Export or edit this venue...

Flux - Plastic Fantastics

412 NW Couch St. Suite 222
Portland, Or 97209, US (map)

Flux is an all volunteer run space for making stuff. We have MONTHLY open houses.

We recognize that the technology world is often a binder full of testosterone, and are working to make technology inclusive for people of all backgrounds and genders. We do our best to maintain an explicitly intersectional feminist space that welcomes members and guests of all genders, racial and cultural backgrounds, and levels of ability.

Future events happening here

  • - No events -

Past events that happened here

  • Monday
    Jul 21 2014
    Maker Monday

    Have some projects you'd like to work on, but could benefit from a creative atmosphere? OSH Park, Cacophonous Creations, and Flux Lab team up to offer just the space!

    You bring your projects and supplies.

    We will supply wifi, and a place to share ideas and collaborate with a community of fellow creators and makers. We'll share tips and tricks, and support your creative endeavors!

    Things to note:

    *This is an alcohol free, all ages space.

    *If there's something specific you want available for your project.

  • Monday
    Jul 7 2014
    Maker Monday

    Have some projects you'd like to work on, but could benefit from a creative atmosphere? OSH Park, Cacophonous Creations, and Flux Lab team up to offer just the space!

    You bring your projects and supplies.

    We will supply wifi, and a place to share ideas and collaborate with a community of fellow creators and makers. We'll share tips and tricks, and support your creative endeavors!

    Things to note:

    *This is an alcohol free, all ages space.

    *If there's something specific you want available for your project.

  • Sunday
    Jun 29 2014
    DorkbotPDX Workshop: Capacitive Sensing

    Learn about capacitive touch sensing, the same technology your phone's touch screen uses. In this workshop we will draw a sensor using a pencil and hook it up to a Teensy to light up LEDs and generate MIDI events.

    • Instructor: Philip Odom
    • Cost: $25
    • Bring: Laptop with Teensyduino installed, soldering iron, wire cutters, usb mini cable, pencil
    • Limited seating, RSVP: [email protected]
    Website
  • Monday
    Jun 23 2014
    Maker Monday

    Have some projects you'd like to work on, but could benefit from a creative atmosphere? OSH Park, Cacophonous Creations, and Flux Lab team up to offer just the space!

    You bring your projects and supplies.

    We will supply wifi, and a place to share ideas and collaborate with a community of fellow creators and makers. We'll share tips and tricks, and support your creative endeavors!

    Things to note:

    *This is an alcohol free, all ages space.

    *If there's something specific you want available for your project.

  • Monday
    Jun 16 2014
    Portland's Techno-Activism 3rd Monday

    This event is free, but please RSVP on Eventbrite (linked above)

    Event Description

    This month's topic is: User Experience and Privacy Software: An Interactive Workshop

    Join us to make privacy software better. We believe that privacy software should be usable for the general public, and to start the effort, we need your help!

    The goal of User Experience (UX) it is to make products as usable as possible for people. In this workshop, you'll learn about UX, download privacy software, and learn how to critically analyze the user experience to make it better. We hope to file some bug reports/feature requests to projects, and make a positive impact on their usability!

    This is your chance to get a sneak-peek of an Open Source Bridge talk and meet other folks who will be attending Open Source Bridge.

    This session will be lead by Jen Davidson, a Human-Computer Interaction PhD candidate from Oregon State University, and Sean McGregor, founder of The Privly Foundation and Machine Learning PhD student from Oregon State University.

    What should I bring?

    • A willingness to learn or to teach
    • A laptop
    • (optional) A current news story that you want to discuss with the group related to privacy/security/surveillance/censorship
    • Flux accepts donations so consider bringing a few bucks to show your appreciation for their support of this and future events.

    What is it?

    This is the Techno-Activism 3rd Monday event for Portland, Oregon! From their website, "Techno-Activism Third Mondays (TA3M) is an informal meetup designed to connect software creators and activists who are interested in censorship, surveillance, and open technology. Currently, TA3M are held in various cities throughout the world, with many more launching in the near future."

    Who should come?

