Hands-on activity “Make your own toothpaste” inspires at the Art in the Quarry 2024 event

On Sunday, September 8, 2024, the Michelsreiberhalde quarry near Blaubeuren-Gerhausen was transformed into an extraordinary open-air gallery. Over 40 artists from Germany, Switzerland and France presented their works of art amidst the impressive limestone landscape of the quarry. Metallic sculptures, live paintings and artistic installations transformed the industrial site into an extraordinary backdrop.

The UNESCO Global Geopark Swabian Alb was also on site with an “interactive stand”, which offered exciting activities for both adults and children. While the adults were able to test their knowledge of the different types of rock in the Swabian Jura in a geology game, the focus for the children was on a creative workshop: making their own toothpaste.

As part of this hands-on activity, the children at the Geopark stand learned that the high-purity limestone of the Swabian Jura, which formed over millions of years in the Jurassic Sea, is an essential component of toothpaste. With curiosity and enthusiasm, the children mixed lime, silica, glycerine, xylitol and distilled water to create a toothpaste to their own personal taste. They could choose from three flavors - peppermint, strawberry and cola - and five different food colors, with turquoise and pink being particularly popular. The finished pastes were filled into metal tubes and sealed before the children proudly took their self-designed tubes home with them.

The colorful toothpaste and the opportunity to make their own creations made the workshop a resounding success and made many children's eyes light up. At the same time, the Geopark provided important information about the geological significance of the region and the use of its natural resources.

In addition to the Geopark's hands-on activities, the “Art in the Quarry” event offered a varied supporting program with music, culinary delights and encounters that focused on the interplay between art and nature. We would like to thank all visitors for coming.