Puppets on Parade: Bainbridge Island
Thursday, June 30, 2005
JOIN THE PARADE!
Yes, YOU can be in the Bainbridge Island 4th of July Parade ! We have many puppets, costumes and masks for people of all ages to wear in the Puppets on Parade group. The joy of being in a puppet parade is watching the audience react to the artworks and the way that you bring them to life. When you have a mask or puppet on, its easy to be theatrical. So don't be shy...come on down and pick out your puppet or costume. Still available roles include front banner carriers, frogs, fish, a bird, a snail, jellyfish galore and a few more.
Yes, YOU can be in the Bainbridge Island 4th of July Parade ! We have many puppets, costumes and masks for people of all ages to wear in the Puppets on Parade group. The joy of being in a puppet parade is watching the audience react to the artworks and the way that you bring them to life. When you have a mask or puppet on, its easy to be theatrical. So don't be shy...come on down and pick out your puppet or costume. Still available roles include front banner carriers, frogs, fish, a bird, a snail, jellyfish galore and a few more.
Sarah's angler fish and a forest of umbrella jellyfish looked absolutely stunning in the sun today. Many more exciting sights to see, I'm just too busy to take any pictures!
As of today, day 8 of the workshop, more than 120 different people have participated in making the puppets. And many of them have come for several days. What a great co-mingling of creative talents.
Favorite moments from today:
- showing off the custom battery fan pack for inflatable puppets loaned to me by the extremely generous and puppet-knowledgable Lyle Morgan in Seattle.
-being saved from winding a bobbin on the sewing machine, by a sewing diva who just happened to show up with her kids when it needed to be done.
-having Sean F. come down and videotape interviews of artists at work. Thanks Sean!
-hearing car horns a-honking as Sarah waved to passing motorists in full fish costume.
-being sprayed by an Orca whale! If you don't know what I mean just wait and see!
Join us Sunday night July 3rd during the street dance for a display of the puppets on the eve of their parade debut. They'll be set-up on the lawn behind Oil & Water Art Supply starting at 5 p.m.
-Wendy
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Wednesday and the sun comes comes out good and strong! Hurrah! it feels good! It feels like summer! We pull the crab cone out of the deep, shady confines of The Tent. It seems to straighten up under the heat, even though we still have it lying sideways, leaning on a relunctant plastic chair.
Lizzie S. (the hero who convinced her parents to drive to Poulsbo and pick up art provisons!) has pulled an creative all-nighter, fashioning a wonderful backpack creation that hosts dangling big styrofoam bobble eyes and also, she's made amazing purply magenta crab claws from those funny foam mitts that diehard fans wear during ball games--we're number one!
Virginia, Lizzie and I paint the cone "Hot Lips" pink. The dogs romp and play dangerously close to the paint.
Sarah J.'s fish evolves from paper foundation white to vibrant blue and knock-out red. It's really neat! She's worked hard. I love it that she's had this vision and kept at it! You'll see her in the parade...keep in mind she created, (with Wendy's gentle guidance), the whole backpack contraption to hold up this extraordinary fish...clap extra loud for this young artist! She deserves it!
Julie and her three wonderful girls arrive later in the day taking in all the activity. There's a lot to see now--lots of finished art projects: sea creature masks, seaweed crowns and more in the making...A new project has suddenly sprouted in the middle of everything...not quite sure who's attempting it but it looks like a large coral, or maybe a piling with sea stuff stuck to it? It's evolving and it's cool. Stay tuned.
We righted the cone, feeling good about the pretty paint and the sun.
After a while, one of the kids looks up at the bright pink cone and says, "Wendy, the hermit crab is moving..."
And it was. Melting. Sliding down unto itself. Nightmare!
Again, stay tuned.
(If anyone reading has a truck with a hitch to pull the small trailer that will house the gnarly melting crab cone with Lizzie inside...let us know!)
-Kathe Fraga
Lizzie S. (the hero who convinced her parents to drive to Poulsbo and pick up art provisons!) has pulled an creative all-nighter, fashioning a wonderful backpack creation that hosts dangling big styrofoam bobble eyes and also, she's made amazing purply magenta crab claws from those funny foam mitts that diehard fans wear during ball games--we're number one!
Virginia, Lizzie and I paint the cone "Hot Lips" pink. The dogs romp and play dangerously close to the paint.
