Join a hands-on, community-powered art project led by artist and environmental advocate Daniel Iturralde. Participants will help build a touchable sculpture inspired by Judith Schaechter’s Beached Whale (2018), a stained glass masterpiece featured in MCD’s upcoming exhibition, Judith Schaechter: Super/Natural.

Whether you’re passionate about craft and design, environmental sustainability, or improving accessibility in the arts, this is your opportunity to contribute to a meaningful, collaborative access point at MCD.

This MakeArt Course will take place over 3 Sessions. The first session is free with admission to MakeArt Family Day. Sessions 2 & 3 will take place in the museum parklet and need separate registrations. Participants can attend one, two, or all three sessions.

Session 1: Talk Trash & Build the Bones
August 23, 12 – 4 PM | Free with Admission to MakeArt Family Day

Kick things off with a thought-provoking “trash talk” circle. You’ll reflect on what we throw away and why, while turning clean, everyday waste—think candy wrappers and bubble wrap—into solid building blocks. These will form the inner skeleton of our collaborative sculpture. It’s a chance to connect, create, and reconsider your footprint, all while helping bring the Beached Whale to life from the inside out.

Between Sessions 1–2, Daniel constructs the sculpture’s armature and preps homemade papier mâché from recycled paper.

Session 2: Sculpt with Paper & Purpose
August 30, 1 – 3 PM | Ticketed Event

Get your hands messy as we apply layers of papier mâché to build up the whale’s body. You’ll learn to mold volume and texture, and even start your own mini armature to take home. Bonus: you’ll leave with Daniel’s eco-friendly paper pulp recipe—perfect for future upcycled creations.

Between Sessions 2–3, Daniel adds the whale’s intricate features: ghostly eyes, sharp teeth, and a tangled net belly.

Session 3: Smooth & Splash On the Color
September 6, 1 – 3 PM | Ticketed Event

It’s finishing day! Together, we’ll sand and shape the surface of the sculpture, then bring it to life with a creamy base coat and eerie, maroon splotches. Learn basic painting techniques that add mood and depth, and watch the whale transform into a powerful tool for accessibility during Judith Schaechter: Super/Natural.

Pre-registration for Sessions 2 and 3 is required; 20 spots are available for each session.

Session 1 is included as part of our MakeArt Family Day. Sessions 2 & 3 will take place in the museum parklet and need separate registrations. Participants can attend one, two, or all three sessions.

TICKET PRICES PER SESSION

Sessions 2 & 3:
$55 General Admission, $50 Students/Seniors,
$45 MCD Members, $45 EBT/Bay Area Public School Teachers

Participate in both Sessions 2 and 3 and get a $5.00 discount. After purchasing your Session 2 ticket, use code TREASURE when purchasing your Session 3 ticket.