Materials

• Thin string

• Glue

• Small bowl

• Balloons

• Scissors

• Newspaper or old towel 

• Fishing line or thread (for hanging)

Instructions

1. Cover your work space with newspaper or an old towel -- this project can get a bit messy. But it’s worth it, we promise!

2. Squeeze a small amount (4 oz) of glue into a small bowl.

3. Add half as much warm water (2 oz) and stir to make the glue thinner and drippy.

4. Blow up balloons in different sizes. 

5. Cut 10-15 strands of string about 12 inches long for each balloon. 

6. Dip one strand of your string into the glue mixture and coat the entire string well. Wipe off extra with your fingers.

7. Wrap the string around a balloon. 

8. Repeat with more strings until the balloon looks good to you!

9. Repeat with as many balloons as you would like for your sculpture. 

10. Allow your balloons to dry for 24 hours.

11. When your string balls are dry, pop each balloon and gently remove it from the delicate string ball. 

12. To create your sculpture, tie a piece of fishing line or thread to one string ball.

13. Add the other balls as you’d like to create your own sculpture!

14. Hang your sculpture in a room with lots of light and check out your sculpture’s shadows too! 

cool fact

You can see Ruth Asawa’s sculptures all over SF: including the mermaid fountain in Ghiradelli Square, giant origami-inspired sculptures in Japantown, and a permanent exhibit at the deYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park. 

As a Japanese American artist who spent part of her childhood in an internment camp, Ruth believed that art was for everyone, especially kids. SFUSD’s School of the Arts High School was named after Ruth Asawa in 1990. 

Learn more about Ruth’s inspiring life & art here.