HOUSTON – Have you heard the term "hackerspace?" It's a workspace where people with common interests meet, collaborate and, in many cases, hone their craft.
Hackerspace is a unique experience being offered at TXRX Labs in downtown Houston.
It is fueling passions and changing lives by offering jewelry making, pottery and woodworking. There are many options at TXRX Labs whether you're a crafter or a hobbyist.
"Ninety percent of people have no idea that we exist here or that there even is such a thing as Hakerspace or Hacker Spaces," Summer Reeves said.
Reeves was one of them until she stumbled across the labs and into a leather working class three years ago.
"I had never done leather-working before," she said.
Now, she has her own leather-working business.
The 9-year-old nonprofit TXRX Labs aims to bring people together with collective knowledge and equipment to help launch ideas and products.
"We've got a metal shop, a machine shop, wood shop, art space, electronics, 3-D printers, laser cutters, jewelry, photography, ceramics and much more," Reeves said.
"So this place is really that kind of shared space for folks that are interested in science, technology, art and craft," Roland Von Kurnatowski said.
Kurnatowski is president of TXRX Labs and he believes the labs are for everyone, even children.
"We actually have a whole series of programs that are just targeted at kids: after-school programs, robotics programs, etc.," Kurnatowski said.
TXRX Labs has an open house on the first and third Fridays of every month and workshops nearly every day.