DIY / Home Made Ticino / Vico Morcote, Switzerland
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Artist:Simon Berz
The day began with moods, an early morning text message argument over train schedules and priorities. Nothing serious, a dispute over nothing in the end. John and I had more interesting things to concentrate on, we were to meet after 1PM at the Zurich train station, then head into Lugano together.
The sun was out, the air humid and heavy. The next train towards Lugano, an Italian part of Switzerland, was hourly. We convened and made up over a light lunch and wine, slowly starting our first trip towards Vico Morcote in good humour. Filled by Weissbier and breathtaking landscape, we passed by Lake Zug, picturesque mountain views, and the glittering shimmer of Lake Lugano. We arrived 5 hours later at a hillside village inhabited by two restaurants, and for a week, a haven for DIY creation & electronic bleeps and blips - the organised chaos of the latest SGMK get together, "DIY Ticino".
Two dishevelled heads peeked out from the rustic balcony, smiling at our excited arrival. We looked up with great appreciation, entered the beautiful house on the hill and began our much anticipated weekend.
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Back in May, one of the organisers of the event told me about being nestled in the Italian-Swiss countryside - a DIY get together in summer, intimate and relaxed. Our busy estival plans happened to slow down at the right moment and here we were, undaunted by the new introductions needed to meet this group of 40+ diverse individuals who had worked hard to finally present their projects to local media and friends/family at the end of the week BBQ.
We would be graced by the presence of the creator of the Arduino micro-controller, Massimo Banzi, journalists, professors, friends and family.
Also the 3 esteemed and humble house guests, Uwe Shüller, George Lazenbleep and musician, Simon Berz.
We jumped in to help with dinner duties, cleaning, whatever else the group needed (Beer runs!). Most of all, we absorbed all the positive energy and enthusiasm mounting from their 7 days of collabortaive workshops and mentoring, experimental music making and the general party atmosphere that descended upon us each evening.
The conversations were vast, intelligent and filled with much hilarity and obscure references. Talk about science, engineering and Hunter S. Thompson preluded banter about nerdy pop culture. I have never been so ashamed of missing an obvious Matrix reference or proud of making a Star Wars one.
Here are a couple of videos I took, Friday was an impromptu DIY jam session, this was the beginning. Saturday was the DIY Orchestra and a barefoot rave in the garden.
We were so privileged to attend, even if only for two nights. We were welcomed by kindest of electronic enthusiasts, artists, friends, DIY orchestras, tupperware techno raving, terrifying microscopy specimens, arduino micro-controlled LED creations, a mega amp built with a modest microchip, ominous black scorpions used for visual display, late night playlist battles, tent camping in a storm and a charming 4 year old little boy who may be the youngest DIY geek I have ever met!
"This is such a great night."
"Yeah!" a pause...
"Why are we speaking English?"
"I don't know!"
- A conversation between two Swiss German friends dancing Saturday night.
The group were kind enough to conduct group discussions in English for those few who couldn't speak German, their hopes are to invite more international participants in the future. I really hope it happens, I am sure there would be many more people interested in discovering this tight knit, Swiss (German, Italian, English, Irish, Canadian...) DIY community, as much as I enjoy writing about them.
Sunday arrived, I jumped into the organisers' rattling (and moving!) car that was to take people to the first train towards home. A DIY shuttle. Sloppy and hungover, content and warmed, tired but not defeated, I opened my window and let the fresh air in. I watched the view of Lake Lugano disappear.
Many thanks to the organisers and participants for a memorable and inspirational weekend, it was an honour to be one of the 7 lovely women in attendance :-)
Until next time...
My previous SGMK related stories,
DIY FESTIVAL ZURICH, SIX FREAKS UNDER BERN, POOLLOOP ZURICH.
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