MARCH 16–19, 2017 A celebration of Puppets, Masks and all things Animated!
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CONTENTS Letters of Support
Welcome
The Unlikely Birth of Istvan
The Umbrella / Le Parapluie Red Leather Yellow Leather
Loon
Dolly Wiggler Cabaret Animovies
Handmade Puppet Dreams
Festival Schedule
4–5 6 7 9
10 11 13 14 15
16–17
Face Off
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A Perturbed Palette of Pickled Pickings
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Leighton Reliquary
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Timmy, Tommy and The Haunted Hotel
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U of C Showcase
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Broken Sugar Bowl
Mini-Theatre Arcade
Learning Component
World Puppetry Day
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BOOK YOUR TICKETS TODAY! Online: PUPPETFESTIVAL.CA • By Phone: 403.294.9494
In Person: ARTS COMMONS BOX OFFICE at 225 8th Ave SE (main floor)
BEST DEAL! FLEX PASS: Four ticket vouchers to use in any combination to any show for only $100* Available at Arts Commons Box Office either by phone or in person. *Limited quantities, while supplies last.
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LETTERS OF SUPPORT
LETTERS OF SUPPORT
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W
elcome to the eighth edition of the Festival of Animated Objects. They say it takes a community to raise a puppet, and indeed, as you will see, that is the case. But, there is more to it than that.
It takes a community to bring a puppet to life. Without this gathering of people, the puppet would simply be a block of wood, or wad of paper and glue, wiggled about by a crazed artist. These creatures live through our energy, and because of this, we can look deeper into the collection of tics that make us humans.
We bring not only puppets, but also masks and odds and ends, from as far as we can reach, in order to celebrate what it means to be alive, to struggle, to accomplish, to cry and to laugh—to participate in this mad effort that we call life.
There are many folks who deserve thanks for what you will see at the festival, but first, please thank yourself for agreeing to participate. We thank the army that has paid the sweat equity to make it all happen: the artists, the volunteers and the helpful programs. Thanks to CAOS for keeping our feet moving in the right direction.
It all adds up to this moment of discovery we will share at Calgary’s premier occasion of all things animated. And on and on it goes, and glad to have you here. Pete Balkwill Co-Artistic Director, Curator Live Programming
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Photograph by Jason Stang
THE UNLIKELY BIRTH OF ISTVAN
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Created by The Old Trout Puppet Workshop DJD DANCE CENTRE MARCH 15-26, 2017 • VARIOUS TIMES
AGE 18+
TICkETS AT puppetfestival.ca
ack in the apocalyptic winter of 1999, a ragtag gaggle of peculiar people gathered on a ranch in southern Alberta and called themselves The Old Trout Puppet Workshop. After months of monkish isolation, they managed to distill the fundamental truths of the cosmos into a concise theorem: a metaphysical Punch and Judy show for adults, explaining birth, death, and everything in between. They premiered the show in the old bunkhouse to an audience of bewildered cowboys and Hutterites, and the rest is history… minor history, yes, but history nonetheless, for the Old Trouts have since gone on to tour the world with their work, and The Unlikely Birth of Istvan – specially remounted this year for the Festival of Animated Objects – is the show that started it all.
*Please note that there will be a limited number of Pay-What-You-Can tickets available at the door for the March 15 preview performance.
Arrive early for free evening pre-show performances of Dung The Road / Pommes de route March 16, 17 & 18
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Tickets are
is pleased to present
SELLING FAST Post-show Reception
SOLD OUT
IN CONCERT International Superstar Soprano
Anna NETREBKO And Tenor
Yusif EYVAZOV Conducted by
Jader BIGNAMINI with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
ONE NIGHT ONLY Sunday, April 30, 2017 7:30 pm, Jack Singer Concert Hall
For tickets visit www.calgaryopera.com
Upcoming in the April issue of Alberta Views Max Fawcett questions how we fund political parties. The NDP recently changed party finance rules, but did the changes go far enough? Graham Thomson also looks at the ethics of “political staff ” working inside government. Subscribe and have the next 10 issues delivered right to your door.
albertaviews.ab.ca 8
THE UMBRELLA Quest Theatre, Puente Theatre and The Old Trout Puppet Workshop
ALL AGES TICkETS AT puppetfestival.ca
with artistic contribution from Nikki Loach
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ARTS COMMONS ENGINEERED AIR THEATRE MARCH 18, 2017 • 1:00 PM French Performance 3:30 PM English Performance
he Umbrella tells the inspiring story of the relationship between an umbrella to its owner. Through this exquisite narrative of love, loyalty and devotion, we discover that even imperfect, a person remains worthy of being loved. During a storm, our heroes suffer damage, but love triumphs!
