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Karen Wilkinson
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The Art of Tinkering: Meet 150+ Makers Working at the Intersection of Art, Science & Technology Kindle Edition

by Karen Wilkinson (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.7 out of 5 stars 162 ratings
Some of the most creative artists from today’s maker scene discuss their process, workspaces and more in this inspiring guide to tinkering.
 
The Art of Tinkering is an unprecedented celebration of what it means to tinker: to take things apart, explore tools and materials, and build wondrous, wild art that’s part science, part technology, and entirely creative. Join 150+ makers as they share the stories behind their beautiful and bold work—then do some tinkering yourself!
 
This collection of exhibits, artwork, and projects explores a whole new way to learn, in which people expand their knowledge through making and doing, working with readily available materials, getting their hands dirty, collaborating with others, and problem-solving in the most fun sense of the word.
 
Each artist featured in The Art of Tinkering shares their process and the backstory behind their work. Whether it’s dicussing their favorite tools (who knew toenail clippers could be so handy?) or offering a glimpse of their workspaces (you’d be amazed how many electronics tools you can pack into a pantry!), the stories, lessons, and tips in The Art of Tinkering offer a fascinating portrait of today’s maker scene.
 
Artists include: Scott Weaver, Arthur Ganson, Moxie, Tim Hunkin, AnnMarie Thomas, Ranjit Bhatnajar and Jie Qi.
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  1. Print length
    225 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Weldon Owen
  4. Publication date
    February 4, 2014
  5. File size
    148.6 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Not Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Not Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Not Enabled
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Due to its large file size, this book may take longer to download

Editorial Reviews

Review

"What an incredible book! At every page, the "making" parts of my brain are activated and I'm compelled into the shop to try versions of the suggested projects. I wish, WISH that this book existed when I was young. Hell, I wish I had it when my kids were younger. A must-read for every maker!" -- Adam Savage, "Mythbusters"

"I absolutely fell in love with all the geniuses in the Tinkering Studio. I may contract some of the them to build me a home inside the museum so I can I live there and learn forever!" -- Reggie Watts, comedian

"If you know someone who loves making or Maker Faire or the Exploratorium or just the delightful little moments of everyday life, make sure this book makes it into their hands. And don’t forget to top your gift with an LED and a 9v battery, so that your happy recipient can tinker right away with the conductive ink on the cover." ― Make Magazine

"The book showcases 150+ makers working at the intersection of art, science and technology and captures that infectious maker spirit I so deeply love. Inside you'll not only find profiles of important makers but also how you can start tinkering around and explore making things from soft circuits, wire art, puppets, mark-making machines, fused fashion and more." ― Coquette

About the Author

As codirectors of the Tinkering Studio, Karen Wilkinson and Mike Petrich see their roles at the Exploratorium as advocates for making as a way of knowing. They believe deeply in studio pedagogy and the ability that we all have to think with our hands, and are curious about how people develop personal and unique understandings of the world for themselves. As undergraduates, both attended the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, where Mike studied fine arts, filmmaking, and photography and Karen focused on environmental design.

Before coming to the Exploratorium, they pursued graduate studies in education and technology at Harvard and MIT. Today, after more than twenty years working as a team to integrate science, art, and technology into curriculum for both in-school and out-of-school learning environments, they foster and facilitate informal learning spaces for making and tinkering, offering people a chance to connect to their own learning in a deeply personal way. They’ve worked with audiences as diverse as museum visitors, primary school students, Tibetan monks, prison inmates, and graduate school researchers, and are both happy to call the Tinkering Studio home, where they are able to work with a delightfully quirky group of artists, educators, and innovators.

The Exploratorium—San Francisco’s renowned museum of science, art, and human perception—is dedicated to changing the way the world learns. Within the Exploratorium, the Tinkering Studio is a workshop in which science and technology become powerful tools for personal expression, and where visitors gather to participate in hands-on, mind-expanding activities and demonstrations.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08H5FBH3V
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Weldon Owen (February 4, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 4, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 148.6 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Not enabled
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 225 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1616286091
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 162 ratings

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Karen Wilkinson

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
162 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book thought-provoking and inspiring, with numerous projects that cultivate imagination and encourage inventing with whimsy and purpose. Moreover, the book is entertaining, enhancing the joy of learning, and features fabulous creations by artists. Additionally, customers appreciate the book's simple language and fabulous photographs, with one customer noting its well-organized layout by project and material themes.

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31 customers mention "Inspiration"31 positive0 negative

Customers find the book inspirational, with many thought-provoking projects that cultivate imagination and encourage inventing with whimsy and purpose. One customer mentions how it provided ideas for a makerspace.

"...These are just the kind of crazy ideas that can feed the imagination and get the group thinking how to approach things in a different and creative..." Read more

"...of the layout was very modern and appealing, and the authors showcase a wide variety of work by various educators and tinkerers. Highly recommended!" Read more

"...I find it inspiring in particular because it offers insights into how people some work and how they arrange their work spaces...." Read more

"...Don't get me wrong, this has lots of examples of people tinkering their projects, but a little bit of this goes a long way for me...." Read more

13 customers mention "Fun ideas"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's ideas fun and entertaining, enhancing their learning experience, with one customer describing it as a playful world of invention and making.

"...These are just the kind of crazy ideas that can feed the imagination and get the group thinking how to approach things in a different and creative..." Read more

"This book is very interesting and full of ideas to build crafts and all sort of mechanical things with children...." Read more

"The Art of Tinkering describes a playful world of invention and making...." Read more

"...Overall it enhance the joy of learning." Read more

12 customers mention "Aesthetic"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book visually appealing, with fabulous creations and an interesting style, and one customer notes its well-organized layout by project and material themes.

