Artful Mechanisms -

Library : West Springfield Public Library

Location : 200 Park St , West Springfield, MA 01089

Start : Tuesday 25th of June 2024 11:00 AM

End : Tuesday 25th of June 2024 12:30 PM

Description :

In this hands-on, 90 minute STEM-themed maker-skillsworkshop, teaching artist Jay Mankita brings his traveling maker space and allmaterials required for kids and families to build their own artful mechanisms - specifically, linkages and mechanical automata. Jay demonstrates his ownkinetic art made from popsicle sticks, brassbrads, cardboard, paperclips, cups, and other common materials. Participantsconstruct mechanisms of their own, following these prompts. Jay shows simplemethods for making cams & followers, friction wheels, and cranks, as wellas scissor, parallel, and reverse motion linkages. Participants explore themechanisms they build, discovering a story, character, task, or scene they mayfind in the mechanism’s movement. Using paper and markers, plus other handyhousehold materials, they bring those ideas to the forefront, letting themechanisms make their art moveable!   This event helps children build meaningful and playfulconnections between art and engineering.Students participate in the creative process, learn through trial and error,and address problems from new and different perspectives. This program supportsand strengthens systems thinking, growth mindset, and problem solvingstrategies.  There is value in purposeful, socially-driven groupactivities in a community setting, especially in groups which may containdiverse age, ability and background, so this type of activity can illuminateconnections not only between objects and their kinetic processes, but betweenpeople as well! For ages 8- 12 This program is funded in part by a grant from the WestSpringfield Arts Council, a local agency supported by the Mass CulturalCouncil, a state agency