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The show is an adaptation of the book written and illustrated by Judd Palmer, nominated in 2012 for the Governor General's Literary Award for Children's Literature.
e Parapluie raconte l’histoire édifiante de la relation qui unit un parapluie à son propriétaire. À travers ce récit exquis d’amour, de loyauté et de dévotion, nous découvrons que même en difficulté, imparfaite, voire brisée, une personne demeure estimable et digne d’être aimée. Lors d’une tempête, nos héros subissent des dommages, mais l’amour triomphe! Le spectacle est une adaptation du livre écrit et illustré par Judd Palmer, nominé en 2012 pour le Prix littéraire du Gouverneur général – littérature jeunesse.
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AGE 14+
TICkETS AT puppetfestival.ca
RED LEATHER YELLOW LEATHER Presented by Fool Spectrum Theatre Co-created and performed by: Bill Yong and Barry Bilinsky
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ARTS COMMONS ENGINEERED AIR THEATRE MARCH 19, 2017 • 4:30 PM midst contemporary cultural confusions, two champions arise. Watch as two clowns–Stan Lee, a second-generation Chinese Canadian, and Neech, his Metis-Cree cultural counterpart–take back their traditions in a battle against… a homogeneous Canadian Identity! Does it fulfill cultural diversity quotas? Yes. Is it racist? Maybe. Is it funny? Probably, who knows? Only one way to find out.
Red Leather Yellow Leather is a developing clown duo show that debuted in the 2015 Edmonton International Fringe Festival. It has since been work-shopped at the Mile Zero Dirt Buffet Cabaret #8 and the 2017 Rubaboo Aboriginal Arts Festival.
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Photograph by Andrew Phoenix
LOON By WONDERHEADS Theatre ARTS COMMONS ENGINEERED AIR THEATRE
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MARCH 17, 2017 • 8:00 PM
AGE 10+
TICkETS AT puppetfestival.ca
MARCH 18, 2017 - 8:00 PM
A MAN. THE MOON. A MOST PECULIAR LOvE STORY.
xperience a love story that whisks a man to the moon and back. Donning their signature oversized masks and propelled by questions of amorous proportions, the WONDERHEADS step into the life of a lonely man and look for love. Francis, who is plagued by isolation and tickled by whispers of childhood imagination, has hit rock bottom and discovers that he has nowhere to go but up. And up. And up! But will plucking the moon from the sky bring him the love he is searching for?
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DREAM . CREATE . EXPLORE DESIGN DE DESIG DESI DES & MAKE MAK MA M A DECORATIVE DECORATIV DE DECORATI DECORAT DECORA DECOR DECO DEC MASK MA MAS
DISCOVER DISCOVE D DISCO DISC DIS DISCOV I THE TH ART AR A OF O NEE N NEEDLENEEDL NEED NEEDLE E -FEL FE ING FELTI FELT IN
LEARN LE LEAR LEA HOW HO H TO T DO D GLASS GL GLA GLAS G SF FUSION FUSIO FUSI FUS U
The Long Grass Studio & Workshop is your place to learn new skills, explore your dreams and to hang out with like-minded artists. Our Classes run every month. Get the full experience with small intimate groups, personal attention and schedules to fit your needs. We specialize in building custom Puppets and Masks for your Theatre Production. References available.
Juanita (403) 809-7464 Pat (403) 542-0440 EM longgrassstudio@shaw.ca www.longgrassstudio@shaw.ca
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DOLLY WIGGLER CABARET THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION
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MARCH 17, 2017 • 9:30 PM MARCH 18, 2017 • 9:30 PM
FAST, FUN, FURIOUS PUPPETRY!
