About me¶

Hi, I am James Rutter. I work at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts as the Fab Lab & Technology Director. Haystack is a non-profit arts organization located in Deer Isle, Maine that runs intensive studio-based programs in various traditional crafts (blacksmithing, woodworking, ceramics, etc.). This is our “year zero” and hope to offer Fab Academy in future years to the local community.

This is an overview shot of Haystack’s Fab Lab, back when people could congregate in small spaces and breathe all over each other without wearing masks. This is a special place where people are situated in a fully capable Fab Lab tucked away on in a beautiful and remote location.

A Brief History of my Life¶

1988 | Born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania (family is not Amish).
2009 | Started my journey into makerspaces working at M5 while attending university.
2010 | Received B.S. in Electrical Engineering from University of Massachusetts Amherst.
2010-2014 | Worked as AS220 Labs (Fab Lab) Manager in Providence, Rhode Island.
2015 | Traveled around the United States in my Volvo station wagon.
2016 | Began working for the Lab School for Advanced Manufacturing Technologies at the University of Virginia.
2019 | Received Ph.D. in STEM Education from University of Virginia.
2019 - Present | Working as Fab Lab Coordinator for Haystack Mountain School of Crafts.

Quick Facts About Me¶

I have been a musician for most of my life, playing in various bands and gigging in both the Providence and Boston area.
I have a two-year old daughter, Lucia, who will be using as both my primary source of inspiration and procrastination for Fab Academy projects.
Since we live on an island with only one year-round restaurant, I do a lot of cooking. Conveniently, I love to cook and experiment with new techniques and recipes, and my specialty is to make vegetarian/vegan food taste delicious.

This my family.

Last update: March 24, 2021