Sarah J.'s fish evolves from paper foundation white to vibrant blue and knock-out red. It's really neat! She's worked hard. I love it that she's had this vision and kept at it! You'll see her in the parade...keep in mind she created, (with Wendy's gentle guidance), the whole backpack contraption to hold up this extraordinary fish...clap extra loud for this young artist! She deserves it!
Julie and her three wonderful girls arrive later in the day taking in all the activity. There's a lot to see now--lots of finished art projects: sea creature masks, seaweed crowns and more in the making...A new project has suddenly sprouted in the middle of everything...not quite sure who's attempting it but it looks like a large coral, or maybe a piling with sea stuff stuck to it? It's evolving and it's cool. Stay tuned.
We righted the cone, feeling good about the pretty paint and the sun.
After a while, one of the kids looks up at the bright pink cone and says, "Wendy, the hermit crab is moving..."
And it was. Melting. Sliding down unto itself. Nightmare!
Again, stay tuned.
(If anyone reading has a truck with a hitch to pull the small trailer that will house the gnarly melting crab cone with Lizzie inside...let us know!)
-Kathe Fraga
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
What a day! More than 40 people showed up for the workshop. It was a very productive time, with several new umbrella jellyfish costumes, fish rod puppets and construction of frames for large puppets. Thanks everyone! 4 more days left to create....
Tuesday and the sun flirts with us, shining out a bit here and there and retreating behind dark clouds.
"Come on out and do your work!" I want to yell. "I've got a hermit crab shell that's drippy and damp and dank and needs to dry!" We tip it over on its side and it hovers nervously (I think) supported by a plastic chair and we begin to mache the top peak.
Today, the activity level behind Oil and Water is high. Lots of people...parents and teens, big-little kids and a few teensy ones lolling in strollers.
Creativity reigns.There are new species of colorful (papier mache) fish being born everywhere. Frog masks are multiplying.( One has a goatee.) Sarah J. works to create a backpack for her "grouper" fish. A purply greeny blue fabric encased seahorse waves in the wind, hanging under a white tent. The jellyfish umbrella brigrade is billowing to the right of the activity table--fabric swirls over the kids in a spin of sheer pinks and blues.
It's pretty and exciting! And Wendy is everywhere: encouraging, suggesting, appreciating, welcoming.
Fun to see the newcomers venture in. The kids are wide-eyed. Wendy shows them around.
"You wanna make a fish? How 'bout a frog? Do you want to make something out of clay? Or papier mache?"
They are thrilled by her encouragement!
The hermit crab cone (aka octopus, aka starfish arm) is being warmly nurtured along by a lot of newcomers...Wendy's nephew from L.A. among others.
A little girl named Chrissie patiently dons gloves and dips into the goo to help complete the crab shell's top cone.
Lizzie, a soon-to-be BHS freshperson, volunteers to be the crab inside the shell and quickly sketches out her head mask idea and claws. She's awesome! Enthusiastic and full of fun, open to ideas...She epitomizes the joy of the question "what if...?"!
So glad she joined in! So glad to see such a fun gathering! Neat!
-Kathe Fraga
"Come on out and do your work!" I want to yell. "I've got a hermit crab shell that's drippy and damp and dank and needs to dry!" We tip it over on its side and it hovers nervously (I think) supported by a plastic chair and we begin to mache the top peak.
Today, the activity level behind Oil and Water is high. Lots of people...parents and teens, big-little kids and a few teensy ones lolling in strollers.
Creativity reigns.There are new species of colorful (papier mache) fish being born everywhere. Frog masks are multiplying.( One has a goatee.) Sarah J. works to create a backpack for her "grouper" fish. A purply greeny blue fabric encased seahorse waves in the wind, hanging under a white tent. The jellyfish umbrella brigrade is billowing to the right of the activity table--fabric swirls over the kids in a spin of sheer pinks and blues.
It's pretty and exciting! And Wendy is everywhere: encouraging, suggesting, appreciating, welcoming.
Fun to see the newcomers venture in. The kids are wide-eyed. Wendy shows them around.
"You wanna make a fish? How 'bout a frog? Do you want to make something out of clay? Or papier mache?"
They are thrilled by her encouragement!
The hermit crab cone (aka octopus, aka starfish arm) is being warmly nurtured along by a lot of newcomers...Wendy's nephew from L.A. among others.
