BGMC in the Toronto Star & In the Catholic Schools

I am extremely proud that I had the opportunity to work as the mask and puppet designer on Boys, Girls, & Other Mythological Creatures by Mark Crawford. It's a beautiful play about the importance of being true to oneself and accepting people for who they are. I got to work with astoundingly talented designer Brian Dudkiewicz and the always brilliant director Jessica Carmichael. The cast and crew were so wonderful, and I  was pleased to see it get a good write up in the Toronto Star -- and very happy about the nod to my work.

In less good news, the Niagara District Catholic School Board has cancelled five of the performances that were scheduled for their schools. Appalling. You can read playwright Mark Crawford's eloquent open letter here and director Jessica Carmichael's equally eloquent letter here.

Shotgun Wedding in the Falls

Among the projects I have on the go, I'm working on puppets and other items for Shotgun Wedding: Cirque Caberet (Zacadia Circus/Greg Frewin Theatre). Made so far: two puppets with movable mouths, a ticket booth on wheels. Still to finish, two life-sized puppets and a huge, red Elvis wig. I truly do love my job.

Me, with two hours sleep, saying so long to the puppets.

Ticket booth.

Ticket booth with cutie pie kid.

Boys, Girls, & Other Mythological Creatures

Finished up my work on Carousel Players' Boys, Girls, and Other Mythological Creatures. Written by Mark Crawford, directed by Jessica Carmichael, it is a truly wonderful production. Every kid should see it. Heck, every person should see it. A few shots of my work. Unfortunately, I don't have a good photo of the 14' tail.

Currently working on puppets for Shotgun Wedding. Super fun. Also a mask for Ottawa-based photographer Lesia Maruschak and puppets for XPT in Atlanta in May.

Giant blinking dragon eye

Dragon mask

Tail in progress

Eye, claw, tail (almost finished)

Busy, Busy

Not a word from me in ages, but my fall was wonderfully busy with much mask and puppet making, writing, and workshops. Spring is shaping up to be even busier, but this is good – I work best when very busy. With five projects on the go, I should be working well indeed! In the wee hours of tonight, I’m working on a project that I’m co-creating with Alexa Fraser. It’s titled Eating Animals. Darksome fun. The croc (as well as his lower jaw, hands, and teeth) will be cast tomorrow.

Thank you, OAC!

A huge thanks to the Ontario Arts Council for supporting the exhibition of my Science Fiction B-Movie puppet installation in the Niagara Artists Centre's Plate Glass Gallery. I had a blast making these puppets, and working with my fellow Puppet-A-Go-Go members is always inspiring. 

Voix de Ville

So Voix de Ville was a blast. A photo of Alexa Fraser, me, and poor Dante-the-Puppet as we wait to perform The Enormous Elsewhere's Magic Show of Mishaps.

Chatting with the Mayor about Voix de Ville

Me wearing my artist and my NAC board pres hats at the same time. Annie Wilson and I start talking at about 15:00.

Studio

In about six weeks, this sweet garage will be fixed up and studio ready. Finally, a contractor is coming through. New windows, drywall, insulation (essential for the cold Canadian winters), new lighting, new electrical outlets, a railing for the loft. It will be good. Of course this means I’m spending far too much on Pinterest looking at storage and studio set up, but there are worse ways to fritter one’s time.