File puptcrit/puptcrit.0508, message 418


Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2005 14:34:02 -0400
From: Jamie Ashby <jamie.ashby-AT-utoronto.ca>
To: puptcrit-driftline.org-AT-lists.driftline.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Puppets hall of fame/smithsonian


The Canadian Museum of Civilization in Ottawa also has a huge collection, 
donated by the Ontario Puppetry Association (plus some other acquisitions, I 
believe). When I was near Ottawa a couple of weeks ago for the Almonte fest, I 
stopped by to check it out. The student workers had no clue what I was on 
about, and I was in a rush, so I couldn't pursue the issue. But they ARE 
there, or in storage, that much is certain. So, if you're interested in 
viewing them, best talk to a senior/head curator *ahead* of time, as I didn't 
think to do.


Best,

Jamie Ashby

PhD Candidate
Graduate Centre for Study of Drama,
University of Toronto

Co-founder, PuppUTopiate: the *only* puppet company at the Univ. of Toronto

Quoting Alan Cook <alangregorycook-AT-msn.com>:

> We may not have a Puppet Hall of Fame, but by virtue of important examples
> being in various collections and museums, there is a sort of informal PHOF.
> (Oh no! Another acronym!).
> 
> The Bil Baird collection at the MacNider Art Museum, the outstanding items 
at
> Detroit Institute of Arts built around items collected by Paul McPharlin and
> others, neat stuff in Atlanta's Center of Puppetry Arts, at UCONN, Brander
> Matthews collection stored at Columbia University, and so on. Some have
> permanent homes. COPA and I are still working on a permanent berth for an
> important collection, which as a permanent museum could be a tremendous
> resource for students, teachers, puppeteers, tourists and such. The HARDEST
> PART is getting the attention of movers and shakers in a community.
> 
> The Smithsonian collections are immense, and puppets  and tons of other 
items
> are mostly hidden away amongst warehouses, and I'd estimate that 90% of 
their
> stuff won't be seen in an average life-time: Hawaiian puppets, 100 year old
> Sri Lankan (Ceylon, when they were made) marionettes, animated Hopi 
kachinas,
> Winchell's Jerry Mahoney & sidekick, Bergen's Charlie and lots of
> stuff--Howdy Doody & Kermit too. That is treasure---mostly buried treasure.
> 
> 
> That is one reason I hope I can live long enough to see my own collection
> housed in a place of its own, preferably on the West Coast which can boast 
of
> two important hubs of  puppetry: San Francisco & Los Angeles areas. We don't
> have that yet, but COPA volunteers are working toward that goal 
> 
> I am convinced from many positive experiences that such permanent homes for
> puppets will show the Public the amazing variety of puppet history, and help
> future puppeteers survive.---ALAN COOK
> 
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