A little girl named Chrissie patiently dons gloves and dips into the goo to help complete the crab shell's top cone.
Lizzie, a soon-to-be BHS freshperson, volunteers to be the crab inside the shell and quickly sketches out her head mask idea and claws. She's awesome! Enthusiastic and full of fun, open to ideas...She epitomizes the joy of the question "what if...?"!
So glad she joined in! So glad to see such a fun gathering! Neat!
-Kathe Fraga
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Sunday afternoon and the Puppets on Parade staging area is too quiet, devoid of all the chatter and laughter of the "artists" at work: molding clay, papier-maching, exchanging tips and advice and encouragement. No dogs running about. No kids proudly showing off turtles and jellyfish projects.
Wendy is taking a well-deserved break from the first week of getting started but I dropped in with a definite goal in mind: what to do with my larger-than-life almost completed papier mache "cone"--what was first envisioned as an octopus with eight flailing arms...then morphing (in my mind) into a bright orange gigantic starfish.
There it sits under the tent, almost dry...the top point still not finished and time is running out and the sun, the most important part when it comes to drying a large scale, ooey gooey papier mache piece has, of late, become a relunctant participant.
Recent cloudy, misty June days are not helpful. Wah!
As I ponder what to do, (undersea volcano, perhaps?), Richard Nelson of Oil and Water pops out of his shop.
While his energetic Wheaton "Duffy" romps with my little Havanese "Poco" among the frog masks and sea horse projects in progress, Richard looks over at the towering cone I've created and says, "y'know, I'm thinking hermit crab."
And then I see it, too! The wet papier mached newspaper strips that so many people's helping hands have smoothed onto the steel dowel and rubber tube frame have melded onto the tubing, creating a distinctive spiraling effect, just like a crusty old crustacean shell! (Sebastian from Little Mermaid?)
Richard adds, "with a couple claws and some big googly eyes..."
Genius!
I love the generosity of art and of artists! A hermit crab! But of course! I'm thinking now a pink shell with lots of glitter...stay tuned!
-Kathe Fraga
Wendy is taking a well-deserved break from the first week of getting started but I dropped in with a definite goal in mind: what to do with my larger-than-life almost completed papier mache "cone"--what was first envisioned as an octopus with eight flailing arms...then morphing (in my mind) into a bright orange gigantic starfish.
There it sits under the tent, almost dry...the top point still not finished and time is running out and the sun, the most important part when it comes to drying a large scale, ooey gooey papier mache piece has, of late, become a relunctant participant.
Recent cloudy, misty June days are not helpful. Wah!
As I ponder what to do, (undersea volcano, perhaps?), Richard Nelson of Oil and Water pops out of his shop.
While his energetic Wheaton "Duffy" romps with my little Havanese "Poco" among the frog masks and sea horse projects in progress, Richard looks over at the towering cone I've created and says, "y'know, I'm thinking hermit crab."
And then I see it, too! The wet papier mached newspaper strips that so many people's helping hands have smoothed onto the steel dowel and rubber tube frame have melded onto the tubing, creating a distinctive spiraling effect, just like a crusty old crustacean shell! (Sebastian from Little Mermaid?)
Richard adds, "with a couple claws and some big googly eyes..."
Genius!
I love the generosity of art and of artists! A hermit crab! But of course! I'm thinking now a pink shell with lots of glitter...stay tuned!
-Kathe Fraga
Check out these photos from the workshop. For now they are just thumbnails but later when time allows I will add links to the larger files. We are also filming some video footage to make a little documentary film about Puppets on Parade. We need VOLUNTEER VIDEOGRAPHERS to help videotape the workshop and especially the parade. If you are interested please come by or call Oil & Water ARt Supply at 206 842 0477. Thanks!
-Wendy
-Wendy
Friday, June 24, 2005
Friday and the puppets march on!
Today, Sarah J. was dancing in front of Oil and Water in a FABU green and smiling papier mache frog mask (an original Wendy design), waving in potential artisans, young and old, to the white tents behind the art store.
I gave her a couple of friendly honks and turned in...lots of of fun going on!!
Richard was busy fashioning a fin and tail out of foam to attach to his black Karmann Ghia---of course, you guessed it! He's going to transform his vehicle into an ORCA for the parade!
Paige's AB FAB sea horse, complete with curly tail and "attitude" was soaking up the sun, all papier mached and ready to be embellished!