AGE 18+ TICkETS AT puppetfestival.ca
ook your tickets early! An extremely popular night of short form puppetry for adult audiences, you’ll see the best of the fest and new raw material. The Legion stage will be packed with edgy, hilarious and unforgettable performances that will be burned into your memory. The Dolly Wiggler Cabaret is not to be missed.
The Cabaret Compère Anne Lalancette is a professional puppeteer for film and Tv. She has performed with Théâtre de l'Oeil and in The Grandstand show of the Calgary Stampede. For the past 3 years, she was co-directing the OUF! Festival Off Casteliers in Montreal. She is also a frequent collaborator, builder and performer with The Old Trout Puppet Workshop.
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AGE 14+
TICkETS AT puppetfestival.ca
ANIMOVIES! (International)
Curated by Xstine Cook Sponsored by CAOS and EMMEDIA
THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION (upstairs) MARCH 18, 2017 • 1:00 PM
Explore the mad world of curious, dark, intriguing, and hilarious puppet and stop-motion films from around the world. Mature themes.
Featuring: Blue (kristina Troske), The Owl & the Lemming (Taqqut Productions), Knit in Motion (Maureen Hilton), The Date (Svet Doytchinov), The Itching (Dianne Bellino), I Could Eat a Horse (Jake Hovell), Artemis (Heather Freeman), Haiku 9: TRADE (Lyle Pisio), Skateboarding Pants (Colton Willier), Lilly’s Big Day, Lilly Gets a Pet, Lilly Hits the Road (The Bum Family).
Xstine Cook is a self-taught, award-winning filmmaker. She also leads Calgary Animated Objects Society’s artist-inresidence programs, which include Identity Mask Making and Storytelling through Media Art.
ANIMOvIES is part of Emmedia Production Society’s Homegrown Curator Series.
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HANDMADE PUPPET DREAMS: FAMILY COLLECTION Produced by Heather Henson THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION (upstairs) MARCH 18, 2017 • 2:30 PM
Back by popular demand! A collection of family-friendly short films featuring live action puppets, handpicked by Heather Henson.
HEATHER HENSON The youngest of Jim and Jane Henson’s five children, Heather produces and distributes the HMPD film series, and the annual Orlando Puppet Festival. She creates original environmental theatre spectacles and has a variety of onscreen appearances in major movies. She’s also involved in Puppet Slam, an online networking resource connecting puppeteers and venues.
ALL AGES
HANDMADE PUPPET DREAMS: VOLUME VII
Produced by Heather Henson
THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION (upstairs) MARCH 18, 2017 • 4:00 PM
A dark and intriguing collection of shorts featuring marionettes, and live action puppets. Curated by Heather Henson (USA), Handmade Puppet Dreams produces DIY puppet films focusing on real-time puppetry performed specifically for the camera. See puppetfestival.ca for complete listings.
AGE 14+
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Thurs., March 16
FACEOFF & RELIQUARY 10.00 am - 4:00 pm (runs until April 29, 2017)
ISTVAN 7:30–8:30 pm
Fri., March 17
FACEOFF & RELIQUARY 10.00 am - 4:00 pm (runs until April 29, 2017)
TIMMY TOMMY 7:00–8:00 pm
ISTVAN 7:30–8:30 pm
LOON 8:00–8:45 pm DOLLY WIGGLER CABARET 9:30–11:30 pm
BOOK YOUR TICKETS TODAY! Online: PUPPETFESTIVAL.CA • By Phone: 403.294.9494 In Person: ARTS COMMONS BOX OFFICE at 225 8th Ave SE (main floor)
BEST DEAL! FLEX PASS: Four ticket vouchers to use in any combination to any show for only $100* • Available at Arts Commons Box Office either by phone or in person. *Limited quantities, while supplies last.
