Jimmy DiResta
James "Jimmy" DiResta (born April 3, 1967) is a New York-based Maker,[1] artist, and video producer. He enrolled in the School of Visual Arts in 1986 and graduated in 1990 with a BFA degree. In 1993, he formed a now-defunct toy design company/store called "DiResta" in the East Village which created Gurglin’ Gutz, a rubber toy replicating a miniature human organ.[2] He went on to teach at the School of Visual Arts.[3]
Jimmy DiResta | |
---|---|
Born | Jimmy DiResta April 3, 1967 |
Other names | James Diresta |
Occupation(s) | Designer, artist, fabricator, TV personality |
Years active | 1990–present |
Relatives | John DiResta |
Career
In 2003, DiResta served as set decorator and co-host on "Trash to Cash" with his brother, John DiResta,[4] on Fox Television (FX Network). In 2006, he co-hosted Hammered with John & Jimmy DiResta, on HGTV.[5] The show focused on the marriage of Jimmy's craftsmanship and John's humor. The show's tagline was "Jimmy can make anything and John can make anything funny."[6] In 2009, Jimmy hosted "Against the Grain" on the DIY Network.[7]
In 2011, he co-hosted Dirty Money with his brother, John, on Discovery Channel. The DiResta brothers set out scouring every corner of New York City, from dumpsters to flea markets.[8][9]
Since his TV career, he has entered the YouTube media business, publishing on the Make: and Core77 channel as well as his own.[10][11] He co-hosts the weekly "Making It" podcast since October, 2014[12] together with David Picciuto and Bob Clagett.[13]
In 2016, Make: published a book co-written by Jimmy DiResta and John Baichtal entitled "Workshop Mastery with Jimmy DiResta."[14]
In 2017, DiResta traveled to California to be a part of NBC's Making It, hosted by Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman, as an on-camera helper. Rejecting the name, "The Master Helper", DiResta wanted just to be referred to by name.[15]
DiResta now has the nickname "Jimmy Two Shows" as both his podcast and the show share a name.[15]
In 2022, DiResta returned to television in a new show called "Making Fun" on Netflix where he, and his buddies (Paul Jackman, Derek Forestier, John Graziano and Patrick Laperrière), make things concocted by the minds of children. From a taco spitting T-Rex, to a punching sneaker, Jimmy and his buddies create unthinkable toys dreamed up by children who get to see their idea built.
References
- "Jimmy DiResta, Author at Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers".
- NEW YORKERS & CO.; Toys and Items That Began As Found Objects published 1999-09-05, retrieved 2017-07-07 The New York Times
- "School of Visual Arts - SVA - New York City > Faculty".
- JOHN DIRESTA'S STRANGE JOURNEY FROM THE NYPD TO SITCOM STAR TO THE MELROSE TRADING POST, DECEMBER 18, 2014, retrieved 2017-07-07 LA Weekly
- Linda Stasi (9 August 2011). "Flea Bitten". NYPost.
- TELEVISION IN REVIEW; Hammered With John and Jimmy DiResta retrieved 2017-07-07, The New York Times
- "Jimmy DiResta". IMDb.
- DIANE WERTS (15 August 2011). "Dumpster divers net lots of 'Dirty Money'". Newsday.
- Programs > Dirty Money retrieved 2017-07-07 Discovery Channel
- DiResta's Cut retrieved 2017-07-07 Core77
- "About Me | Jimmy DiResta".
- "Making It #001 : Where Does Creativity Come From? - Making It".
- "Podcasts from I Like to Make Stuff".
- Workshop Mastery with Jimmy DiResta retrieved 2017-07-07
- Episode 141: Jimmy Two-Shows, retrieved 2017-11-07, 17:00