Aardman, the award-winning UK studio, has revealed details of its first touring exhibition for North America, which has been developed by the Minnesota Children’s Museum. The development commemorates the first time Aardman’s animations have been explored in a touring display environment. It opens on May 28 and is designed for children aged 3 to 9.
Debuting in St. Paul, US, the hands-on exhibit immerses guests in the most famous locales of Wallace & Gromit (62 West Wallaby Street) and Shaun the Sheep (Mossy Bottom Farm). They will discover the various, contraptions, capers and escapades of Wallace, Gromit, Shaun and other famous Aardman characters with themed play and interaction opportunities.
Children are encouraged to work through STEM-based and social-emotional activities in fun, engaging ways including completing circuits, fixing machines and collaborating to solve problems.
Faithful recreations
Amongst the displays are Wallace’s iconic orange rocket, where children can race to complete a puzzle before it blasts off. The museum encourages experimentation with Wallace’s various creations including the porridge cannon, Autochef, Get-U-Up-Device and the Knit-o-Matic from “A Close Shave”.
On the farm, guests join the sheep and other farmyard creatures to traverse a wall, balance on barn doors and create new facial expressions for Bitzer, the trusty sheepdog.
The exhibition features spaces to plant and harvest garden vegetables, deliver letters, and jump into Preston’s truck.
Young animators in the making can create their own stop-motion animation scene with materials found in a ‘scrap heap’, learn about the story and creators behind the Wallace & Gromit films, and see miniature props from the popular series.
When Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep: Shear Genius! completes its run at Minnesota Children’s Museum on 4 September, it will split into two travelling exhibits, Shaun the Sheep: Flock This Way! and Wallace & Gromit: Get Cracking!. These will become available to other museums and venues across the US, adding to the comprehensive roster of Minnesota Children’s Museum’s travelling exhibits.
Standard museum admission is $16, and free for Museum members. Tickets are available from the Museum’s website. Parties interested in booking the two exhibitions for their venue can also find out more online.
Earlier this year, Aardman announced a new partnership with Wild in Art, enabling a new series of sculpture trails featuring characters such as Morph and Shaun the Sheep.
