almost ready Oh ready I’m ready okay we’re ready ready I’m Sheila leutwyler
we’re ready ready I’m Sheila leutwyler
we’re ready ready I’m Sheila leutwyler and I’m Rachel Milford and we’re the
and I’m Rachel Milford and we’re the
and I’m Rachel Milford and we’re the co-directors of the cattywampus puppet
co-directors of the cattywampus puppet
co-directors of the cattywampus puppet council so you might be wondering why
council so you might be wondering why
council so you might be wondering why cattywampus well cattywampus is
cattywampus well cattywampus is
cattywampus well cattywampus is generally defined as a little off kilter
generally defined as a little off kilter
generally defined as a little off kilter or slightly askew or awry for us the
or slightly askew or awry for us the
or slightly askew or awry for us the southern colloquialism represents our
southern colloquialism represents our
southern colloquialism represents our desire to create place-based art as well
desire to create place-based art as well
desire to create place-based art as well as to embrace imperfection in both our
as to embrace imperfection in both our
as to embrace imperfection in both our art as artist and as a performer I know
art as artist and as a performer I know
art as artist and as a performer I know we should move the desire to play
we should move the desire to play
we should move the desire to play together as adult action bridgen of the
together as adult action bridgen of the
together as adult action bridgen of the cadi one puppet council and that’s what
cadi one puppet council and that’s what
cadi one puppet council and that’s what we like to share with you today a little
we like to share with you today a little
we like to share with you today a little bit about our origin story as well as
bit about our origin story as well as
bit about our origin story as well as why we think play is important and also
why we think play is important and also
why we think play is important and also crucial for the health of our
crucial for the health of our
crucial for the health of our communities as children play is an eight
communities as children play is an eight
communities as children play is an eight and an inseparable part of daily life
and an inseparable part of daily life
and an inseparable part of daily life and reality there’s both pre verbal and
and reality there’s both pre verbal and
and reality there’s both pre verbal and preconscious we come into this world as
preconscious we come into this world as
preconscious we come into this world as creative and curious beans here you can
creative and curious beans here you can
creative and curious beans here you can see Rachel and I workshopping some early
see Rachel and I workshopping some early
see Rachel and I workshopping some early characters at a young age we’re so good
characters at a young age we’re so good
characters at a young age we’re so good and this sort of play is integral into a
and this sort of play is integral into a
and this sort of play is integral into a our brain develop or brain development
our brain develop or brain development
our brain develop or brain development as children landmark neuroscience
as children landmark neuroscience
as children landmark neuroscience research done with rats in the 1960s and
research done with rats in the 1960s and
research done with rats in the 1960s and UC berkeley’s by UC Berkeley’s Marian
UC berkeley’s by UC Berkeley’s Marian
UC berkeley’s by UC Berkeley’s Marian diamond found that play causes rats to
diamond found that play causes rats to
diamond found that play causes rats to grow bigger more
grow bigger more
grow bigger more develop brains with thicker and more
develop brains with thicker and more
develop brains with thicker and more developed cortex as the field of play
developed cortex as the field of play
developed cortex as the field of play grown since we have discovered that
grown since we have discovered that
grown since we have discovered that essential for cultivating
essential for cultivating
essential for cultivating problem-solving skills adaptability
problem-solving skills adaptability
problem-solving skills adaptability creativity and emotional intelligence
creativity and emotional intelligence
creativity and emotional intelligence play is how we connect rights dr. Stuart
play is how we connect rights dr. Stuart
play is how we connect rights dr. Stuart Brown clinical researcher and founder of
Brown clinical researcher and founder of
Brown clinical researcher and founder of the National Institute for play through
the National Institute for play through
the National Institute for play through studying both the human and the animal
studying both the human and the animal
studying both the human and the animal world Brown has found that play is
world Brown has found that play is
world Brown has found that play is instrument instrumental in helping us
instrument instrumental in helping us
instrument instrumental in helping us build relationships and cultivate our
build relationships and cultivate our
