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About This Program

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Art Machines: Building Kinetic Sculptures Together

Artist

FutureMakers

Program Type

Family Engagement Workshop

A 45-minute family workshop where caregivers and learners each build their own kinetic sculpture from die-cut cardboard levers and fulcra (parallel play, one Art Machine per participant). After the core build, every maker designs a unique “Creature Feature” (a moving mouth, claw, wing, or invention) and iterates together to make their Art Machine completely their own. Families practice the engineering design process (ask, imagine, plan, create, improve) and walk away with a completed Art Machine and shared language to keep iterating at home.

Program Length

45 minutes

Technical Requirements

Technical Needs, Virtual
Zoom (or comparable platform) with screen-sharing for the slide deck
Document camera or a second camera angled at the teaching artist's hands for build demonstrations
Stable wifi
Each participating family must have received their Art Machines kits in advance, plus household scissors, markers, and a flat workspace
One Art Machines kit per participant (one for the caregiver, one for the learner)
Recommended: a quiet space; an adult co-pilot for each learner

Technical Needs, In Person
A flat table (or floor space) for each participant, about 2 ft x 2 ft per maker
Chairs (one per participant)
A projector or large screen for the slide deck
Standard lighting; no AV booth required
Trash/recycling bin for cardboard scraps
A demo table in front of the room with the teaching artist's example Art Machine