Among many generous Bainbridge businesses, Esther's in Winslow Way, was kind enough to donate some amazing "sea-worthy" fabrics....(the bejewled orange and blue material caught Paige's eye and she is going to experiment with how to adhere it to the sea horse shape--(the horse is on a dowel so she can carry it in the parade, rather than wearing it as a mask.)
Jelly fish, turtles and talk of a yellow submarine, carried on a bike!, rounded out the day...I'm still working on the giant starfish idea and have had a lot of helping hands: Dominique papier-mached the bottom fin...two girls, both named Claire, (dressed as in vampire capes--"friendly vampires, they assured us") helped yesterday. And also a terrific woman named Faith!
A little girl who just finished kayak camp was also a big help... and then along came two other great gals who did their best to make the starfish SEE-WORTHY!!
The best part of the whole project is to hear the pretty much universal observation of the kids: "This is GREAT cause this is MESSY!"
Wish for sun!!
-Kathe Fraga
Today, Sarah J. was dancing in front of Oil and Water in a FABU green and smiling papier mache frog mask (an original Wendy design), waving in potential artisans, young and old, to the white tents behind the art store.
I gave her a couple of friendly honks and turned in...lots of of fun going on!!
Richard was busy fashioning a fin and tail out of foam to attach to his black Karmann Ghia---of course, you guessed it! He's going to transform his vehicle into an ORCA for the parade!
Paige's AB FAB sea horse, complete with curly tail and "attitude" was soaking up the sun, all papier mached and ready to be embellished!
Among many generous Bainbridge businesses, Esther's in Winslow Way, was kind enough to donate some amazing "sea-worthy" fabrics....(the bejewled orange and blue material caught Paige's eye and she is going to experiment with how to adhere it to the sea horse shape--(the horse is on a dowel so she can carry it in the parade, rather than wearing it as a mask.)
Jelly fish, turtles and talk of a yellow submarine, carried on a bike!, rounded out the day...I'm still working on the giant starfish idea and have had a lot of helping hands: Dominique papier-mached the bottom fin...two girls, both named Claire, (dressed as in vampire capes--"friendly vampires, they assured us") helped yesterday. And also a terrific woman named Faith!
A little girl who just finished kayak camp was also a big help... and then along came two other great gals who did their best to make the starfish SEE-WORTHY!!
The best part of the whole project is to hear the pretty much universal observation of the kids: "This is GREAT cause this is MESSY!"
Wish for sun!!
-Kathe Fraga
Who Loves the Sun? We do! It has kindly come out of hiding for two glorious days in a row, which has significantly helped our paper mache dry faster. The field behind the store is abuzz with activity as puppet forms are coming off the molds and beginning to take shape. Look for the first finished frog mask making appearances in front of the store tomorrow. Tomorrow its off to the Rotary Auction for umbrellas, backpack frames and other useful items to use in the project.
A friendly reminder to workshop visitors -- WEAR "PAINTING" CLOTHES!
See you tomorrow!
-Wendy, "the Puppet Lady"
A friendly reminder to workshop visitors -- WEAR "PAINTING" CLOTHES!
See you tomorrow!
-Wendy, "the Puppet Lady"
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Another rainy but productive day. New puppets started today are a seagull, another frog, and the fins for the Orca whale car! Lots of tots came along and made tiny turtle and jellyfish puppets.
-Wendy Jackson Hall
-Wendy Jackson Hall
Rain, thunder, or shine...the puppets must go on! Wendy, who is the amazing energy behind this fun-filled community art experience, has everything anyone needs to dive into the fun!(Generous businesses have donated many, many supplies) Has anyone seen the Fremont Parade with the giant, colorful, larger-than-life papier mache heads looming over the crowds? Imagine that for our Bainbridge parade--Starfish, Jellyfish, Frogs, Orcas--you come and we'll make it! Right now, I'm working on a giant octopus...or, it might be a starfish (who knows? such is the fun and adventure of it all!)... two young "artists", who I just met today, Zoe and Jessica, were wonderful, helping me tape together the large scale steel and tube frame...looks like a giant tomato cage! The plan is that we'll papier mache it and then remove the interior supports. Other people dropped in to work on clay molds for masks and somebody made a jellyfish out of an umbrella! With visions of Ocean Creatures roaring down Winslow Way July 4th, we all braved today's wild "summer' weather! If you've got a minute or an hour, we'd love to "sea" you!