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Sat., March 18
Sun., March 19
U OF C SHOW 11:30 am–12:30 pm
U OF C SHOW 11:00 am–12:00 pm
PUPPET POP-UP 12:00 noon–5:00 pm
P. PALETTE 12:30–12:50 pm
FACEOFF & RELIQUARY 10.00 am - 4:00 pm (runs until April 29, 2017)
ANIMOVIES 1:00–2:00 pm ISTVAN 2:00–3:00 pm TIMMY TOMMY 3:00–4:00 pm
THE UMBRELLA (FR) 1:00–2:00 pm
HANDMADE PUPPET DREAMS: FAMILY 2:30–3:30 pm
THE UMBRELLA (ENG) 3:30–4:30 pm
HANDMADE PUPPET DREAMS: VOLVII 4:00–5:30 pm BROKEN SUGAR BOWL 7:00–7:45 pm
BROKEN SUGAR BOWL 3:30–4:15 pm RED L / YELLOW L 4:30–5:30 pm
ISTVAN 7:30–8:30 pm
LOON 8:00–8:45 pm
DOLLY WIGGLER CABARET 9:30–11:30 pm
Arts Commons Engineered Air Theatre 205 8 Ave SE Motel Theatre at Arts Commons 225 8 Ave SE DJD Dance Centre 111 12 Ave SE
Leighton Art Centre 282027 144 St W, Millarville #1 Royal Canadian Legion 116 7 Ave SE
Arts Learning Centre at Arts Commons 225 8 Ave SE
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Photograph by Sean Dennie
ALL AGES
TICkETS BY DONATION
FACE OFF Xstine Cook, CAOS & Sunalta School LEIGHTON ART CENTRE
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MARCH 11 – APRIL 29, 2017 • 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
Closed Sunday & Monday Opening reception: March 11, 2:00-4:00 pm
iscover how wild and varied Canadian identity can be in this remarkable collection of handmade threedimensional masks. Xstine Cook, the artists of CAOS, and over 300 participants from Sunalta School undertook an immersive process of introspection, family memory collection, and mask making in celebration of Canada’s 150th.
Xstine Cook studied mask making in Bali, Italy, France, and the West Coast of Canada. A graduate of Dell’Arte Theatre School in California, Xstine is the founder of CAOS, the Festival of Animated Objects, and Green Fools Theatre.
Calgary Animated Objects Society (CAOS) is dedicated to the art of mask and puppetry, and is the founding organization of the Festival of Animated Objects.
Sunalta School enjoyed making masks to explore “How does our history impact who we are now?”
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Photograph by Jason Stang
LEIGHTON RELIQUARY A puppet show and ghost story
Conceived by Peter Balkwill and Stephanie Doll Created by Peter Balkwill, Stefanie Staples
ALL AGES
TICkETS BY DONATION
and Nick Johnson LEIGHTON ART CENTRE
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MARCH 11 – APRIL 29, 2017 • 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
Closed Sunday & Monday Opening Reception: March 11, 2:00–4:00 pm
ver the past 40 years, the Leighton Art Centre has lured many of Alberta’s greatest creators into its domain. Whether to inspire through breathtaking views or to provide space to ply their creative efforts, the LAC has long been a hub for creative minds, but also a hoarder of creative energy and objects. This cache has now been unearthed. On display are the curious artefacts of the LAC, accompanied by a graphic novel to present both the true and imagined history of this amazing historic resource. Leighton Reliquary will ignite your imagination and may just keep some of it for itself. Created in partnership with the Canadian Academy of Mask and Puppetry, the Leighton Art Centre, and The Rosza Foundation
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ALL 14+
pay-what-you-can
A PERTURBED PALETTE OF PICKLED PICKINGS
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Created by Demmi Dupri and Laura Rezko MOTEL THEATRE AT ARTS COMMONS MARCH 19, 2017 • 12:30 PM
guest undertakes a surreal exploration of the challenges and rewards of connection and being alone, when a dining experience takes a turn for the strange.
SHOUT OUT!
Festival vOLUNTEERS, puppets around the world THANk YOU and so do we!
Pulling strings, manipulating objects, rousing curiosity, picking up, delivering, seating, distributing, informing, posting, printing, collating, feeding… breathe life into the festival and we couldn’t do it without you!
If you’re intrigued by objects and gadgets and thingamajigs and would like to get involved we are sure to have a string or two for you to pull.
