At first glance, it’s a robin-egg blue shipping container, a peculiar piece to be in the North Carolina Museum of Art. However, the BetaBox is home to high-tech resources: a 3-D printer, a laser cutter and a 3-D scanner, just to name a few, earning the NCMA’s description as a “pop-up makerspace.”
The BetaBox was featured at an event hosted by the North Carolina Museum of Art Tuesday night called Cocktails, Craft and Camaraderie. During the event, patrons utilized the BetaBox to make wearable crafts. The cocktail portion of the event was covered by Durham Distillery, which makes handcrafted gin. Cynthia Deis from Ornamentea, a shop featuring jewelry and a beading store, also came to be a part of this event. As part of the Cocktails, Craft and Camaraderie event, she supplied the hardware for patrons to take home the crafts they made with the 3-D printer.
Assistant Professor of Art and Design Justin LeBlanc was one of the main exhibitors at Cocktails, Craft and Camaraderie. LeBlanc used BetaBox in order to explore how technology can impact the fashion industry and beyond.
“Architecture taught me to apply geometry to my designs and to consider space utilization in my art,” LeBlanc said. “My experiences and training in art taught me to conceptualize, express myself and value aesthetics.”
This will be LeBlanc’s fourth year teaching at NC State, with his courses relating to fiber and fashion. He is also the faculty advisor for NC State’s Art2Wear, which will be held April 22. LeBlanc said his background in architecture, art and fashion has helped him to evolve into the designer he is today.
Meredith Ingrassia, the program director at Betaversity, said many people who go into BetaBox work with their technicians to help develop their clients’ ideas into feasible solutions. BetaBox works with a variety of clients from educational institutions and K-12 schools to universities as well as small businesses and large companies.
Jennifer Hicks, special events designer at the NCMA as well as executive pastry chef, said Cocktails, Craft and Camaraderie developed from a series that started nine months ago. The NCMA holds these events in order to have their patrons engage in different hands-on activities while learning new skills, according to Hicks. Each event is a hands-on experience featuring a different local guest.
“By holding this event, we’re trying to get that community outreach, and it’s a good way to have people get more involved with the museum,” Hicks said.
The BetaBox will also be part of the NCMA’s College Night, an event for college students to experience music, art and fashion inspired by the current exhibit, “The Worlds of M.C. Escher: Nature, Science and Imagination.” With a college ID, tickets are free for students. College Night is Friday, starting at 7 p.m.
The North Carolina Museum of Arts features BetaBox, also known as a “pop-up makerspace,” to inspire creativity. The BetaBox is home to high-tech resources: a 3-D printer, a laser cutter and a 3-D scanner. The BetaBox will be at NCMA’s College Night on Friday at 7 p.m.