build relationships and cultivate our emotional intelligence and empathy not
emotional intelligence and empathy not
emotional intelligence and empathy not just as children but throughout our
just as children but throughout our
just as children but throughout our adulthood as well although our brains go
adulthood as well although our brains go
adulthood as well although our brains go through incredible growth from the time
through incredible growth from the time
through incredible growth from the time we’re born until our early 20s
we’re born until our early 20s
we’re born until our early 20s neurogenesis is still continues
neurogenesis is still continues
neurogenesis is still continues throughout our long lives and play
throughout our long lives and play
throughout our long lives and play stimulates that neural growth Brown has
stimulates that neural growth Brown has
stimulates that neural growth Brown has devoted much of his life to specifically
devoted much of his life to specifically
devoted much of his life to specifically advocating play for adults not only for
advocating play for adults not only for
advocating play for adults not only for its ability to prevent mental decline as
its ability to prevent mental decline as
its ability to prevent mental decline as we age but also for its effect on our
we age but also for its effect on our
we age but also for its effect on our individual and communal well-being the
individual and communal well-being the
individual and communal well-being the opposite of play is not work it’s
opposite of play is not work it’s
opposite of play is not work it’s depression writes brown plane as adult
depression writes brown plane as adult
depression writes brown plane as adult as adults creates pleasure joy and a
as adults creates pleasure joy and a
as adults creates pleasure joy and a suspension of self-consciousness and
suspension of self-consciousness and
suspension of self-consciousness and time when we engage in an imaginative
time when we engage in an imaginative
time when we engage in an imaginative play we’re actually in for an emotional
play we’re actually in for an emotional
play we’re actually in for an emotional state we experience what psychologists
state we experience what psychologists
state we experience what psychologists me hi check sent me hi calls flow as we
me hi check sent me hi calls flow as we
me hi check sent me hi calls flow as we grow older plane particularly doing so
grow older plane particularly doing so
grow older plane particularly doing so in public as viewed as foolish
in public as viewed as foolish
in public as viewed as foolish impractical unproductive purposeless yet
impractical unproductive purposeless yet
impractical unproductive purposeless yet imagine what a world without play would
imagine what a world without play would
imagine what a world without play would look like there would be no art no music
look like there would be no art no music
look like there would be no art no music no dancing no comedy no funny Grandma
no dancing no comedy no funny Grandma
no dancing no comedy no funny Grandma and Grandpa there be no dreaming so play
and Grandpa there be no dreaming so play
and Grandpa there be no dreaming so play is what lifts us out of the mundane it
is what lifts us out of the mundane it
is what lifts us out of the mundane it engages our empathy and it makes us more
engages our empathy and it makes us more
engages our empathy and it makes us more human well said thank you so two years
human well said thank you so two years
human well said thank you so two years ago I asked a new friend Sheila to come
ago I asked a new friend Sheila to come
ago I asked a new friend Sheila to come play with me to spend an afternoon
play with me to spend an afternoon
play with me to spend an afternoon building puppets and after many hours of
building puppets and after many hours of
building puppets and after many hours of sculpting and paper mache covered in
sculpting and paper mache covered in
sculpting and paper mache covered in cornstarch goop we had managed to bring
cornstarch goop we had managed to bring
cornstarch goop we had managed to bring two whimsical characters to life once
two whimsical characters to life once
two whimsical characters to life once grandma and grandpa were finished we
grandma and grandpa were finished we
grandma and grandpa were finished we decided to take him downtown on a first
decided to take him downtown on a first
decided to take him downtown on a first you know practice our geriatric dance
you know practice our geriatric dance
you know practice our geriatric dance moves and see if Knoxville was ready for
moves and see if Knoxville was ready for
moves and see if Knoxville was ready for a little bit of puppet magic so there we
a little bit of puppet magic so there we
a little bit of puppet magic so there we were inside our puppet helmets stumbling
were inside our puppet helmets stumbling
were inside our puppet helmets stumbling around hand-in-hand and what amazed us
around hand-in-hand and what amazed us