    Anyone interested in techno-activism. We invite coders, geeks, artists, and anyone else. No technical experience required.

    Who's hosting?

    Flux is generously providing space for the event.

    The Privly Foundation will organize this and future TA3M Portland events.

    Code of Conduct

    Please read Flux's Code of Conduct: http://fluxlab.io/conduct-agreements/ to ensure a safe space for all.

    PDXTech4Good

    If you're interested in this event, you might also be interested in the PDXTech4Good meetup.

    PDX TA3M on TA3M Wiki

    Website
  • Monday
    Jun 9 2014
    Maker Monday

    Have some projects you'd like to work on, but could benefit from a creative atmosphere? OSH Park, Cacophonous Creations, and Flux Lab team up to offer just the space!

    You bring your projects and supplies.

    We will supply wifi, and a place to share ideas and collaborate with a community of fellow creators and makers. We'll share tips and tricks, and support your creative endeavors!

    Things to note:

    *This is an alcohol free, all ages space.

    *If there's something specific you want available for your project.

    Website
  • Saturday
    May 31 2014
    Research Club Brunch #39

    Research Club hosts a free brunch!

    People arrive around noon and mingle and dig into a free potluck until about 1, when the presentations begin.

    Four or five speakers give talks, performances, or propose projects. Instead of a Q&A, the speakers re-enter the audience for the last hour of the brunch, where everyone is buzzing with ideas and coffee.

    Website
  • Monday
    May 26 2014
    Crafty Circuits

    Interested in wearable and physical computing, and crafts? Have some projects you'd like to work on, but could benefit from a creative atmosphere? OSH Park, Cacophonous Creations, and Flux Lab team up to offer just the space!

    You bring your projects and supplies.

    We will supply wifi, and a place to share ideas and collaborate with a community of fellow creators and makers. We can answer some of your soft circuit questions, share tips and tricks, and support your creative endeavors!

    Things to note:

    *This is an alcohol free, all ages space.

    *Some components will be available for purchase. Please contact Cat ([email protected]) if there's something specific you want available for your project.

    Website
  • Sunday
    May 25 2014
    DorkbotPDX Workshop: ByteBeats

    Learn how to create the amazing sounds which have been dubbed ByteBeats without a computer!

    What: Students will learn how to interface a microcontroller with a DAC (Digital Analog Converter) and an audio amp to produce sound.

    Instructor: David Madden

    When: Sunday May 25th, 1pm

    Where: Flux (412 NW Couch, #222) Goldsmith Building. Look for doorbell on wall for entry.

    Cost: $30 dollars for the kit. Kit includes: Teensy, Breadboard, DAC, op-amp, hookup wires, and audio jack.

    Bring: Laptop, Headphones, Wire Strippers, and USB mini cable

    Limited seating: RSVP [email protected]

    Website
  • Monday
    May 19 2014
    Portland's Techno-Activism 3rd Monday

    This event is free, but please RSVP on Eventbrite (linked above)

    Using Metadata to Compromise Privacy: An Interactive Presentation

    You've probably heard that your daily interactions over the web leave "metadata" that is used for advertising, law enforcement, and intelligence activities. In this presentation we will show what metadata is and what it can do by building case files from publicly available information. What types of things can you learn about yourself or others from metadata? Come find out.

    This session will be lead by a Machine Learning PhD student from Oregon State University, which is the area of computer science responsible for programmatically processing metadata.

    What should I bring?

    • A willingness to learn or to teach
    • A laptop
    • (optional) A current news story that you want to discuss with the group related to privacy/security/surveillance/censorship
    • Flux accepts donations so consider bringing a few bucks to show your appreciation for their support of this and future events.

    What is it?

    This is the Techno-Activism 3rd Monday event for Portland, Oregon! From their website, "Techno-Activism Third Mondays (TA3M) is an informal meetup designed to connect software creators and activists who are interested in censorship, surveillance, and open technology. Currently, TA3M are held in various cities throughout the world, with many more launching in the near future."

    Who should come?

    Anyone interested in techno-activism. We invite coders, geeks, artists, and anyone else. No technical experience required.

