Planimals
About the project
Magnetic Island artist Karen Williams’ Planimals project presents a fun and engaging activity aimed at children 3-11 years old. In the short stop-motion video tutorial, Karen teaches children how to use basic art materials to draw, cut, collage and create colourful, quirky, kooky ‘planimals’ (half-plant, half-animal hybrid) characters. The cut and paste activity takes children approximately 30-60mins to complete. Adult supervision is recommended as scissors are required.
Feel free to swap out some of the materials if you don’t have them, and experiment with what you already have at home. Upcycle and improvise to see how fantastical (plantastical?) your planimals can become! Draw your own planimals shapes, or download the provided template shapes. The more shapes and drawings you make, the more diverse your finished characters can be! Share your planimals on Instagram or Facebook with #UmbrellaPlanimals
Fun Planimals Facts
Scientists have discovered life forms such as sea anemones, coral and algae, which have DNA of both plant and animal; defying categorisation, these have been dubbed ‘planimals’. The Planimals project stems from artist Karen Williams’ ongoing work Curious Garden (working title). Her projects are inspired by the reef and other richly biodiverse natural systems. Corals, sea anemone and algae of both plant and animal origins defy categorisation and in this way illuminate the magical mystery and curious nature of our planet. Karen has been developing Curious Garden for a few years, transforming many types of media, materials and by-products of domestic life into imaginary plant-animals and plant-animal forms, culminating in a fantastical, imaginary eco-system or “world”.
Planimals are seasonal inhabitants of this world. Planimals dont like the term ‘monsters’, as that has negative associations.
Planimals was also available for children as a free activity at Umbrella in 2020 - see the amazing creations below!
Commissioned by Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts through Creative Kids, this project received generous support from the Regional Arts Development Fund. is a partnership between the Queensland Government and the Townsville City Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland. Creative Kids is Umbrella’s program for children aged 3-11 years old. It encourages children to let their imaginations run wild and to experiment with a range of materials and techniques.
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Open Hours
Tues - Fri: 9am-5pm
Sat - Sun: 9am-1pm
Gallery closed Mondays, public holidays and during exhibition install weeks.
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Contact
408 Flinders Street,
Gurambilbarra (Townsville),
Qld, 4810 Australia
PO Box 2394,
Gurambilbarra (Townsville),
Qld, 4810 Australia
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Acknowledgement of Country
Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts respectfully acknowledges the Wulgurukaba of Gurambilbarra and Yunbenun and the surrounding groups of our region - Bindal, Gugu Badhan, Nywaigi, Warrgamay, Bandjin and Gudjal - as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we gather, share and celebrate local creative practice. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the first people of Australia. They have never ceded sovereignty and remain strong in their enduring connection to land and Culture.
Umbrella is a Dealer Member of the Indigenous Art Code. This means we are committed to fair and ethical trade with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, and transparency in the promotion and sale of artwork. As a Dealer Member and signatory to the Code we must act fairly, honestly, professionally and in good conscience in all direct or indirect dealings with artists.
Acknowledgements
Umbrella is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, part of the Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy, and by the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy, an initiative of the Australian, state and territory governments. | Umbrella is supported by the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation and receives funding from Creative Australia through the Australian Cultural Fund. | Townsville City Council is a funding partner of Umbrella's program.