around hand-in-hand and what amazed us was the joy and laughter than we
was the joy and laughter than we
was the joy and laughter than we witnessed through a tiny puppet I holes
witnessed through a tiny puppet I holes
witnessed through a tiny puppet I holes not only were we having a blast but
not only were we having a blast but
not only were we having a blast but everyone grandma if I encounter and
everyone grandma if I encounter and
everyone grandma if I encounter and child with adult alike seemed eager to
child with adult alike seemed eager to
child with adult alike seemed eager to play as well and really it was in this
play as well and really it was in this
play as well and really it was in this moment that we realized what would later
moment that we realized what would later
moment that we realized what would later become our organization’s mission to
become our organization’s mission to
become our organization’s mission to cultivate community and promote play
cultivate community and promote play
cultivate community and promote play through the puppetry arts it was this
through the puppetry arts it was this
through the puppetry arts it was this ability to bring art and whimsy to the
ability to bring art and whimsy to the
ability to bring art and whimsy to the streets you know to engage people and
streets you know to engage people and
streets you know to engage people and play and magic that immediately struck a
play and magic that immediately struck a
play and magic that immediately struck a chord in both of us we saw how bringing
chord in both of us we saw how bringing
chord in both of us we saw how bringing art and theater to the street could
art and theater to the street could
art and theater to the street could really transform public spaces and
really transform public spaces and
really transform public spaces and create new possibilities how it could
create new possibilities how it could
create new possibilities how it could lift both participants and viewers out
lift both participants and viewers out
lift both participants and viewers out of the work realm and into the play
of the work realm and into the play
of the work realm and into the play realm where joy and the impulse to
realm where joy and the impulse to
realm where joy and the impulse to create dwell we witnessed what Stuart
create dwell we witnessed what Stuart
create dwell we witnessed what Stuart Brown has found through years and years
Brown has found through years and years
Brown has found through years and years of research plays capacity to bind
of research plays capacity to bind
of research plays capacity to bind people together to promote connection
people together to promote connection
people together to promote connection and a sense of community and so I was
and a sense of community and so I was
and a sense of community and so I was after doing a few of these spontaneous
after doing a few of these spontaneous
after doing a few of these spontaneous street performance that we were
street performance that we were
street performance that we were approached by the dogwood Arts Festival
approached by the dogwood Arts Festival
approached by the dogwood Arts Festival and asked to create a Foley children’s
and asked to create a Foley children’s
and asked to create a Foley children’s show for their children’s stage so we
show for their children’s stage so we
show for their children’s stage so we instantly said yes shortly after
instantly said yes shortly after
instantly said yes shortly after realizing that we just committed to
realizing that we just committed to
realizing that we just committed to writing and making a 45-minute puppet
writing and making a 45-minute puppet
writing and making a 45-minute puppet show for the first time so needless to
show for the first time so needless to
show for the first time so needless to say the process of creating this first
say the process of creating this first
say the process of creating this first show was at times hilarious and humbling
show was at times hilarious and humbling
show was at times hilarious and humbling we quickly roped in 72 our friends to be
we quickly roped in 72 our friends to be
we quickly roped in 72 our friends to be puppeteers to play music and make live
puppeteers to play music and make live
puppeteers to play music and make live sound effects for the puppets throughout
sound effects for the puppets throughout
sound effects for the puppets throughout the show we held several large community
the show we held several large community
the show we held several large community work days to build and paint sets and
work days to build and paint sets and
work days to build and paint sets and make masks and other props you know what
make masks and other props you know what
make masks and other props you know what it started as just well two friends
it started as just well two friends
it started as just well two friends getting together to build a couple
getting together to build a couple
getting together to build a couple puppets had soon grown into a community
puppets had soon grown into a community
