Adventures in the Arroyo

ADVENTURES IN

Two puppets take a break from their usual duties to share their discoveries off Noah’s Ark.

Last April, when the inside of Noah’s Ark was still closed to visitors, an intrepid group of handcrafted puppets—designed by artist Chris Green and accompanied by the Skirball’s ensemble of highly skilled puppeteers—ventured outside to welcome families back to campus for a new experience called Noah’s Outdoor Explorers. Kitsune, the Japanese red fox, and Ostrich recently met in the South Arroyo to recall their adventures off the Ark.

[Ostrich twists and twirls her neck down to Kitsune’s level.] OSTRICH Oh, hello down there!

KITSUNE Hello, Ostrich!

[Kitsune plops in the grass, four legs splayed outwards.] OIt’s so serene in the South Arroyo. I was always running around or had my head in a hole before the pandemic. I never took time to appreciate this grassy area before. K Agreed! Like most people, after spending over a year safe but alone at home aboard the Ark, I love being outdoors, playing hide-and-seek with old friends again, and meeting new ones. [Kitsune pushes a strawberry with his nose.] O Did you sneak a strawberry off the Ark?! You’ve always been sly like that, Kitsune. K No, no! I know that’s not allowed. But the little ones do love to feed me. You know, they also like using their magnifying glasses from their explorer kits to find small surprises in the planter boxes. When they find hidden treasures, like a baby praying mantis or a small fruit, they often share their findings with me. It’s nice we don’t just talk about exploring, but also about sharing. I was saving this strawberry for later to share with someone new! O Well, I’m glad you haven’t lost your sense of taste! Speaking of the senses, what are some of your fondest sense memories from Noah’s Outdoor Explorers? K As you know, being an animal in the wild, one must consistently be present and mindful. I remember running with visiting friends through the Rainbow Mist Arbor, feeling cool drops on my tail. I sniffed all sorts of plants visitors brought to my nose in the Breezeway. More than anything, I cherished hearing children giggle while I performed in “Fabio the Fox and the Tree of Life.” O A favorite memory of mine, too! KWhy, thank you! [Ostrich shakes her feathers; Kitsune bows his head.] O That South American flood story is so inspiring—it almost makes me feel like I could fly! K Did you notice all the beautiful gifts that children left for us in the Arroyo? O I did! Our visitors have such great ideas about how to care for the Earth. The notes they left us and the pictures they drew were impressive. Clearly, your flood story really has had an impact on them! What’s next for you, Kitsune? K First, I’d better bring this strawberry back aboard the Ark. Then, you and I have more families to meet. O Together, we can make a difference! And eat lots of strawberries.

THE ARROYO

Above: Kitsune basks in the sun while chatting with Ostrich in the Skirball’s South Arroyo. Throughout the spring and into the summer, visitors of all ages enjoyed the Skirball’s many open-air spaces, celebrated the natural world, and discovered connections between the past and present. Facing page: Ostrich by Steve Cohn.