"...The design of the layout was very modern and appealing, and the authors showcase a wide variety of work by various educators and tinkerers...." Read more

"It's not a "how to" book but rather an inspiring look at how some artists and creatives have solved a particular problem or delved into an..." Read more

"...Great gift for children who love using their hands and are artistic." Read more

"...book also looks over the shoulder of tinkerers as they deconstruct, reimagine, and invent with whimsy and purpose...." Read more

5 customers mention "Language"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the language of the book, with one mentioning that it is written in simple terms.

"Love this book! So, well written. I am a maker, tinker, etc... I've seen a few of the ideas in my Make magazine...." Read more

"The book has written in simple language that any one can understand. Highlights of the book is ; its colorful illustrations...." Read more

"Excellent book, easy to read (other than the darker paper and older eyes) and full of inspiration...." Read more

"A great book and I think well written. I lot of interesting projects to do . Well worth the price." Read more

5 customers mention "Photo quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the photographs in the book, with one noting that the full color pictures are well laid out.

"...The full color pictures are laid out very well, and each project has helpful tips for getting the project going...." Read more

"...Such a wonderful layout and colorful, helpful photographs. Beautifully done." Read more

"This book has fabulous photographs and numerous ideas. It is an inspiration to just read and to those of us looking to begin the Tinkering process!" Read more

"Wildly inspirational. I liked the photos. My 1-4 graders were amazed and amused by the projects and art." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Carrie V.
    5.0 out of 5 stars ... group for Destination Imagination and it has given me great ideas for summer projects for the kids
    Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I run a group for Destination Imagination and it has given me great ideas for summer projects for the kids. These are just the kind of crazy ideas that can feed the imagination and get the group thinking how to approach things in a different and creative way. I have also found many summer projects for my own children. I enjoyed the different takes on circuits as it has been something I have wanted to try out for a long time... regular circuits, dough circuits and soft circuits are something I would have never thought to do! There are a lot of amazing ideas to try and to build upon in this book. I am extremely happy with it and I have tons of flags marking pages of project ideas already!
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Steve
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource for educators
    Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent resource for educators. I teach STEM classes at a local library, and this book continues to give me new ideas for programming. The full color pictures are laid out very well, and each project has helpful tips for getting the project going. The design of the layout was very modern and appealing, and the authors showcase a wide variety of work by various educators and tinkerers. Highly recommended!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Tim
    5.0 out of 5 stars A cool "creatives" sampler
    Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    It's not a "how to" book but rather an inspiring look at how some artists and creatives have solved a particular problem or delved into an area of interest, with looks at their materials and tools, often creatively repurposed, and often with an eye toward a low budget and DYI aesthetic. I find it inspiring in particular because it offers insights into how people some work and how they arrange their work spaces. Even chapters on areas that don't especially interest me -- fiber arts, say -- offer ideas that might translate for my areas of interest. I like this book a lot.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • Matt Foerschler
    4.0 out of 5 stars Lots of examples and people, not much else
    Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I guess I was expecting a bit more in the way of a technical kick in the seat of the pants than this turned out to be. Don't get me wrong, this has lots of examples of people tinkering their projects, but a little bit of this goes a long way for me. I've been tinkering since I was 7 or 8 (yup, 50 years now), so I was hoping to get back to more of that and expecting this book to help shine some light on a path. I guess in a way it does, but like I said, I expected more. Still, 4 stars ain't a bad rating. It's just not a 5 star book.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Frances
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great purchase
    Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This book is very interesting and full of ideas to build crafts and all sort of mechanical things with children. My seven year old and I are enjoying reading it and using it for ideas for our projects. Great gift for children who love using their hands and are artistic.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Gregory A. Lehman
    5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT BOOK! Kuddos!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Love this book!
    So, well written.
    I am a maker, tinker, etc...
    I've seen a few of the ideas in my Make magazine.
    Just go out and buy the book!
    Kuddos to the authors!
    Helpful
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  • MZ
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Condition
    Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Got what I ordered!
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  • Cris Benton
    5.0 out of 5 stars Starter dough for your own tinkering
    Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    The Art of Tinkering describes a playful world of invention and making. In part about material properties and emerging technologies, the book also looks over the shoulder of tinkerers as they deconstruct, reimagine, and invent with whimsy and purpose. It is my favorite type of book where each turn of the page makes me want to head to the workshop.

    Bravo to Ms. Wilkinson, Mr. Petrich and the Tinkering Studio!
    3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Kamila da Paz Pimenta
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ótima referência MAKER
    Reviewed in Brazil on July 20, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Ótimo material todo em inglês
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  • Subbu
    5.0 out of 5 stars A good book for mentors in schools.
    Reviewed in India on September 13, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Worderful tinkering concepts surprising you.
    Report
  • Ana Karen Ramirez
    5.0 out of 5 stars great book
    Reviewed in Mexico on August 14, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    es un libro supe padre está más lleno de images e ideas de otras personas pero sirve para darte más ideas si te interesa el tema Tinker.
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  • Cliente Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting book with a lot of ideas
    Reviewed in Spain on September 8, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Very interesting and nice book with a lot of ideas. The concept of tinkering is a very interesting idea to use in the education centers.
    Report
  • pashen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing tinkering examples
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 18, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I needed this to have some literature on Tinkering as a part of my exam presentation at SDU (Denmark) Masters. This book is amazing. Filled with examples and great thoughts it helped me to elaborate on Tinkering part a lot and use the quotes and examples to impress the exterminators and draw the lines between tinkering as a science and my own experiences. Nothing less than 5 stars :) I got max grade in the end, hehe : ))

    Also the delivery was awesome, 1 day before expectation (gave me 1 more day to prepare). Thanks, Amazon.
    Report

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