puppets

Musings from Unima 2008

Posted by hil

zeno.JPG

I didn’t know how often I would post from Unima 2008. Good thing I didn’t make any promises, as I don’t think I’m really made for live blogging an event like this every day! Luckily Naomi is doing a great job of doing it; I was encouraged to see that Gary, like me, is intending to post more after the event. I’m a bit of plodder when it comes to writing posts, and I also find that I take quite a while to take in and process what I have seen. I’ve also been having trouble uploading photos to Flickr from my connection the last couple of days, but you can keep checking my photostream. The photo above is Neville Tranter’s puppet, Zeno. More about that wonderful masterclass later.

Mr.Squiggle and friends

Posted by hil

Mr. Squiggle, a dearly loved kids TV puppet show in Australia for many years, has an exhibition as part of the Unima 2008 puppetry festival in Perth. Although its regarded as iconic, I have to admit running against the flow; I never really loved it either as a kid or an adult. I do like the puppets and their characters, though, and it was interesting to see how simply made they were made. Blackboard for instance is a piece of cardboard, with little (sand?)bags for feet, and the reason one of his eyes isn’t animated is that it was made so quickly they didn’t get that far. Of course, it gave him more character! Blackboard and Gus the cantankerous snail were always my favourites.

Mr.Squiggle’s creator, Norman Hetherington, and his wife Margaret, who scripted the shows, are both here at the festival.

  • The photos below are licensed under a Creative Commons license. Please use them within the terms of the license or make special arrangements to use them, and list the photo credit as “Hilary Talbot” and link the credit to Spiritsdancing.com.

Mr Squiggle puppets

Mr. Squiggle

Mr Squiggle puppets

Bill Steamshovel. His neck and catapillar tracks are plain foam.

Mr Squiggle puppets

Mr Squiggle puppets

Gus

Mr Squiggle puppets

Update: my own squiggle.

actgov.jpg

My attendence at Unima 2008 is supported by the ACT Government

Unima 2008: Carnival Day

Posted by hil

A mindblowing day at the puppet carnival: see my Flickr photoset for heaps more photos; I’ve just chosen a few here. Also Naomi and Gary have more, too, each a different take :). As far as I can see its just the three of us blogging from Unima 2008.

Cheryl Linnaker’s Yawaru gecko

Puppet Carnival Day

Joan Baixas’ masterclass present the ‘Great Laughing Mutant Project’

Puppet Carnival Day

Hersute Monsiour Telefon, the puppet I put in the Million Puppet Project

Puppet Carnival Day

Trans Faunas by Swerve Association

Puppet Carnival Day

Perhaps one of the creatures by Edith Cowan University Contemporary Performing group?

Puppet Carnival Day

Murphy’s Puppets Allenby’s FAMOUS Flea Circus

Puppet Carnival Day

Swerve Association’s sheep

Puppet Carnival Day

actgov.jpg

My attendence at Unima 2008 is supported by the ACT Government

Delightful strange creatures

Posted by hil

Students from the Edith Cowan University Contemporary Performers Group, lead by Deborah Hunt entertained the lunchtime crowds in James Place, Perth, yesterday, as part of the UNIMA Worl Puppetry Festival. These made my day! By chance there was a busker playing, and they worked their activities in around what he was playing.

Puppets at Unima Worl Puppetry Festival

More photos in my Flickr photoset.

actgov.jpg

My attendence at Unima 2008 is supported by the ACT Government

From the UNIMA World Puppetry Festival

Posted by hil

I’m spending the first few days here at the in Perth at the 20th UNIMA World Puppetry Festival doing the master class Making Ningyo-Joruri, given by Nori Sawa. I’m really enjoying it. Nori says his workshop usually takes a week, so we are working hard to fit it in in 3 1/2 long days. So not much time to dally on the web at the moment! One of the nice aspects so far has been meeting up with fellow bloggers Naomi Guss (who is sharing the masterclass with me) and Gary Friedman.

I’ll have some photos taken in the workshop later on, but here are some taken during the first evening.

Some of the roving entertainers, Riders, were at the Welcome BBQ and Official Opening at the Perth Town Hall last night.

UNIMA World puppetry Festival

UNIMA World puppetry Festival

UNIMA World puppetry Festival

Molly and Jacko were part of the official party and the Welcome to Country given by the local indigenous people.

UNIMA World puppetry Festival

UNIMA World puppetry Festival

The UNIMA poster catches the light on a lovely mild Perth night.

UNIMA World puppetry Festival

Gabrielle Griffin performing at the Transit Lounge:

UNIMA World puppetry Festival

actgov.jpg

My attendence at Unima 2008 is supported by the ACT Government

Penguin masks and earth hour

Posted by hil

penguin masks

These penguin masks, being worn outside the UN Framework of Climate Change Conference in Bali last November, interested me because I liked the way the coarse gauze was so effective, while not hiding the faces. The photo is taken from our newspaper at the time, via Associated Press.

I’ve always thought a cool way of making a penguin character would be to have a head mask, but then wear a tuxedo as the rest of the costume, letting people make the penguin suit connection themselves. However no-one has ever taken me up on the suggestion!

We turned our lights off for Earth Hour tonight. It was a beautiful clear starry night.

UNIMA World Puppetry Festival is close!

Posted by hil

The UNIMA Congress and World Puppetry Festival in Perth is drawing close; tt runs from April 2 -12! Check UNIMA 2008 for information and the latest updates; the most recent is here. You can also keep an eye on Unima Australia’s news and events page for updates. The Puppet Caravan, comprising several parties of puppeteers travelling from the eastern states by road and performing as they go, is already on its way. Puppets are rolling in to the Million Puppets Project; be sure to post yours by March 21st ( PO Box 832 Fremantle, WA 6959). There are lots of exciting professional development events, talks, shows and workshops and exhibitions; and freebies available to those who feel inclined to volunteer to help with the festival. The third Australian National Puppetry Summit is running in conjunction with the festival and congress.