Holiday Workshop: Personal Hero Shrine
Hosted by Machine Dazzle, virtually via Zoom
About Machine Dazzle:
Machine Dazzle has been sparkling up stages via costumes, sets, and performance since his arrival in New York in 1994, collaborating with artists like Julie Atlas Muz’s, Big Art, Justin Vivian, Taylor Mac, and more. He has also designed projects for Opera Philadelphia and Spiegleworld.
About the Workshop:
Every year we are reminded of the holidays when familiar things start popping up around our communities: candy canes, red and green balls, plastic Santa, twinkling lights, and nostalgic music on the radio. Some of these things bring us cheer… and others, not as much.
Machine Dazzle likes to honor the Solstice, and the season of giving by spreading light in the darkest days of the year. In Machine’s quest to make the holiday season more meaningful in a sea of commercialism and chaos, he has turned inward to celebrate and honor those people who have been important in his life. Marrying this idea with his love for making things (and a good party) Machine invites you to join him in hand-crafting shrines dedicated to your own personal Holiday Hero… using recycled materials and other objects you will have at home, along with things you can easily find at a local craft store.
Think about the person you are honoring with your shrine. Choose materials that they love or that remind you of them. Be inspired by shared experiences, things they love to do, their favorite color, hobbies, food, etc.
Duration: 60 minutes.
Here is a list of Machine’s suggested crafting items for this virtual get together:
- An empty container with a lid (i.e. paper coffee cup, yogurt container, oatmeal container, ice cream container, any container with a lid that you might otherwise put into the recycling bin or garbage can!)
- A picture of the person you are choosing to honor this year. The image should be small enough to fit in your container (see video). We recommend that you make a xerox or scanned copy, if it is a cherished photo, so that you can cut it up appropriately for the project. The person may a parent, a sibling, an author, a pet, a celebrity musician. . . someone who is important to you!
- Sheet Styrofoam about 1/2in thick (see video)
- Toothpicks
- Glue (glue sticks, elders, hodgepodge, hot-glue)
- Scissors, x-acto blade and a cutting surface
- Hair dryer for drying paint and glue
- String or tinsel (decorative)
- Decorative Craft items (i.e. colored paper, rhinestones, paint, glitter, markers, stickers, confetti, old magazine to cut up for collaging, wrapping paper… let your imagination run!)
- If you plan adding drawings to your shrine – markers, pens, or your favorite colored pencils!
- Bring your smile, snacks and drinks!
- There are no rules! Make something you are proud of.
