Looking Out the Empty Windshield

Join us for one of two free workshops on October 9 th or 12th to construct costumes and
banners to walk in Missoula’s 32 nd Annual Festival of the Dead Procession on November 2, 2024.
Each workshop is limited to 15 participants.

WHEN:
 October 9 th from 6:00PM to 8:00PM – this workshop is limited to adults. Registration
 October 23rd from 6:00PM to 8:00PM – this workshop is for ages 12 and up. Registration

WHERE: Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium, Byron Weber Classroom, 1075 South Ave W, Missoula, MT 59801.

Insects are foundational to Earth’s ecosystems and to human survival. The widespread and
rapid extinction of insect species threatens to unravel ecosystem function and food production
at a scale that is almost unimaginable. In their own right, they are marvels of evolution,
function, and diversity and possess a uniquely exquisite beauty. In this workshop we will pay
homage to the insects that we are losing and have already lost to acknowledge the critical need
to keep as many of those that remain as possible.

Participants will be guided through construction of insect costumes and banners with
scaffoldings for the procession. Hand-printed cloth banners depicting several insect orders will
be provided that can be colored or left black and white. These will be attached to scaffoldings
for display during the procession. Costumes will be patterned after insects chosen by each
participant from examples that are provided or on a particular insect the participant finds
particularly interesting.

We’ll provide enough to complete a multi-insect banner and a costume, but if you are really
creative we suggest that you bring additional materials to make your vision come to life. We
encourage the use of repurposed materials from home, thrift shops, Home Resource, etc.

Although this workshop is free, please register online ahead of time. Donations to help cover
the costs of materials are encouraged. Thank you!