puppets had soon grown into a community art project the puppet council was for
art project the puppet council was for
art project the puppet council was for me since this first show we’ve created
me since this first show we’ve created
me since this first show we’ve created to others and numerous other shorter
to others and numerous other shorter
to others and numerous other shorter pieces each brought to life through the
pieces each brought to life through the
pieces each brought to life through the help of many hands and bringing what we
help of many hands and bringing what we
help of many hands and bringing what we learn from our street busking
learn from our street busking
learn from our street busking experiences to the stage each of our
experiences to the stage each of our
experiences to the stage each of our shows rely on audience participation and
shows rely on audience participation and
shows rely on audience participation and typically include puppet making stations
typically include puppet making stations
typically include puppet making stations as well as we invite our audience to
as well as we invite our audience to
as well as we invite our audience to both play and make with us at each
both play and make with us at each
both play and make with us at each performance speaking of artistic
performance speaking of artistic
performance speaking of artistic collaboration you may have noticed a
collaboration you may have noticed a
collaboration you may have noticed a particularly large a puppet that we made
particularly large a puppet that we made
particularly large a puppet that we made in Knoxville or over social media in the
in Knoxville or over social media in the
in Knoxville or over social media in the last couple years what was it again uh
last couple years what was it again uh
last couple years what was it again uh during during preparations for that
during during preparations for that
during during preparations for that first dogwood art show we decided to
first dogwood art show we decided to
first dogwood art show we decided to make a giant puppet parade style puppet
make a giant puppet parade style puppet
make a giant puppet parade style puppet to bring to the the festival because we
to bring to the the festival because we
to bring to the the festival because we wanted a little boost of extra puppet
wanted a little boost of extra puppet
wanted a little boost of extra puppet magic but we were deciding who to make
magic but we were deciding who to make
magic but we were deciding who to make we realized there was only one
we realized there was only one
we realized there was only one progressive East Tennessee saying that
progressive East Tennessee saying that
progressive East Tennessee saying that we could possibly make and that was dr.
we could possibly make and that was dr.
we could possibly make and that was dr. Dolly Parton cheers me as you can
Dolly Parton cheers me as you can
Dolly Parton cheers me as you can imagine building big dolly was quite the
imagine building big dolly was quite the
imagine building big dolly was quite the process and we spent hours and hours
process and we spent hours and hours
process and we spent hours and hours lovely sculpting her face out of clay
lovely sculpting her face out of clay
lovely sculpting her face out of clay and paper mache in garbage bags stuffed
and paper mache in garbage bags stuffed
and paper mache in garbage bags stuffed with newspaper and North’s hair only to
with newspaper and North’s hair only to
with newspaper and North’s hair only to realize that her gigantic head might be
realize that her gigantic head might be
realize that her gigantic head might be too large to fit out my front door and
too large to fit out my front door and
too large to fit out my front door and we actually had to push she was like
we actually had to push she was like
we actually had to push she was like verses out of burst out of my friend
verses out of burst out of my friend
verses out of burst out of my friend don’t hurt her since this home we we
don’t hurt her since this home we we
don’t hurt her since this home we we were like fortunate enough to add
were like fortunate enough to add
were like fortunate enough to add several friends to come and help us and
several friends to come and help us and
several friends to come and help us and we recruited our dear friend Andre
we recruited our dear friend Andre
we recruited our dear friend Andre asbestos to create the backpack
asbestos to create the backpack
asbestos to create the backpack infrastructure and he is also most
infrastructure and he is also most
infrastructure and he is also most notably known as like lovely the lovely
notably known as like lovely the lovely
notably known as like lovely the lovely legs of dr. dolly parton other friends
legs of dr. dolly parton other friends
legs of dr. dolly parton other friends style bed sheets read and to hand-stitch
style bed sheets read and to hand-stitch
style bed sheets read and to hand-stitch her fabulous outfit our neighbors became
her fabulous outfit our neighbors became
