Jess Myers is one of the founding members of Squallis puppeteers in Louisville. She is continually inspired by the many roles that puppeteering allows her to play. She has been involved in puppet making, performance and music for six years. She has used these experiences in art education. Jess has made puppets with different ages in partnership with Kentucky Shakespeare Festival, Louisville Free Public Library, the Speed Art Museum, The Louisville Zoo, Jefferson County Elementary schools, and community centers in Louisville. The Squallis Puppeteers also develop original performances for adults and children. These shows range from musical dramas to large puppet parades using 8-10 ft. tall puppets and masked musicians. Jess is amazed by the array of possibilities in puppetry.
One sample residency that I can provide is the “Large Back Pack Puppet Project”. Creating a large puppet requires a group to work together. Depending on the size of the group, one or two puppets can be made. The project includes both Visual Art and Drama elements, which are both essential to the Art of Puppetry. Students will make one or more processional puppets and then learn how to bring that puppet to life with movement.
Residency Length- 10 days
Appropriate for 3rd- 12th grade
Students will learn:
Structures of Visual Arts
AH-05-1.4.2 Students will identify or describe how anartist uses various media and processes.
Media (plural) / medium (singular): (used to produceartworks)
Two-dimensional - crayon, pencil, paint, fabric, yarn, paper
Three-dimensional - clay, papier-mâché
Art processes:
Two-dimensional - drawing, painting, fiber art (e.g., fabric printing, stamping), collage
Three-dimensional - pottery, sculpture, fiber art (e.g., constructing with fiber, weaving, quilting)
Purposes of Drama
AH-05-3.3.1 Students will describe or explain how drama/theatre fulfills a variety of purposes.
Processes in Drama
AH-05-4.3.1 Students will create and perform using elements of drama (Literary, Technical, Performance)
Processes in Visual Arts
AH-05-4.4.2 Students will use a variety of media and art processes to produce two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) artwork.
The workshops:
The students study large puppets that Squallis has made and design their own based on the basic principals of puppetry and their own ideas for the puppet. I will ask them to draw a two dimensional sketch incorporating their ideas for the characters and the use of scale. I will lead a group exercise in following a diagram, measuring, and cutting Pvc. The frame of the puppet is converted from a written map to a three-dimensional frame. Heads and hands structures are made. Recycled pieces of egg-cartons, newspaper, or Styrofoam can be brought from home to create the mold of the face and hands of the puppet. Once complete, these structural molds are then layered with paper mache and left to dry. The garment, which covers the puppeteer, must be made from a pattern. Hair, eyes, and accessories will be added and the head and hands will be painted. Then the final assembly takes place. AH-05-4.4.2 and AH-05-1.4.2
Each Student should try the puppet on and convey an action or emotion. The use of the puppets is discussed. The performance is something that needs to be worked out with the school community or larger community. Large puppets made by students have been used for basketball cheerleaders, in dramatic presentations, and in neighborhood parades. The music department can always be involved with puppets. AH-05-3.3.1and AH-05-4.3.1
The large backpack puppet project reflects many of the stated learning goals of Kentucky Education Reform Act, such as, establishing a curriculum for multiple intelligences, and making interdisciplinary connections. This 10-day plan would expose children to information through direct observation, with a scale drawing, and by using a pattern. The puppet's measurements are translated into group understanding and then become a three dimensional object. Creative thought is essential for this project, but so is geometric understanding. Once the puppet is complete, the students are exposed to yet another form of expression, the performance. Puppets are wonderful introduction to theater because the actor is covered so students have more freedom to experiment with becoming a character. They are also invited to look at dance and movement in a new light. Most of all, students will learn to create a project that is much larger than their own individual part. They will have to work out differences and make decisions together. The performance is a great tool for more connections to be made, whether within the school or with the larger community. This project is very flexible and adapts easily to a range of final events. A school could use the project to raise awareness about social issues, or a to celebrate historical event. Large puppet making could accentuate almost any lesson.
NOTE: Jess Myers and Nora Christensen have developed a system of teaching that involves both of them in the residency. Certain parts of the residency are more successful with two instructors, such as the paper mache. Most of the lessons will just involve the person with more expertise in the area.