According to a recent permit filing, Astro-Zombie Bio-Labs will soon expand its offerings in McMinnville at 1245 NE Alpha Drive Unit 1-D.
“Astro-Zombie Bio-Labs is a maker space that provides a workspace for artisans utilizing ceramics, 3-D printing, laser cutting, vacuum forming, CNC machines, physical/digital arts, 3-D scanning, metal working, and textiles. We officially opened the option of limited memberships in October of 2023. Our commercial brewing capacity is still TBD,” the owner, Matthew Taylor, told What Now Portland.
“Membership is available every month and is currently fairly limited in capacity as we figure out how to comfortably work together. In the coming months, we hope to offer classes in wiring/robotics, ceramics, 3-D scanning, and printing. It is difficult to provide dates for these things as I am only one person and I am relying on the developing community to help bring their visions into the space, which I will then support.”
“The very first thing I ever made as a ‘maker’ was beer and I have always wanted to pursue that, even if it is sporadically. We are shooting to open a 1 barrel brew house of rather simple construction: 50-gallon kettles, primary fermenter, secondary, and finishing tank. There will also be canning and kegging equipment. I may be limited on which members can brew due to regulations, though the idea is that members can brew small experimental batches of beer/cider/beverages.”
“My primary vocation is as a mental health therapist with a private practice in Salem, OR and I work with children, adolescents, young adults, and individuals experiencing developmental disabilities. During the pandemic, I was able to re-open fairly early and began using 3-D printing to engage kids and model/realize complex emotional abstracts similarly as I do with other creative/expressive arts.”
“This idea emerged while in quarantine and I really didn’t know much. In my boredom, I participated in an unreasonable amount of kickstarters, and then the machines started to arrive – and kept arriving. In my therapeutic work, I was also frustrated with the absolute lack of outlets and affordable opportunities for youth to engage in arts and their creative selves and decided to utilize my resources to do something about it.”
“I have created a space that supports not only my interests but the interests of creatives in the community, so while it is certainly reflective of me the intention is to support others and maybe change what we socially value a little bit.”
“I am a neurodivergent person and created this space with the specific intention of being neurodivergent-based (not simply inclusive). I am mostly focused on the physical plant and making the space what it needs to be, those who belong on my island of misfit toys will find their way – they always do,” Matthew states with a smile.
