Structures & Mechanisms

Architecture, Characters & Golden Coins of Persia

The ancient famous Persian architecture Ziggurats (meaning to build on a raised area) were massive structures built in the ancient Mesopotamian valley and western Iranian plateau, a terraced step pyramid of successively receding stories or levels. Chogha Zanbil (translated basket mound) is one of the most famous, built around 1250 BC by the Persian king Untash-Napirisha to honour the great god Inshushinak. Artist Moohan Nazmi introduces students to these structures that were built inside volcano fossils thousands of years ago. Children let their imaginations fly and create their own 3D papier-mâché Ziggurat. With relief clay or printmaking, students may also build their own silver and golden plates and coins while learning stories of these carvings and how to replicate them. Moojan can also introduce students to the many characters of Persian mythology that can be built through 3D papier-mâché and paint.

American Saltbox Architecture

With a simple square piece of colour cardstock, students learn the basic architecture of an early American Saltbox house. Add gabled window, cobbled roof, a chimney with a lit fireplace, snow on the roof, and a ginger cat peering out the window, you have the first part of a village of glitter houses. Artist Judy Pisano.

Calling All Circus Performers!

Join us under the big tent and swing, jump and walk the tightrope with us! Learn all about Calder the Engineer/Artist and his amazing inventions. We all create a 3D circus with tinfoil, tape, acrylic paint, cardboard and scraps of material. Wear your old clothes or bring an apron! Artist Cara Resnick.

Canoes, Kayaks and Sailboats

Students learn about the canoe, the kayak and their part in Canada’s history while working on 3-D works of art incorporating painting, sculpting and printmaking. Create beautiful sailboats of simple construction with bamboo, paper and foam with authentic bow, mast, jib and main sail. Watch these elegant watercraft float across your classroom. Artists Charmaine Lurch, Elizabeth Greisman and Paul Walty.

Hot Wired!

I say sculpture! You say bronze, marble, oak. I say wire! You say stereo extension cord? This workshop sings the beauty of this ubiquitous material. Twist it. Bend it. Crimp it. Split it. Hang it. Weave it. We can design with wire. Tap into creating everyday objects with a twist! We can draw with it—head to toes. Carving space with a line, a curve that leave so much to the imagination. We can plumb the work of famous artists or wire up our own personal journeys. Don’t forget the side order of cotton gloves and wire snips. Artists Amelia Jimenez, Charmaine Lurch and Paul Walty. Available in French.

Juggling Balance

Create  an environment of  additive wood sculpture from 2D to 3D, juggling balance, weight , shape, negative and  positive  space. Students  build and  develop  their  own imaginary sculpture inspired by artists such as Giacometti, Brancusi and Louise Nevelson. Or, inspired by Mexican popular and folk art, create brightly coloured sculptures of fantastical creatures. Artist Amelia Jimenez. Available in French.

Machines Gone Wild

Influenced by artist Rube Goldberg, students find simple purpose for a convoluted machine. Learn to create working drawings using calculations and arrows to invent and build a machine or apparatus capable of a step-by-step sequence of movements to do a simple task such as hitting a golf ball, watering a plant or making a cup of coffee. With memories of Emmett Brown’s lab in Back to the Future, you too can find the humour, enjoy the process and…don’t forget to film the outcome! Artist Cara Resnick.

Puppet Making

Learn how to build and manipulate 2D paper puppets or shadow puppets, a toy theatre or 3D rod puppets with the renowned Ann Powell of Puppetmongers Theatre. Create your own characters and stories to share with the class.

Whirlygigs & Wind Driven Machines

With found objects wooden pieces, cardboard, wire and glue, join artist Amelia Jimenez in a world of sculptures, machines and folk toys that move with the wind. Available in French.

World Builder

Want to create your own land of faerie or a castle keep with drawbridge and dragon? How about an out port on a distant planet complete with spaceships ready for liftoff? With pencils, markers, a dab of colour or two we will explore the high roads and byways of those imaginary places and transform our drawings into a marvelous 3D paper world of dreams and adventure. Artist Paul Walty. Available in French.