>>> Southwest Museum Services <[log in to unmask]> 02/23/99 08:38am >>> We're trying to come up with a cost-effective way to replicate mud >>>>>>> A couple of years ago we created "ground" in a corner of our gallery for a temporary exhibit. We used a pre-mixed "paper mache" substance called SculptaMold from Dick Blick, an art supply store. We mixed it with water per the package instructions and mixed brown and black powdered tempera paint (like kindergarteners use) in with the mud to make it dirt colored. The mud never came out the same color twice, but we just figured that was natural! We stuck leaves and grasses in it before it hardened. It dries very hard and the stuff you put in it when it's wet will not come out. We put plastic down on the carpeting in our gallery and plopped it down wet on the plastic and then molded it and stuck the grass in. We even made wagon ruts in it. It hardens fast, so we had to work fast. It helped to have one group of people mixing and the others molding the mud. You can always buy a small bag of the stuff and experiment. Wear a paper face mask, though--it's nasty, dusty stuff to breath! I can send photos of the finished product if you are interested. Chris Christine Mouw Assistant Curator Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum West Branch, IA 52358 [log in to unmask]