her fabulous outfit our neighbors became involved too cheering us on as we were
involved too cheering us on as we were
involved too cheering us on as we were attaching and anna to the top of her
attaching and anna to the top of her
attaching and anna to the top of her head using a ladder and as Andres was
head using a ladder and as Andres was
head using a ladder and as Andres was parading around the backyard trying to
parading around the backyard trying to
parading around the backyard trying to figure out her mechanics and like all of
figure out her mechanics and like all of
figure out her mechanics and like all of our puppets dollies made with items that
our puppets dollies made with items that
our puppets dollies made with items that most people simply throw away brown
most people simply throw away brown
most people simply throw away brown paper bags house paint from the dump
paper bags house paint from the dump
paper bags house paint from the dump chicken chicken wire or scrap metal
chicken chicken wire or scrap metal
chicken chicken wire or scrap metal Brooke and Broomsticks pickling trash
Brooke and Broomsticks pickling trash
Brooke and Broomsticks pickling trash creates an affordable and accessible way
creates an affordable and accessible way
creates an affordable and accessible way for us to make art but more importantly
for us to make art but more importantly
for us to make art but more importantly i would also engage its creative
i would also engage its creative
i would also engage its creative problem-solving through reimagining the
problem-solving through reimagining the
problem-solving through reimagining the possibility like something a piece of
possibility like something a piece of
possibility like something a piece of cardboard might possess but most
cardboard might possess but most
cardboard might possess but most importantly thus of transforming waste
importantly thus of transforming waste
importantly thus of transforming waste into beauty and
into beauty and
into beauty and to reclaiming and reusing we as artists
to reclaiming and reusing we as artists
to reclaiming and reusing we as artists are able to walk more lightly on the
are able to walk more lightly on the
are able to walk more lightly on the earth we’re able to both teeth and live
earth we’re able to both teeth and live
earth we’re able to both teeth and live come better stewards of our planet and
come better stewards of our planet and
come better stewards of our planet and although our big dolly may be the first
although our big dolly may be the first
although our big dolly may be the first ever giant puppet version of dr. parton
ever giant puppet version of dr. parton
ever giant puppet version of dr. parton giant puppets are by no means new you
giant puppets are by no means new you
giant puppets are by no means new you see the use of big puppets and puppet
see the use of big puppets and puppet
see the use of big puppets and puppet parades as a form of collective play
parades as a form of collective play
parades as a form of collective play storytelling and social justice activism
storytelling and social justice activism
storytelling and social justice activism has been growing all around the world
has been growing all around the world
has been growing all around the world over the past 50 years much in part to
over the past 50 years much in part to
over the past 50 years much in part to the work of Peter Schumann founder of
the work of Peter Schumann founder of
the work of Peter Schumann founder of bread and puppet theater Schumann
bread and puppet theater Schumann
bread and puppet theater Schumann founded bread and puppet in 1963 in New
founded bread and puppet in 1963 in New
founded bread and puppet in 1963 in New York when he started making kind of big
York when he started making kind of big
York when he started making kind of big puppets out of trash to use in protests
puppets out of trash to use in protests
puppets out of trash to use in protests and pop-up street performances later the
and pop-up street performances later the
and pop-up street performances later the troupe moved to globe or Vermont and has
troupe moved to globe or Vermont and has
troupe moved to globe or Vermont and has since become a learning center for many
since become a learning center for many
since become a learning center for many a buddy and puppeteer including my two
a buddy and puppeteer including my two
a buddy and puppeteer including my two mentors yawn burger and Donovan
mentors yawn burger and Donovan
mentors yawn burger and Donovan Zimmerman were the founders of paper
Zimmerman were the founders of paper
Zimmerman were the founders of paper hand puppet intervention in Chapel Hill
hand puppet intervention in Chapel Hill
hand puppet intervention in Chapel Hill North Carolina inspired by the power
North Carolina inspired by the power
North Carolina inspired by the power large puppets can bring to a public
large puppets can bring to a public
large puppets can bring to a public space puppet troupe soon began hosting
space puppet troupe soon began hosting
