Animal Architects: Serpents & Snakes

Join AGA Educator Kerri in our studio this summer and discover the creative habits and building behaviours of animals. Inspired by our children’s gallery exhibition Animal Architects, we’ll examine a new animal or insect each week to better understand how they make and build. Then, we’ll make an artwork inspired by nature’s artistry.

Gather up the listed supplies from around your home, review our prep list and meet us online on Saturdays at 10am! Register through Webinarjam.

This week, discover the awesome building ingenuity of the small & industrious termite. Using mud as their primary material, termites build up large oversized mounds that serve to protect their underground homes. Interestingly, these structures later serve as a residence for snakes! Explore the termite building process and make your own unique structure while learning more about these innovative architects and the animals that depend on them.

Materials needed:

• One cup Papier Mache mixture (see recipe below)
• Newspaper ripped into strips
• Cardboard (30x30cm)
• Paper towel tubes
• Forms such as egg cartons, small toys, small twigs, old jewelery, etc.
• A dish with water for cleaning fingers
• An old paint brush
• A spoon or fork for mixing
• Optional: food colouring, jello powder, sparkles, confetti or tin foil.

To make the papier mache mixture at home, combine the following ingredients: one part flour, two parts water and one-two teaspoons of salt (mold prevention) OR two parts white glue and one part water