Written by Gabriel Hurley
On a hot Monday afternoon, a gaggle of kids are crowded around some folding tables. Scattered around the table is an eclectic collection of materials, including acrylic paint, sparkles, white glue, baking soda, shaving cream, and contact lens solution. Gabrielle Hunt, the art instructor hovers around the students, giving advice to the young artists, but allowing them to make their own decisions. Over course of her after-school program at Valour Community Centre (Orioles Site), Gabrielle has taught students to make jewellery, collage, buttons, key chains, and cartoons. Today, however, she is showing them how to make slime.
The participants enthusiastically knead their concoctions, adding a few drops of this and a sprinkle of that. Ten-year old Keith (not his real name) is trying to get the texture just right. “I just try and keep on trying until you see what’s right or wrong to put in,” he explains. As he discusses his methods, more kids gather around, hoping to join the activity. Gabrielle says its too late to join this time, but she might do another slime activity in the future. Meanwhile, Keith’s slime has assumed an unexpected texture. “This feels like old, expired rice pudding,” he exclaims.
His friends on the other side of the table seem to have more luck, forming colourful bouncy dough that they knead back and forth from one hand to another. “I put in lots of baking soda and activator” to get the right texture, explains ten-year-old Livina (not her real name). With the slime consistency just right, she beings to pack into into a clear container to take home. “If you put it in a bag,” she says, “it would just be not good.” Keith’s experiment has not worked out as well, but he still thinks that slime-making was his favourite art activity so far.
“Slime is really popular,” Danielle agrees, “I would say it’s this one and acrylic painting on canvas (was) really popular.” The after-school art program runs until the end of June. After that, Danielle plans to work with a kids to paint a mural along the side wall of the room where they are currently working. “I love hanging out with these guys and making art with them, smiles Danielle, “Yeah, that’s it. That’s the best part.”
