Introduction to Mobile Making

Saturday, July 19th, 2025
1:00 - 5:00 PM
Tuition: $52, Materials: $15

There are some secrets and crucial methods to building balanced and elegant mobiles, but the possibilities for expression and materials are endless. In this introduction class you will learn the critical points to create successful mobiles, and we will discuss the art form, as well as explore assembly options and tools. By the end of the class, you will have a small mobile to take home and hang, or we can build a stand for a desktop mobile flourish.

With the skills learned in this class, you will be able to apply the same principles to mobiles of any size or number of elements, and you will gain an understanding and appreciation for works by other artists and craftspeople.

The instructor will provide tools and materials to practice and to build your small mobile. You will be able to select from an array of small objects provided by the instructor to create your mobile, or you may bring your own items to build a more personalized mobile, with the following limitations:

• You’ll need 5 objects, all approximately the same size and weight. Having a few extra to selectively choose from can be helpful.

• The objects should be about the size of a golf ball, or smaller.

• Round rocks are difficult. Feathers and very light objects are difficult, as are very irregular objects. We can explore the challenges these types of objects present in mobile construction, but the instructor may encourage you to use his pre-selected objects for your class project in the interest of time and to have a successful first project.

In this class we will be using basic hand tools (mostly pliers and wire cutters) and students should have enough hand strength and agility to grip and bend wire with pliers. 

About your instructor: Elden Lindamood has been making art his whole life, and working with the mobile artform for more than 30 years. As an architect, balance and structure are his bread and butter, and details and connections make his imagination light up. He lives in Wrenshall, MN, where his studio is warmed by a wood stove, enabling him to get cozy with fun projects during the long MN winters. A small portfolio of his mobile work, for interest or inspiration, can be found at https://www.madebyelden.com/mobiles.