Kinetic Sculpture: A Celestial Mobile

Step 1. Gather your supplies.

Step 2.

Draw your celestial shapes onto card stock or use our template. Click the “template” button to download our free designs! Cut out the shapes.

Step 3.

Paint the pieces.  Tip: These pieces will be hanging and spinning so make sure to paint both sides. Allow to dry.

Step 4.

While your pieces are drying, paint (3) Wooden Dowels.  Tip: Place a piece of wax paper under the Wood Dowels to keep them from sticking as you paint. Leave on the wax paper and let dry.

Step 5.

Use Glitter Glue to decorate your pieces.  Remember to add Glitter Glue to both sides. Tip: it is best to wait until the front side dries before putting Glitter Glue on the backside.

Step 6.

Wrap a Glitter Stick around one end of a painted Wood Dowel. Bring the end of the Glitter Stick  across and attach to the other end of the Dowel to create a loop for hanging your mobile.

Step 7. 

Attach the other (2) Wood Dowels using Glitter Sticks, as shown, to create your mobile structure.

Step 8.

Punch a hole in the top of each of your painted celestial shapes.

Step 9.

Use Elastic Cord to hang the shapes on the dowels. Tip: You may want to vary the length of cord used for a fun design. Also be aware that some adjustments may be needed while hanging to keep the balance.

Further Discussion: 

Kinetic Sculptures are sculptures where movement by natural or mechanical means, is essential to the art piece.  The proper balancing of the pieces within the sculpture itself plays an important role in how the sculpture will be viewed when complete. For example the celestial mobile relies on all the pieces weighing the same so that they balance evenly.  In some Kinetic Sculpture, the pieces might have different weights to create an asymmetrical look.  When discussing Kinetic Sculpture, it is useful to introduce children to artists that have shown examples of Kinetic Sculpture in their work, such as Alexander Calder, Man Ray, and Bruno Munari.