Puppets - Fascinating Characters and Charming Creatures!
Hull, Quebec, May 30,1996 - The Canadian Museum of Civilization (CMC) presents these intriguing individuals in a brand-new exhibition entitled Strings, Springs and Finger Things: A New Puppet Collection at the Museum. The exhibition features 162 puppets covering various themes and will be shown from May 30, 1996 to October 12, 1997 in the CMC's Arts and Traditions Hall.
"The exhibition is a tribute to the poetry, humour and magic which imbues each puppet, as well as to the astonishing creativity and imagination of the artist-puppeteers," says Constance Nebel, curator of the exhibition.
The puppets come from the collection of the Ontario Puppetry Association, given to the CMC in 1994. This major collection focuses primarily on contemporary production in Ontario (from the 1950s to 1990), but also includes puppets from a variety of different cultures.
The grandfather of Dudley the Dragon - yes, the very first Dudley of stage renown, before his television stardom - welcomes visitors and sets the tone for the exhibition. With inventiveness and imagination, the exhibition presents a wide range of puppets from the many styles of puppet theatre: Sicilian rod marionette; characters from fairy tales and children's television; Indonesian shadow figures; the celebrated Punch and Judy; Japanese Bunraku theatre; and much more. Visitors will discover that puppets don't always come with strings attached - for example, the secrets of body puppets, of marottes or of water puppets will also be revealed.
An interactive area has been set up for visitors of all ages who want to try their puppeteering skills. Hand puppets, rod puppets and rod marionettes will be on hand, and aspiring puppet-masters can watch them come to life before a mirror - or on television! Several puppet shows will also be presented in the Theatre and the Grand Hall, and a number of workshops have been planned for children.
Over the course of the summer, Strings, Springs and Finger Things will have its own page on the CMCC Web site. This virtual visit to the world of puppets includes a wide range of photos, some of which enable a puppet to be seen from all sides.
Information (media):
Media Relations Officer: (819) 776-7169
Senior Media Relations Officer: (819) 776-7167
Fax: (819) 776-7187
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