Each month between January and May we’ll explore a different theme, centering activities, exhibits, and artists around a new material. This month, we played with plastic.
Plastic has become one of the world’s most widespread materials. Unfortunately, it’s hard to get rid of. Fortunately, it’s the perfect material to re-cycle, re-use, and re-purpose. The name itself means “able to be molded,” and we intend to take full advantage of its changeable properties!
Throughout January, we invited the public to share in our experiments with plastic. Here are some activities we were able to offer:
- We sent yogurt cups, strawberry baskets, and other plastic paraphernalia flying inside our wonderful Wind Tubes
- We played with our take on Shadow Kaleidoscope, a classic Exploratorium exhibit
- We tinkered with beautiful Strobe Flower lanterns, by Shawn Lani and PJ Reptilehouse
- We arranged plastic bits and pieces into stop-motion animations
- We vacuum-formed recycled plastic bottles into delightful shapes
- We let people pixellate themselves with a giant wall of Mylar tubes (our biggest light box yet!)
- Tinkerer in Residence Gever Tulley explored what can be made with lots of strawberry baskets, and PVC pipes
- Featured Artist Virginia Fleck made a giant inflatable meditation cushion with help from visitors
On Saturday, January 15 we hosted our monthly Open MAKE event, which offered even more activities, as well as the chance to get to know some extraordinary Makers.
