From: Pam Corcoran <corcoranpuppets-AT-hotmail.com>
To: <puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org>
Date: Sun, 26 Apr 2009 17:19:09 -0500
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] UNIMA-USA's 40 under 40



I think Shirley Roman may be 90 as well...... she is currently living in Madison, Wisconsin.
Pam

> Date: Sat, 25 Apr 2009 11:16:49 -0400
> From: sapuppets-AT-gmail.com
> To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
> Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] UNIMA-USA's 40 under 40
> 
> Thoughts on lists (and awards too)When you think about it, the McPharlin
> book, Puppetry Journal, PI the UNIMA Citations are lists .
> The people who make it into the history books and magazines are all chosen
> by the editors. That is what editors do, they  make choices. (all artists
> make choices-what to put in and what to leave out)
> If the options are "no history at all" or "editors making choices" I would
> go with the editors even though no editors gets it exactly right. With a
> complex issue there is always more than one correct version of the story
> I think PI did a great service with this issue.
> They are by no means saying this is a definitive list. I think they are
> saying these 40 have done work of interest so lets keep an eye on them.
> When the UNIMA citations began it provided everyone with a great list of
> "try to see" or "must see"
> works by artists to watch. No awards system or list of "important artists"
> is perfect.
> 
> I think their very function is to stimulate thought and discussion, just
> like this one.
> It is always good to look at a list and ask "why are these people on the
> list?" and "why was so and so left off of the list?"
> 
> By the way, one of the whys has to do with geography. Theatre tends to be
> very local. It always has been. It was local audiences in Athens that
> supported Sophocles, local London audiences supported Shakespeare, Moscow
> audiences supported Chekhov. It is sort of a fluke when theatre artists get
> national or international recognition, and many fine theatre groups (and
> puppet groups) do not travel much beyond their own town or region.
> 
> That is why I was especially intrigued to read about young artists to watch
> from other countries. I am sure PI could have included dozens of them.
> 
> Now just for fun- a dozen puppeteers over 90
> 
> Yves Joly born 1908-French master of the hand ballet
> Osmond Moloarsky-mentioned in the first Puppetry Yearbook 1930, the novelist
> James Michener worked on puppet shows with Osmond!
> Marion Myers born 1913, did puppetry in Delaware and PA
> Bernice Silver born 1914 a legend
> Ann Cohen born 1916, NY NJ area, performed at many festivals
> Dora Velleman 1916 and Leo Velleman 1917, Canadian puppeteers performed at
> many festival and perhaps the oldest surviving Citation winners
> Marcia Brown 1918 award winning children's illustrator who did puppets in
> the 50s
> Carol Fijan 1918 a legend
> 90 Years old this year
> Pete Seeger,certainly a legend- folk music icon, and activist, did puppet
> shows in the 30s
> Doug Anderson, charter member of PofA (only 3 survive) actor, illustrator
> Ann Sharon, night club marionette performers, sister of Catherine Westfield
> Tamao Yoshisa a Bunraku living national treasure
> 
> I am sure I missed some. No list is perfect
> Steve
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Fri, Apr 24, 2009 at 4:10 AM, Andrew <puppetvision-AT-gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> > Has anyone got a copy of the latest issue of Puppetry International? I
> > think
> > the highlight of the issue is "40 Under 40" profiles of 40 puppetry artists
> > making a difference and doing impressive work. I haven't seen the actual
> > issue myself yet, but read a bit about this online.
> >
> > There are a lot of names on the list I was really happy to see - Gretchen
> > van Lente, Kate Brehm, Heather Henson, Basil Twist, Jason von Hinezmeyer
> > and Marsian Delellis among them - but is it just me or did this list ignore
> > film and video puppeteers in general and puppeteers who perform mainly on
> > the web in particular? Or was it suppose to just deal with theatre artists?
> >
> > For example, Jim Napolitano is on the list (which is a no-brainer really),
> > but no Tim Lagasse? How did John Tartaglia get missed? Sean and Patrick
> > Johnson of Swazzle seem to be another glaring omission, if only because
> > they
> > seem to be busier and more prolific than just about anybody working on the
> > West Coast right now.
> >
> > To be fair, they acknowledge on the UNIMA website that "many worthy young
> > artists are missing" and no list like this is every going to be perfect.
> > I'm
> > not really writing to criticize the list - I'm sure the editors/authors
> > worked hard on it and had to make some tough decisions - the whole concept
> > of it just kind of piqued my curiosity.
> >
> > You can see the list online at
> > http://www.unima-usa.org/sphpblog_0511/index.php
> >
> > - Andrew
> > _______________________________________________
> > List address: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
> > Admin interface: http://lists.puptcrit.org/mailman/listinfo/puptcrit
> > Archives: http://www.driftline.org
> >
> _______________________________________________
> List address: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
> Admin interface: http://lists.puptcrit.org/mailman/listinfo/puptcrit
> Archives: http://www.driftline.org

_________________________________________________________________
Rediscover Hotmail=AE: Get quick friend updates right in your inbox. 
http://windowslive.com/RediscoverHotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Rediscover_Updates2_042009
_______________________________________________
List address: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Admin interface: http://lists.puptcrit.org/mailman/listinfo/puptcrit
Archives: http://www.driftline.org