-Kathe Fraga
-Kathe Fraga
Day One: Lots of Fun!
The Puppets on Parade workshop kicked off yesterday on the Solstice. In just a few hours, participants created an umbrella jellyfish, 6 turtles, and started sculpture for a frog, an octopus and a giant fish. Even when a thunderstorm came through in the late afternoon, everyone stayed under the cozy, lighted tent and worked on sculpting paper mache forms. So remember, rain or shine, puppets will be made! Come on down this afternoon for day 2, with extra activities running til 7 p.m. as part of the Artists' Market at Oil & Water Art Supply.
-Wendy Jackson Hall
The Puppets on Parade workshop kicked off yesterday on the Solstice. In just a few hours, participants created an umbrella jellyfish, 6 turtles, and started sculpture for a frog, an octopus and a giant fish. Even when a thunderstorm came through in the late afternoon, everyone stayed under the cozy, lighted tent and worked on sculpting paper mache forms. So remember, rain or shine, puppets will be made! Come on down this afternoon for day 2, with extra activities running til 7 p.m. as part of the Artists' Market at Oil & Water Art Supply.
-Wendy Jackson Hall
HOORAY for Puppets on Parade 2005 Supporters
These local community members have generously donated supplies for this year's project.
ACE HARDWARE
COSTCO
ESTHER'S FABRICS
GALLERY FRAGA
BRIAN MACKIN
PAPER PRODUCTS, ETC.
SOUND REPROGRAPHICS
WINSLOW PAINT
THANK YOU SUPPORTERS!
These local community members have generously donated supplies for this year's project.
ACE HARDWARE
COSTCO
ESTHER'S FABRICS
GALLERY FRAGA
BRIAN MACKIN
PAPER PRODUCTS, ETC.
SOUND REPROGRAPHICS
WINSLOW PAINT
THANK YOU SUPPORTERS!
Monday, June 20, 2005
Check out the Puppets on Parade article on Bainbridge Buzz.
Here are some inspirational puppets made at Procession of the Species in Olympia.
Here are some inspirational puppets made at Procession of the Species in Olympia.
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Puppet-Making Links:
The Puppeteers Cooperative & 68 Ways to Make Really Big Puppets
The Northwest Puppet Center
The Fremont Solstice Parade
Islewilde, Vashon Island
Procession of the Species, Olympia
Bread and Puppet, Vermont
Puppeteer Andrew Kim
Puppeteer Roger Mara, Snapdragon Puppets
The Puppeteers Cooperative & 68 Ways to Make Really Big Puppets
The Northwest Puppet Center
The Fremont Solstice Parade
Islewilde, Vashon Island
Procession of the Species, Olympia
Bread and Puppet, Vermont
Puppeteer Andrew Kim
Puppeteer Roger Mara, Snapdragon Puppets
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Newspaper articles about Puppets on Parade can be found here:
http://www.animatedadventures.com/about.htm
http://www.animatedadventures.com/about.htm
The puppets are coming! Seven days to go until the workshop begins. Be there for a kick-off on Tuesday, June 21 at 1 p.m. Rain or shine! Every Tuesday! Wednesday! Thursday! Friday! Saturday! 1-5 p.m. until we PARADE WHAT WE MADE on the 4th of July.
If you're planning to come to the first few days of the Puppets on Parade workshop, here are some things you can bring along for recycling into art; metal hangers, compact discs, colored papers of all varieties, bamboo poles. Also I recommend wearing sunglasses/hat, and bringing a bottle of water.
Meanwhile, for inspiration I recommend checking out the Fremont Solstice Parade this Saturday, June 18th at noon, a picnic and then the pageant at 3:30 in Gasworks Park. I'll be watching the parade from under the troll bridge. See you there!
-Wendy Jackson Hall
If you're planning to come to the first few days of the Puppets on Parade workshop, here are some things you can bring along for recycling into art; metal hangers, compact discs, colored papers of all varieties, bamboo poles. Also I recommend wearing sunglasses/hat, and bringing a bottle of water.
Meanwhile, for inspiration I recommend checking out the Fremont Solstice Parade this Saturday, June 18th at noon, a picnic and then the pageant at 3:30 in Gasworks Park. I'll be watching the parade from under the troll bridge. See you there!
-Wendy Jackson Hall
