Archives

Patterns in Nature: From Science to Art

This workshop (or series of) will focus on the beauty, design and function of patterns, forms and structures found in the natural world. Topics including branching, the spiral/Fibonacci, star/radial, retiform/mesh, hyperbolic geometry, symmetry, etc. will be explored. Students will observe and draw from natural specimens and images, define and study, then create 2D and 3D […]

Paper Quilling

Originating in 17th-century Europe, paper quilling is the art of rolling, shaping, and gluing thin strips of paper together to make complex designs.  Students will learn how to curl paper to create different shapes, and explore what makes good design and how to choose which colors and shapes to use to create dynamic three-dimensional pictures, […]

Burble, Fizz, Kaboom!

In this playful performance, Rand Whipple combines chemical reactions, solutions, molecules, and phase changes with a great sense of humor, and with a lot of help from the audience!  This program is a fun and informative introduction to science that gets students actively involved in the basics of chemistry while creating a good clean mess! […]

Branching Patterns in Nature

Branching patterns can be found throughout the natural world- from leaf veins and root systems, to coral, mineral dendrites, and a single brain neuron. This workshop will focus on these beautiful, efficient and energy-transmitting forms. Participants will observe and sketch from specimens, then create a wire tree sculpture incorporating a math and division process that […]

Silkscreen a Scene

Students learn simple silkscreen printmaking as they create a collaborative piece based on  the silhouettes of  plants, animals, and shapes. This workshop offers many possibilities and options depending on how many days are available. A one-day workshop allows participants to print screens on a collaborative piece such as a banner, mural, scroll, wall, or t-shirts/costumes. […]

The Art of Invention

Are your students inventive? Through hands-on engineering with simple materials, Molly Gaston Johnson helps students explore cause and effect in artistic sculptures, simple machines, and elegant design. Problem-solving in teams, competitive challenges, and the consequences of economics add to the excitement, along with introductions to Ancient Rome, Leonardo da Vinci, and the ever-popular idea that “form […]