    Who's hosting?

    Flux is generously providing space for the event.

    The Privly Foundation will organize this and future TA3M Portland events.

    Code of Conduct

    Please read Flux's Code of Conduct: http://fluxlab.io/conduct-agreements/ to ensure a safe space for all.

    PDXTech4Good

    If you're interested in this event, you might also be interested in the PDXTech4Good meetup.

    PDX TA3M on TA3M Wiki

    Website
  • Monday
    May 12 2014
    Crafty Circuits

    Interested in wearable and physical computing, and crafts? Have some projects you'd like to work on, but could benefit from a creative atmosphere? OSH Park, Cacophonous Creations, and Flux Lab team up to offer just the space!

    You bring your projects and supplies.

    We will supply wifi, and a place to share ideas and collaborate with a community of fellow creators and makers. We can answer some of your soft circuit questions, share tips and tricks, and support your creative endeavors!

    Things to note:

    *This is an alcohol free, all ages space.

    *Some components will be available for purchase. Please contact Cat ([email protected]) if there's something specific you want available for your project.

    Website
  • Monday
    Apr 28 2014
    Crafty Circuits

    Interested in wearable and physical computing, and crafts? Have some projects you'd like to work on, but could benefit from a creative atmosphere? OSH Park, Cacophonous Creations, and Flux Lab team up to offer just the space!

    You bring your projects and supplies.

    We will supply wifi, and a place to share ideas and collaborate with a community of fellow creators and makers. We can answer some of your soft circuit questions, share tips and tricks, and support your creative endeavors!

    Things to note:

    *This is an alcohol free, all ages space.

    *Some components will be available for purchase. Please contact Cat ([email protected]) if there's something specific you want available for your project.

    Website
  • Monday
    Apr 14 2014
    Crafty Circuits

    Interested in wearable and physical computing, and crafts? Have some projects you'd like to work on, but could benefit from a creative atmosphere? OSH Park, Cacophonous Creations, and Flux Lab team up to offer just the space!

    You bring your projects and supplies.

    We will supply wifi, and a place to share ideas and collaborate with a community of fellow creators and makers. We can answer some of your soft circuit questions, share tips and tricks, and support your creative endeavors!

    Things to note:

    *This is an alcohol free, all ages space.

    *Some components will be available for purchase. Please contact Cat ([email protected]) if there's something specific you want available for your project.

    Website
  • Saturday
    Apr 5 2014
    Lockpicking Workshop - 2 year anniversary

    Join us for this special 2-year anniversary meeting of The Open Organization Of Lockpickers, Portland chapter. We have lots of fun plans including special guests from TOOOL headquarters, key impressioning, some interesting locks that we don't see at average monthly meetings and much more! Everyone is welcome, all ages, no experience necessary, and it is totally free!

    Bring your own vice if you have one (for impressioning).

    Website
  • Monday
    Mar 31 2014
    Crafty Circuits

    Interested in wearable and physical computing, and crafts? Have some projects you'd like to work on, but could benefit from a creative atmosphere? OSH Park, Cacophonous Creations and Flux Lab team up to offer just the space!

    You bring your projects and supplies.

    We will supply wifi, and a place to share ideas and collaborate with a community of fellow creators and makers. We can answer some of your soft circuit questions, share tips and tricks, and support your creative endeavors!

    Things to note: *This is an alcohol free, all ages space.

    *Some components will be available for purchase. Please contact Cat ([email protected]) if there's something specific you want available for your project.

    *While this is a free event, we will be setting out a tip jar to help raise funds to cover the costs of hosting this awesome bi-weekly event.

    For more about Cacophonous Creations, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/cacophonouscreations

    Website
  • Monday
    Mar 17 2014
    Crafty Circuits

    Interested in wearable and physical computing, and crafts? Have some projects you'd like to work on, but could benefit from a creative atmosphere? Cacophonous Creations and Flux Lab team up to offer just the space! (more details in the facebook event page)

    Website
  • Sunday
    Feb 23 2014
    Introduction to Pure Data (Pd)

    An Introduction to Pure Data DorkbotPDX is happy to offer a free workshop as an introduction to Pure Data (Pd).

