material pursuits

all sizes and can say things that humans can’t.”

Sandy Smith Gerding, Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival’s Executive Director, grew up in Winnetka and graduated from New Trier High School. She studied dance and French culture at the University of Illinois and after a career in arts management, coaching, and helping develop arts organizations, she was drawn to the magic that puppetry offers.

“This is a great group of people, and there’s a newness and excitement to it, an energy around the people and a lot of sense of discovery,” Gerding says. “Puppetry is very poetic and physical.”

Gerding says the World Puppet Festival which is held every two years in CharlevilleMézières in Northern France, serves as an inspiration for how she and the festival team want to grow the event in Chicago. “Chicago is the largest puppetry festival in North America and doing international programming is not for the weak of heart,” she says. “You’ve got to grind through the visa machine and there’s lodging, translation, and transportation to arrange.”

This year’s program was assembled with the help of a new curatorial committee that sought a balance between show size, available venues, variety of audiences, and new business partnerships.

“We have to make business choices but also be inclusive, including different voices and women directors to ensure there’s range of work and cultures being presented,” she says. “We want as broad a group as possible.”

Yngvild Aspeli is artistic director of Plexus Polaire, the French-Norwegian company performing the opening show of “Moby Dick.” She develops a visual world that brings buried feelings to life and uses life-sized puppets, music, and light and video as equal elements in communicating a story.

“Puppetry is a form that constantly is reinventing itself,” she says. “It goes beyond genre, and fearlessly crosses the borders of other artistic expressions. Puppetry is not only a form, but also a way of seeing the world, a language, a state of mind.”

Photography by Christophe Raynaudde Lang

The Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival takes place from January 18 to January 29 at locations around Chicago. To access a full lineup of performances and events and to purchase tickets, visit chicagopuppetfest.org.

This weekend’s curated luxury trends.

PACK IT

Hinsdale’s Maggie Gerth is the genius behind PROPS LUGGAGE, a

carry-on approved roller case with built-in legs. This first-of-a-kind suitcase can serve as its own luggage rack, airport work station, or even a dining table. With travel sometimes bumpy these days, choosing a welldesigned bag like this can make a big difference in your trips. Props Luggage is lightweight and designed with a top-lid opening, which makes it easy to pack. propsluggage.com

HIT THE SLOPES

Generations of local children and teens have participated in Trolls, the ski and snowboarding program at KING KEYSER.

Not many things inspire kids to be up and on a bus early on Saturday morning, but the thrill of being with friends is reason enough to fill several coaches for the eight-week season. This month kicks off the 59th season of Trolls. It’s quite an accomplishment with an incredible roster of alumni skiers. kingkeyser.com

PAGE THROUGH IT

Does White Lotus season two have you pining for an Aperol Spritz and a plate of pasta with a view of the sea? Add this beautiful book to your library for an afternoon of armchair traveling. The lush photography and lively storytelling perfectly captures la dolce vita. assouline.com