File puptcrit/puptcrit.0806, message 140


From: "Susan" <vanpuppet-AT-mtnisp.com>
To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Date: Sun, 15 Jun 2008 19:45:35 -0400
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Puppets seen as art or not?


Chris, you made some good points at the end of your post but I think that 
you have missed out on a lot that has been happening at festivals over the 
last few years.

Just this weekend in Savannah Puppet Gombo sponsored a festival in one of 
their wonderful parks with shows, make-and-take tables and a parade of giant 
puppets.  Angela estimated that there were 1500 people that visited the park 
between 10 and 2. The theater was large enough so that tickets were 
available for most of the performances in the theater .  I don't know how 
many local people came to any of the shows but there were many at the kids 
show on Saturday (Hobey Ford and Mad Cap).  And the 2 evening performances 
(Heather Henson's and Blair Thomas') were both attended by a good number of 
local adults. The exhibit was in a downtown gallery and open to the public. 
Angela and Martha did great publicity - newspaper, radio and personally 
contacting organizations etc.

Last year at the National there was a "Street Fair" at the University.  I 
don't know how many people attended but it was a lot.  There were also a 
number of performances just for the public.  Bob and Drew can tell you more 
about this.

Two years ago in Asheville there were also a number of performances for the 
public and the exhibit, which was in the same building, was also available 
to the public.

Four years ago, also in Asheville, in addition to the public performances, 
there was a wonderful parade downtown that culminated in a free performance 
at the square. The exhibit was at the Asheville Arts Council and up for a 
month.

Looking at a lot of the other regions' web site they are all including some 
type of public performances during the festival.

All of these things take a lot of time, organization and determination but 
each year the response gets better and better.  It is not an easy job to 
coordinate all of this but it can bring a little extra, much needed money 
into the festival in addition to putting our best foot forward and showing 
off some of our best puppet companies.

And that is my 2 cents.

Susan





----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Christopher Hudert" <heyhoot-AT-mindspring.com>
To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2008 3:29 PM
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Puppets seen as art or not?


> Changed the subject line slightly ...
>
> On Jun 11, 2008, at 12:58 PM, Alan Cook wrote:
>
>> Why am I so fussy? Because puppet exhibits are still fairly rare in
>> comparison to other art exhibits---ie: we don't get to show good stuff
>> to the public often enough, and when we leave too much important stuff
>> out, to me it is another lost opportunity to edcate the public.
>
> This is one of my pet peeves of puppetry in general, but particularly
> of the P of A. I believe we are VERY good at hiding our light under a
> bushel basket, which is NOT a good thing. Here we are entering P of A
> (and others) festival season. Shows, workshops, stores, and more often
> than not, some really good exhibits are all features of the festivals.
> How often is the public included in the activities? How often is the
> public able to see the exhibits? How often are exhibits and/or shows
> extended beyond the festival site where the public would be better
> exposed to what is offered? How often are the myriad of shows open to
> the public? How often is the festival cross marketed to like minded
> organizations locally, regionally, or nationally (ie clowns, magicians,
> vents, storytellers, librarians, teachers, and so on)? In my
> observation and opinion, the answer to most if not all of those
> questions is RARELY. Yes, there are exceptions to the rule, but it sure
> seems to me that the potential golden opportunity to expose and educate
> the public is at best under utilized, if not totally lost. If we as
> individual puppeteers and festival organizers can't make the most of
> this opportunity when all of the pieces are being assembled and readily
> available, how can we wonder when it is difficult to accomplish as a
> stand alone event? When it comes time to place the blame on why our
> shared art is not better recognized and/or understood, I have to quote
> Pogo from long ago. I don't recall the exact words, but it is something
> like "I have met the enemy, and he is us."  Few of us have the
> dedication of Alan Cook, John Bell, or the handful of others who seem
> to work tirelessly pushing this rope up hill while the rest of us bat
> at it like playful kittens. But if we want there to be change, we must
> individually and collectively be a part of that change.
>
> So I have to ask of myself and the readers of this post: what have YOU
> done lately to promote the art of puppetry? Not your individual part of
> it, or your shows, but the larger art? Have you lectured at your local
> library, high school, college, civic club, or other group? Have you
> worked with an organization to exhibit your puppet collection (and
> maybe some things borrowed from others if your collection isn't large
> or varied) during World Puppetry Day or the National Day of Puppetry?
> Have you made the rounds of the art galleries and/or museums to try to
> get an exhibit of puppetry set up? Have you recruited interested
> parties to join your local guild? Have you written an article for the
> newsletter of your own or other guilds? How have you shared the passion
> for the art with others outside of your circle? (Yes, it's fun to go to
> on line and physical gatherings of like minded people, but that expands
> within the circle, not outside of it.) If you've done some or all of
> these things, is it time to do it again? If you've tried unsuccessfully
> to do some or all of these things, it IS time to try again. Only by
> being an active, constant, advocate will change happen. Some (maybe
> even much) of this will be on your own time and on your own dime. It
> will take time, but eventually (and gradually) the desired change of
> the way puppetry is seen will happen.
>
> Okay, I'll get off of my soap box before I really get into a rant.
>
> Christopher
>
> _______________________________________________
> List address: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
> Admin interface: http://lists.puptcrit.org/mailman/listinfo/puptcrit
> Archives: http://www.driftline.org


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