    When: February 23rd, 2014. 1-5pm

    Where: Flux 412 NW Couch Street, #222 (map)

    Instructors: Jesse Mejia, Alex Norman, Jason Plumb, Edward Sharp

    Details: Pure Data (Pd) is a free, open-source, community supported data flow language and coding environment with an emphasis on sound, music, and multimedia. It was originally written by Miller Puckette (also the original author of Max/Max MSP) and runs on Linux, Mac OSX, and Windows.

    Pd has been used widely in the creation of art -- such as music, sound art, visual art, generative, new-media, and interactive art. Pd interfaces readily with MIDI equipment and many popular microcontrollers.

    In this 4-hour course, students will learn the basics of Pd and will have fun developing foundational Pd patching skills.

    A link to the curriculum will be posted here very soon.

    Beginners are welcome. No prior computer programming or sound programming experience is required!

    Notes: Students should attempt to install Pd prior to the workshop...but if not, no biggie. We can help with that!

    Seating is limited to 20 participants. Please RSVP to [email protected] to reserve a spot.

    Attendees will respect Flux's code of conduct and will be asked to donate.

    Website
  • Wednesday
    Feb 19 2014
    Flux Open House

    Every Wednesday 6-8pm Flux is open for folks to come by, work on a project and jam on ideas.

    Come on down. We're on the Second floor, take a right at the top of the stairs.

    Website
  • Tuesday
    Feb 18 2014
    Flux Community Workshop Work Party

    Building community while building out the space. Family friendly event. No experience necessary. Show up at 6 and join a team and get to work on one of the three tasks we'll be tackling this evening. All tools and equipment provided.

    Tasks: 1 Labeling & Web Documenting Tools (labeling!)

    2 Organizing Tools for accessibility (Put up 3 more pegboards, label, and outline tools)

    3 Rearranging for Dedicated Desks & Build Area (moving Makerbot & soldering station, assemble new IKEA desk, etc)

    Bonus points if you can donate any of the following to Flux: masking tape, extension cords, more power strips, more pegboard hooks, dish drying rack, silverware, or mugs.

    Website
  • Wednesday
    Feb 5 2014
    Flux Open House

    Every Wednesday 6-8pm Flux is open for folks to come by, work on a project and jam on ideas.

    Come on down. We're on the Second floor, take a right at the top of the stairs.

    Website
  • Wednesday
    Jan 22 2014
    Flux Open House

    Every Wednesday 6-8pm Flux is open for folks to come by, work on a project and jam on ideas.

    Come on down. We're on the Second floor, take a right at the top of the stairs.

    Website
  • Monday
    Jan 20 2014
    Portland's Techno-Activism 3rd Monday

    This event is free, but please RSVP on Eventbrite (linked above)

    Event Description

    We plan to do a hands-on meetup, where you will get to learn how to use the internet anonymously using Tor, VPN, etc.

    Have a preference about what you want to learn? Want to lead a group in teaching a method? Email us a [email protected] and we'll add you to the agenda.

    What should I bring?

    • A willingness to learn or to teach
    • A laptop. If you don't have one, let us know and we can try to scrounge up an extra one for you.
    • A current news story that you want to discuss with the group related to privacy/security/surveillance/censorship (optional)

    What is it?

    This is the Techno-Activism 3rd Monday event for Portland, Oregon! Read more about techno-activism 3rd mondays.

    Who should come?

    Anyone interested in techno-activism. We invite coders, geeks, artists, and anyone else. No technical experience required.

    Who's hosting?

    Flux has generously offered to host this month's meetup. Be sure to read their code of conduct (below) before coming to the event. This will ensure that everyone has a great, safe time. The Privly Foundation will organize this and future TA3M Portland events. There will be light refreshments provided.

