FARMINGTON – Adults and students in grades five and up are invited to a hands-on workshop in constructing big birds and animals using the New Orleans Mardi-Gras artists’ techniques.

The Foothills Arts Center workshop, taught by artist/architect Alan McGillivray, will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, at St. Joseph’s Parish Hall, Middle Street.

Participants will work in teams to create and paint creatures, then turn them into masks, head pieces or bigger-than-life puppets. The creatures might be species that really live in Maine’s woods, hills, lakes, streams and skies, or they can be fantasy Maine creatures.

The workshop is part of the Foothills Arts Center’s community project, “Hurricane of Change: What’s Happening to our Environment?”

The project will culminate in the spring with a multi-media production performed by area adults and youth.

The creatures created in the workshop will have a role in the performance. Workshop participants will have an opportunity to sign up to perform in the show or assist back stage.

Workshop fees are $15 a person, with special discounts for families and for early registration. In addition, Foothills Arts Center has a “pay-what-you-can” policy to make all of its programs affordable to all people.

For more details or to sign up, contact Foothills Arts Center Director Anne Geller at 778-0448 or info@foothillsarts.org or visit www.foothillsarts.org.

The Foothills Arts Center, a nonprofit community arts organization founded in 1989, brings together adults and children, artists and audiences to share the arts in an atmosphere that encourages learning, exploration and collaboration.

The Hurricane of Change project is funded in part by the Horizon Foundation, the Maine Arts Commission and the Maine Community Foundation.