Check out how at puppetfestival.ca
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TIMMY, TOMMY AND THE HAUNTED HOTEL By Ali DeRegt and Kathryn Smith Music and lyrics by Kathryn Smith
AGE 14+
TICkETS AT puppetfestival.ca
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MOTEL THEATRE AT ARTS COMMONS MARCH 17, 2017 • 7:00 PM MARCH 18, 2017 • 3:00 PM
hen sisters Timmy and Tommy get trapped inside the old Barrington Hotel, they’ll have to work alongside the ghostly inhabitants if they ever want to make it out alive—or home in time for dinner. Using original music, humour, and puppetry, Timmy, Tommy, and the Haunted Hotel is a black comedy about death, change, and a couple of ordinary kids.
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AGE 14+
TICkETS AT puppetfestival.ca
BROKEN SUGAR BOWL Created by Juanita Dawn, Tamara Unroe and Nan Balkwill Produced by Long Grass Studio & Workshop
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MOTEL THEATRE AT ARTS COMMONS MARCH 18, 2017 • 7:00 PM MARCH 19, 2017 • 3:30 PM he Long Grass Studio and Workshop pulled together a dream team of puppet artists and performers to bring you this delightful, multimedia adult puppet play. Three poems are woven together to create a story of “Old Woman” through the symbolic and iconic lens of puppetry.
The inspiration for this forty-minute play comes from award-winning Canadian poet, Mildred Tremblay. Tremblay was an exceptional woman whose writing is both timeless and timely. She lived through years of dramatic social change for women, recording it with wit and spice, addressing women’s issues and experiences that are still urgently relevant today. Her poems have big, bold feminist themes, softened with curves of humour.
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U of C SHOWCASE Created by students from the School of Creative and Performing Arts
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MOTEL THEATRE AT ARTS COMMONS
AGE 14+
TICkETS AT puppetfestival.ca
MARCH 18, 2017 • 11:30 AM MARCH 19, 2017 • 11:00 AM
workshop presentation of new and experimental puppet and mask exploration—deconstructing our expected and experienced notion of what puppetry is and revealing what is possible when the mind is unfettered from restraint. See what the next generation of artists is up to.
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MINI THEATRE ARCADE
The puppets are taking over – here there and everywhere – the creatures fill the nooks and crannies of Arts Commons and spill into the streets. It’s a festival of brief small and intimate shows, free and open to the public. We have brought together some of the best puppeteers of this class and scale from Montreal, Regina and Calgary. Come and see what lurks between shows out in the open and remember: great things sometimes come in small packages.
DUNG THE ROAD POMMES DE ROUTE Created by: La ruée vers l'or DJD Dance Centre March 16 -18, 2017 (evenings prior to The Unlikely Birth of Istvan)
Snare and stallion, banjo and leather boots. Dung the Road is a collection of scurrilous tales, presented in three separate shows. A dusty romance, some breathtaking tumbles, and a Spaghetti Western for whom the sauce would have turned a little. A threesome with the best country spices! Free with ticket to The Unlikely Birth of Istvan
THE PIPEMAN Created and interpreted by Claudeine Rivest Banquet Terrace at Arts Commons Various Times
A playful quest of a curious and charming character messing up in a world filled with sewing objects. Find out how a simple thimble can turn a bad hair day into a fabulous destiny in this poetic and mind-blowing adventure for all. Presented in a miniature puppet theatre. No spoken words. For a full list of Mini Theatre Arcade events check out puppetfestival.ca 24
SOMNAMBULIST PUPPET SIDESHOW Created by Prairie Puppet Underground Various Venues
Straight from Regina, Saskatchewan’s Prairie Puppet Underground brings you an assortment of dark and mysterious puppet sideshow attractions, from a Fortune Teller and What-Is-Its to Small Animal Acts and Peep Shows! The Somnambulist Puppet Sideshow is bound to fill you with wonder and delight!
THE SUITCASE THEATRE ARCADE by Kyle Hinton Various Venues
Experience The Suitcase Theatre Arcade. Peer through the eye holes and zone in on brief trips into mini worlds where space satellites breed monsters or where gerbils engage in a western showdown. These 2 minute, puppet shows are one-on-one, audience/puppet experiences that will leave you blown away with delight.
STORIES WE TELL Created by Sherron Burns Various Venues
Stories We Tell is an exhibit of sculptures that invites the viewer to engage by moving components, looking inside, adding layers. What memories or associations arise? What is the story you tell?