    Flux's Code of Conduct

    1. We are present, awake, and sober.
    2. We listen non-judgmentally to ourselves and to everyone else.
    3. We make mistakes: everything that happens in this space is part of a learning experience.
    4. We speak only out of and about our personal experience and understanding.
    5. When faced with a choice between being curious and being defensive, we choose to be curious.
    6. We clean up after ourselves.
    7. We make things here and consume things elsewhere.
    8. We spend some of our free time here, not most or all of it.
    9. We treat one another as the other would like to be treated. If we don’t know how, we ask.
    10. We respect each others’ personal space and possessions. Specifically, we check in before touching someone or their belongings.
    11. We respect each others’ consent and boundaries. Yes means yes, no means no, maybe means no, and silence is not consent. We accept “no”s without arguing, and say “yes” when we mean yes.
    12. We respect chosen names, pronouns, and genders. If we don’t know how, we ask.
    13. We act from an assumption of mutual respect and good will. We clarify misunderstandings and apologize for harm caused. We assume ignorance and not malice.
    14. We watch out for each other to maintain a respectful and safe community. If we don’t know how, we ask. 15.When people’s conduct falls short of these agreements, we speak with them one-on-one. If matters don’t improve, we address the issue in a small group. If matters still don’t improve after three discussions, we might ask you to leave the space. As a last resort, we may vote to dissolve your membership.

    Upcoming Privacy Retreat

    Are you passionate about privacy-enhancing technologies? Join us for a Privacy Technology Retreat Februrary 7-10th in Southern Oregon. For more information, please see our latest blog post.

    PDXTech4Good

    If you're interested in this event, you might also be interested in the PDXTech4Good meetup.

    Website
  • Wednesday
    Jan 15 2014
    Flux Open House

    Every Wednesday 6-8pm Flux is open for folks to come by, work on a project and jam on ideas.

    Come on down. We're on the Second floor, take a right at the top of the stairs.

    Website
  • Wednesday
    Dec 4 2013
    Flux Open House

    Every Wednesday 5-8pm Flux is open for folks to come by, work on a project and jam on ideas.

    Come on down. We're on the Second floor, take a right at the top of the stairs.

    Website
  • Wednesday
    Nov 20 2013
    Flux Open House

    Every Wednesday 5-8pm Flux is open for folks to come by, work on a project and jam on ideas.

    Come on down. We're on the Second floor, take a right at the top of the stairs.

    Website
  • Wednesday
    Nov 13 2013
    Flux Open House

    Every Wednesday 5-8pm Flux is open for folks to come by, work on a project and jam on ideas.

    Come on down. We're on the Second floor, take a right at the top of the stairs.

    Website
  • Plastic Fantastic!

    On a planet drowning in plastic, its time to learn how to swim. Join us for a night of hands-on, computer-free plastic working.

    Make your own rubber stamps!

    Turn leftover UV-curing acrylurethane "rubber" into ink-pad stamps with our DIY UV development box.


    Customize kitchen gadgets and fix things!

    Learn to hand work medical-grade, biodegradable polycaprolactone, help make a custom funnel for a RoboCoupe food processor, and learn how to use this plastic to fix and hack broken things.


    Weld plastic bags into new things!

    Hands-on heat tools available for patching together thin plastics and joining plastic bags. Learn to make balloons and turn old plastic bags into thick sheets of recycled plastic textiles.


    Sew DIY vinyl raincoats!

    Mark Allyn will be showing off his custom glowing raincoats and talk about putting the fab in vinyl fabrication.

    spectrometer pieces

    Website
  • Wednesday
    Nov 6 2013
    Flux Open House

    Every Wednesday 5-8pm Flux is open for folks to come by, work on a project and jam on ideas.

    Come on down. We're on the Second floor, take a right at the top of the stairs.

    Some folks will be finishing up assembling Mixtape Alpha Kits.

    Website
  • Wednesday
    Oct 30 2013
    Music Hacking: Flux Open House

    Our first Themed Open House: the theme being hacking sound/music. No need to stick to the theme if you have a different kind of project you're working on.

    Bring a project your working on or just come and mix with other folks who like making their own sound and instruments. Real informal. Dave is gonna bring 3 Mixtape Alpha boards plus parts anyone who's interested can build one with him.

