By Bob Hedlund | on June 24, 2022

Participants and members at Iron Range Makerspace in Hibbing have access to a building filled with equipment, a commercial kitchen, and much more. Submitted photos.

The Iron Range Makerspace (IRM) has been open in Hibbing for five years; yet, people still ask: “What is that yellow building?” Some have heard it’s a makerspace; but wonder what a makerspace is!

A makerspace is a shop, a personal factory. It is member-based; people pay a monthly membership fee to use the facility and get access to EVERYTHING—so a makerspace is way cooler than a gym! This one does have an exercise gym, and a lot of heavy, industrial equipment to MAKE things.

A celebration is planned for Saturday, June 25, from 11 – 4 p.m. Join us for interactive fun!

In Hibbing, in that yellow building, people have access to over $500,000 in resources and nearly 12,000 square feet of shops. There is the High Tech Shop, Woodshop, Fabrication Bay, commercial kitchen, gym, and a retail front with opportunities for members to sell what they make. Johnson Upholstery has moved its entire business into this Makerspace.

Training is available on all equipment, so members often try out tools they have never used before. IRM handles the maintenance and cleaning. Members supply their own raw materials. The products may be sold directly to customers or through the IRM retail section.

IRM has created a culture of making, and supports entrepreneurs and innovation. It has become a community of makers. Individuals help each other grow, try new ideas and equipment, such as cutting watercolor paper on a laser and more! There are free introductory classes offered to members and seasoned workers available to assist in the shops. Individual members may also offer fee-based courses at IRM, usually with a discount for members. Blacksmithing has been very popular. Most events are shared on Facebook.

Many members run their own businesses out of the Iron Range Makerspace, meeting with customers, and selling in the retail space. For example, “Silk Scarf Painting with Charlotte” had its most profitable year in 2021, primarily selling directly to IRM customers.

The artisans and makers produce everything from A to Z, including many types of art, blacksmithing, clothing, coffee mugs, crocheted items, drawings, face masks, engravings, epoxy river tables, fire rings, holiday items, home décor, ice fishing spears, jewelry, knitting, knives, laser engraving, paintings, photography, plaques, saw blade cut outs, scarves, sculpture, seasonal items, shawls, signs, stained glass, stickers, T-shirts, trophies, woodworking, and many other customized, special-order items along these lines. The industrial kitchen has hosted canning and cooking classes, a 4-course gourmet Mediterranean dinner, as well as producing commercial food and bakery products.

This summer, the Iron Range Makerspace is celebrating its five-year anniversary in that yellow building. We invite the entire Range to stop in for a free tour. Tours are FREE. IRM is open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and 12 – 9 p.m. Sunday.

Special events to celebrate the anniversary include: Saturday, June 25, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Iron Range Makerspace is celebrating five years of making! Outside, visit the “Go Figur” food truck and “The Northern Star Bakery” tent. Inside, join us for a special handmade, tiered cake, and admire the matching non-cake, also tiered but built from metal, wood, and plastic. Also during the event:

Shop the new inventory in the retail front. Meet Andrew, the Iron Range Makerspace owner, at the bar & tell him what you’d like to see in a second Hibbing building he’s buying. Check out the vendors at the craft fair as you tour the shops.

Enjoy FREE special, interactive making experiences for all ages. Make a leather key chain. Learn how to create color patterns with Shibori folding & food coloring. Try non-traditional acrylic painting without brushes—not finger painting, but other, readily available “tools.” Dab a little in alcohol ink and see what you create. Watch demonstrations of the Hibbing High School First Robotics team’s robot.

From 12 – 1 pm, Joe Hanegmon will be playing the accordion; expect traditional accordion music & feel free to sing. From 1 – 2 p.m., members of the Crescendo Youth and Community Orchestras will perform delightful folk tunes and fiddle pieces. From 2 – 4 p.m., John Backman will host an Open Jam Session with familiar tunes and welcomes all instruments and singers. There is no fee, but tips are certainly welcome.

Want to know more? Check out the website, www.ironrangemakerspace.com. Find us on Facebook. Call or text 218-966- 1192. Visit that yellow building on Hwy 169, located at 704 West 41st Street, Hibbing, MN.

Charlotte Hanegmon is the Energizer at Iron Range Makerspace in Hibbing.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

401 6th Avenue North, Suite 1111 Virginia, MN 55792

Phone: 218.741.0106 Fax: 218.741.0108 Email: customerservice@htfnews.us

Receive notice each time a new edition is posted online, along with periodic features and updates from Hometown Focus!

Our Hometown DMCA Notices Newspaper web site content management software and services

Hometown Focus is a community newspaper located in Virginia, Minnesota.

Hometown Focus | 401 6th Avenue North, Suite 1111 | Virginia, MN 55792 | Phone: 218.741.0106 | Fax: 218.741.0108