For a full list of Mini Theatre Arcade events check out puppetfestival.ca 25
12th EDITION
FESTIVAL de
CASTELIERS MARIONNETTES
FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN
MARCH 8 TO 12, 2017
MONTREAL (QC)
festival.casteliers.ca
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LEARNING COMPONENT CO-PRODUCED BY WP PUPPET THEATRE
Photograph by Jenn Pierce
WORKSHOPS & PANELS Puppets ignite our imagination and give us a voice to tell our stories!
Together the Festival of Animated Objects and WP Puppet Theatre offer you opportunities to find your voice through the art of mask and puppetry. There is something for everyone.
FREE
PUPPET POP-UP STUDIO: PAPER FOLDED BIRDS Co-Produced by WP Puppet Theatre • Arts Learning Centre at Arts Commons March 18, 2017 12:00 noon – 5:00 PM
We invite the young and the young at heart to try your hand at making your own puppet. Cut, fold, colour and glue, it’s that easy! Drop by the Arts Learning Centre on the main floor of Arts Commons to learn fun paper sculpture techniques and make your own feathered friend puppet. Celebrate real or imaginary birds that can sing, squawk or flap their wings. Great for ages 4 and up. Materials and tools supplied.
For a complete list of workshops and panels check out puppetfestival.ca
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Festival of Student Work
A wide range of performances, recitals and concerts from Dance, Drama and Music students School of Creative and Performing Arts March 27 - April 1 April 5-8 Reeve Theatre, UCalgary scpa.ucalgary.ca
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WORLD PUPPETRY DAY PUPPETS!
Original creations, mythical creatures, and curious beasts, objects and gadgets, and thingamajigs beguiled by puppet-masters and artists alike, stir our collective imaginations.
They breathe life into our stories, arouse our curiosity and suspend our judgment. They open our minds to new worlds and new ideas!
March 21 marks a day of celebration for puppets and their masters the world ‘round. A day when they can loosen their strings and take a bow for the wonder they inspire and the delight they bring. Here’s to you from all of us at the Festival of Animated Objects!
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STAFF / SPECIAL THANKS STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS
Xstine Cook Founder, Co-Artistic Director, Curator of Film & video Pete Balkwill Co-Artistic Director, Curator Live Programming Gwen Murray Managing Producer Kelly Phelan Marketing Director
Joshua Dalledonne Associate Producer Thomas Hall Technical Director
Heather Cook volunteer Manager
Sean Dennie Festival Photographer Peter Moller Festival Designer
Johanna Schwartz Webmaster
Wendy Passmore Learning Component Coordinator
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SPECIAL THANKS
Pete Balkwill Zac Bolan Alex Bonyun Audrey Burke Cameron Clowe Xstine Cook Heather Cook Josh Dalledonne Bob Davis Sean Dennie Johan & Emily Denooji Samuel Djioua Beth Ed Megan Evans Niels Hagen Thomas Hall Colleen Harcourt Lisa Hodgkinson Jen Jamer Pityu kendres Ben Leavitt Sue Lemermeyer Peter Moller Allison Moore Diego Murray Makayla Murray Sandra Neil Judd Palmer Wendy Passmore kerrie Penney kelly Phelan kent Pigott Cherie Ratte Steve Schroeder Johanna Schwartz Ty Semaka Matt Smith kathi Sundstrom Art Zimmerman
CAOS IN THE SCHOOL IMAGINATIONS RUN WILD WITH CALGARY ANIMATED OBJECTS SOCIETY'S EDUCATIONAL RESIDENCIES. TACKLE CURRICULUM GOALS
Underland
WHILE CREATING MASKS, PUPPETS, AND ANIMATED VIDEOS
animatedobjects.ca • office@animatedobject.ca • 403.975.6262 PHOTO FROM WHO'S THE PUPPET NOW? A BOOK OF FAO PORTRAITS BY PHOTOGRAPHER SEAN DENNIE. ON SALE AT CAOS.
COMIN G S OON . . . A N EW S HOW F ROM THE OL D TROUT P UP P ET WORKS HOP
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SUPPORTERS
MOTEL Theatre at Arts Commons