    OR bring your own project! Some of us will be chatting with folks who are interested about organizing a build a synthesizer workshop. If you've got ideas or interest in that come on down and help us shape it. http://www.openmusiclabs.com/projects/mixtape_alpha/ http://wiki.openmusiclabs.com/wiki/MixtapeAlpha

    Website
  • Sunday
    Sep 29 2013
    MaptimePDX!
    python javascript

    Come join your fellow geo nerds for some map hacking, geographic learning, beer drinking, and conversation having! MaptimePDX is a brand new, map-focused hack and learn event, modeled after the hugely successful weekly San Francisco meetup, MaptimeSF.

    At our first hack day, we will be working through an exercise to edit and contribute to collaborative geographic datasets using GitHub and geojson.io. There will also be a table for folks to come and hack on and talk about their own projects with others!

    This inaugural MaptimePDX event is being held in conjunction with WhereCampPDX 6, an unconference for all things geospatial.

    Beginners especially welcome! Bring a laptop if you can. See you there!

    Website
  • Friday
    Sep 27 2013
    Grand Opening for Flux: A feminist hackerspace in PDX

    What's a feminist hackerspace? Why does Portland need one? Where can I go to work on my projects? Can I solder and paint and build stuff at Flux? Come to the grand opening of Flux and find out the answers to all of these questions! Maybe you'll meet a neat person and solve a major world problem together via craft and science!

    Don't identify as a hacker? No worries, Flux is a place to get stuff done from collaging to soldering. We've got room for you!

    Flux — a new hackerspace in Portland — is the work of a small group of artists and hackers. We found ourselves frustrated with the difficulty of finding welcoming, affordable space for hardware workshops in Portland, OR. It’s easy to talk software at a bar-- but you can’t very well solder arduino boards over brewskies! Also, as members of “traditionally underrepresented populations,” we found that existing meetups and maker spaces just didn’t represent us or cater to our needs. Where are the women, the people of color, the queer folk, the blue collar workers? Where are our trusted allies?

    The technology world is often a binder full of testosterone. We’re tired of the exclusivity that pervades tech culture in this town-- so we’re taking action! Flux aims to create a new culture of artists, makers, benders and breakers in Portland, OR.

    Our workshop is filled with people and tools to help members navigate the technical and emotional hurdles of finishing their dream projects. As an all-volunteer group, FLUX prides itself on maintaining an explicitly feminist space. We strive to make technology inclusive for people of all backgrounds and technical abilities. To that end, we welcome makers of all genders, orientations, and ethnic and cultural heritages.

    Website
  • Wednesday
    Sep 25 2013
    Flux Open House

    what's this feminist hackerspace? grab a project you've been meaning to work on and come on over and hang out. Use the light table to do some tracing. Create a tutorial for your project using our documentation station. Knit a sweater for the coming apocalypse.

    Note that Goldsmith Building Doors Close at 6pm so just text Flux to 503 776 0804 to get let in.

    Website
  • Wednesday
    Sep 18 2013
    Open House for Flux: A feminist hackerspace

    what's this feminist hackerspace? grab a project you've been meaning to work on and come on over and hang out. Use the light table to do some tracing. Create a tutorial for your project using our documentation station. Knit a sweater for the coming apocalypse.

    Note that Goldsmith Building Doors Close at 6pm so text "Flux" to 503-776-0804 to get let in.

    Website
  • Wednesday
    Sep 11 2013
    Flux Open House

    what's this feminist hackerspace? grab a project you've been meaning to work on and come on over and hang out. Use the light table to do some tracing. Create a tutorial for your project using our documentation station. Knit a sweater for the coming winter.

    Note that Goldsmith Building Doors Close at 6pm so just text Flux to 503 776 0804 to get let in.

    Website
  • Wednesday
    Sep 4 2013
    Flux a Feminist Hackerspace Open House

    what's this feminist hackerspace? grab a project you've been meaning to work on and come on over and hang out. Use the light table to do some tracing. Create a tutorial for your project using our documentation station. Knit a sweater for the coming winter.

    Note that Goldsmith Building Doors Close at 6pm so just text Flux to 503 776 0804 to get let in.

    Website