Announcing the #JoiTorii Project

The #JoiTorii Project is an attempt to bring the world together through technology and photography. It strives to bring a little bit of the mysterious to the everyday; a bit of fun and whimsy to the staid and normal.

Anyone can participate! All you need is access to a 3d printer.  I have uploaded my Pocket Torii to Thingiverse, Cults3D, and Pinshape for anyone to download and print.

Don’t have a printer?  That’s OK,  you can also buy a little Torii for $8.00 from my Shapeways shop. 

Once you have your printed torii bring it with you and take a photo of it!  Tag the photo #joitorii on Instgram/Tumblr/Twitter so we can see where all the little gates end up around the world.

Eventually, I would like to collect the most interesting and inspiring photos into a book. I would like to write the unique story about how and where the Torii was photographed and the person who took the photo.

About Torii

Only found at Shinto shrines, a Torii Gate demarcates the overlap between our world and the world of spirits (kami). These places of overlap are where people and kami can most easily interact.

Some Torii gates, such as the Itsukushima Shrine are quite large. The Joi Konpurekkusu Pocket Torii is a whimsical pocket sized interpretation of Torii that pays homage to traditional forms. The top beam, the kasagi, is reinforced underneath by a second horizontal lintel called the shimaki. Finally the intersecting beam, the nuki, connects the two main pillars, or hashira, each of which curve upward.

The Joi Konpurekkusu Pocket Torii is the perfect travel companion!  At home wherever you go, just place it at the special places you visit around the world. 

Use the #JoiTorii tag to see where others have photographed their Torii. 

The more photos and tags the more linked we all become!

Anyone in the New York City area on October 24th who has an interest in art, design, 3D printing and alcohol should join me at the Shapeways Small Business Bootcamp.

Did you know that although it’s still pretty new in the minds of most, that 3D printing is already powering small businesses and empowering creative entrepreneurs to create new ventures every day? If you want to learn more or want to learn how to better focus your current initiatives join me (and many others) for the first ever Shapeways Small Business Symposium. It will be a day of entrepreneurial and design inspiration! You’ll get advice on business planning, marketing and designing 3D printed products too.

I'm a panelist at the event and will be there for the whole shebang. I am very excited to learn from contemporaries in my field and know it is going to be a great event. Speakers include entrepreneurs like myself who have launched successful businesses - mine are Joy Complex and 3D Racetracks - using 3D printing.  Shapeways staff members will also be on hand who are experts in the 3D printing design and the production process. Participants will come away with a deeper knowledge about the mechanics of 3D printing and design and the tools they need to launch, or grow, their business with 3D printing.

The Shapeways Small Business Bootcamp is hosted by Union Square Ventures. The event is free and light breakfast and lunch are provided. Advance registration is required. Please reserve your spot here.

It's gonna be fun! And although it is a bootcamp, there will be no pushups or live fire drills. And afterwards there will be drinks and cool people to talk to!  To quote a certain furniture salesman, “Come on down!”