son, Brandon, 13, also likes to tag along. “I helped paint the walls of the inside building. I like the technical stuff like making things that can be cut by the laser for 3-D animation files,” he said. The building also features areas for yoga, dance, music and knitting.


The Generator also has made plans to add equipment for a space to do sheet metal work. But for now, Horner is busy setting up for Friday’s open house. “We really want to get away from that idea that this is mostly just Burning Man artists,” he said. “This is for any one. We want to encourage that any type of artist is welcome here.”


Note: The Generator open house and gallery event will be held on Friday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at 240 Icehouse Ave. in Sparks. Artists and makers from The Generator and from the larger local arts community will be displaying their work, showcasing the capabilities of the facility and sharing their skills.



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