Puppets and Parade Art
In 2007 I participated in my first art parade. When I experienced a grassroots parade action I fell in love. The weird wonderful excitement of making crazy art with the community then putting it on a shopping cart and walking down the street made me smitten. I somehow have incorporated it into my practices.I love doing it I love seeing peoples faces when they unexpectedly get to hold something really neat in an art parade so many joyful memories. So many beautiful moments I get to experience with others.
Catfish for Mississippi Earthtones Fest
This is how I build most of the larger pieces these right in the dining room I us paper cache and bamboo for the larger structure.
Dragonzo
This project almost did not happen! With the amazing collaborative effort of other artist this was able to roll and flap the wings as it's dragon momma wanted.
Pegasus
This was created for the Tower Grove Pride: "Pride and Joy Parade" Collaboration with People's Joy Parade all paper mache a life size pegasus made September 2024
Citizens of Artica
This project was a community collaborative experiment with an artist I love to work with Eric Rocher and a group of artists of all ages and abilities from the Artica artist group in ST. Louis at a space that is home to all of artica's infrastructure and brains 3rd space. It was an experiment use of the idea that you could make puppets with a group and then take them out on the town for deeper community engagements n parades and performances. the two groups that participated where almost entirely separate. It's an amazing collection of puppets!
Meep Meep
one of my most favorite puppets to wear and interact with audiences.
Paper David
This rolled in the 2nd "Pride and Joy" in 2023. It is made entirely out of paper an plastic grocery bags.
I just love this picture of 4 Bob Rosses from PBS 9 that participated in the parade that year! This picture always makes me smile.
Sharko
This is the one of the largest paper sculptures I have made this photo unfortunately is missing the dorsal fin hat. Originally this was made for a single person to wear as a costume.
Stegosaurus Art Car
I made the sculptures for 6 turtles and the citizens of arctic project helped paint and decorate them for this fest. at the fest Community members got to pick out the puppets they wanted to carry and participate in the 2 parades that day.
Kids in the parade
One of the best things about doing art parades is the tiny super hero who gets cheered by the community! I love the people who I get to collaborate with on these events and happenings. It is like the best! From face painting to paper sculptures. This art is for everyone!
Snapping Turtle for Mississippi Earth tones fest
I made the sculptures for 6 turtles and the citizens of arctic project helped paint and decorate them for this fest. at the fest Community members got to pick out the puppets they wanted to carry and participate in the 2 parades that day.
Wolf Soft Sculpture Art Car
This was at one time one of my largest sewing projects. I wanted to make a face mask for my car. it is stuffed and sewn made out of felt.
Dandelion dress
Flower series costume.
Peppermint Lollipop
The Lollipop series was born in 2022. These are fun to see dotted throughout the parade. I love the color and cute nature of the candy land dress ups.
Light film wings
Fun to see this with light from the sun.
Raccoon Hand Puppet for stick
One of the stick puppets built for MEF and Citizen of Artica project. made paper and wood.
The Eyeball!
I love this collaboration so much and the Artist Willy Zep pictured in this photo. Collaboration with him is a dream it is always fun an he brings the best ideas to the works.
Show me Clean Energy Parade 2024
Standing up for environmental protections through art activism.
Late night parade prep
there is a bit of a personality to the moments and days before and during events. This is when all of it needs to be finished before the big day. It is always a push. so Much work and lifting and moving and trailering and Trucks and multiple trips. Wow I wonder why I never worry about storage until after?
Mother of Innocence
This is an example of one of the performance costumes. It is made of felted wool and stretched fleece. Paraded in 2012 as a May These Changes Make us light promo.
Mrs. Turtle
A stick puppet made of paper and air clay. Painted by the citizens of Artica. Created for MEF. part of Turtle series. Mostly I think this picture is so funny. It was painted to be UV reactive! HA.
Big Sister Mary
This large 3 person puppet is a tribute to Sister Mary of the sisters of perpetual indulgence who helped get a priori in St. Louis. Many good deeds are done by this group. Made for "Pride and Joy" 2024