space puppet troupe soon began hosting parades around the country as vehicles
parades around the country as vehicles
parades around the country as vehicles for strengthening community now this
for strengthening community now this
for strengthening community now this lovely map you see before you was
lovely map you see before you was
lovely map you see before you was assembled by our dear council member and
assembled by our dear council member and
assembled by our dear council member and Sheila’s husband Alex pulsipher to
Sheila’s husband Alex pulsipher to
Sheila’s husband Alex pulsipher to visually denote many of the community
visually denote many of the community
visually denote many of the community puppet parades that occur each year in
puppet parades that occur each year in
puppet parades that occur each year in the US alone can see there’s a lot of
the US alone can see there’s a lot of
the US alone can see there’s a lot of them and although many of them do happen
them and although many of them do happen
them and although many of them do happen in big cities such as Cleveland and
in big cities such as Cleveland and
in big cities such as Cleveland and Philadelphia a lot of them also happen
Philadelphia a lot of them also happen
Philadelphia a lot of them also happen in small towns now one of our favorites
in small towns now one of our favorites
in small towns now one of our favorites is the may day parade which is hosted by
is the may day parade which is hosted by
is the may day parade which is hosted by in the heart of the beast puppet of mass
in the heart of the beast puppet of mass
in the heart of the beast puppet of mass theater in Minneapolis Minnesota now
theater in Minneapolis Minnesota now
theater in Minneapolis Minnesota now this parade is now in its 42nd year and
this parade is now in its 42nd year and
this parade is now in its 42nd year and has grown from 60 to 50 thousand
has grown from 60 to 50 thousand
has grown from 60 to 50 thousand participants and has become an annual
participants and has become an annual
participants and has become an annual ritual for the Twin Cities each year and
ritual for the Twin Cities each year and
ritual for the Twin Cities each year and each winter the theater invites
each winter the theater invites
each winter the theater invites neighbors to come to come in and share
neighbors to come to come in and share
neighbors to come to come in and share ideas and help develop the parade year’s
ideas and help develop the parade year’s
ideas and help develop the parade year’s theme now this collaboration a story is
theme now this collaboration a story is
theme now this collaboration a story is generated a story of the community that
generated a story of the community that
generated a story of the community that is demonstrated musically and visually
is demonstrated musically and visually
is demonstrated musically and visually every year many other cities host these
every year many other cities host these
every year many other cities host these parades too and invite their communities
parades too and invite their communities
parades too and invite their communities to do the same to make giant puppets
to do the same to make giant puppets
to do the same to make giant puppets masks and costumes and come together to
masks and costumes and come together to
masks and costumes and come together to tell their stories
tell their stories
tell their stories well in these slides you can see
well in these slides you can see
well in these slides you can see examples of beautiful art that each of
examples of beautiful art that each of
examples of beautiful art that each of these parades bring to life and one of
these parades bring to life and one of
these parades bring to life and one of the things that we love about these
the things that we love about these
the things that we love about these parades and other communities has found
parades and other communities has found
parades and other communities has found is that they have this incredible
is that they have this incredible
is that they have this incredible ability to foster a sense of community
ability to foster a sense of community
ability to foster a sense of community as a medium of big puppets is an
as a medium of big puppets is an
as a medium of big puppets is an innately collaborative form of art
innately collaborative form of art
innately collaborative form of art requiring hours and hours of
requiring hours and hours of
requiring hours and hours of construction and multiple hands to both
construction and multiple hands to both
construction and multiple hands to both build and operate now we can tell you
build and operate now we can tell you
build and operate now we can tell you firsthand that paper machine for 8 plus
firsthand that paper machine for 8 plus
firsthand that paper machine for 8 plus hours although it may sound brilliant
hours although it may sound brilliant
hours although it may sound brilliant can quickly become a taxing process
can quickly become a taxing process
can quickly become a taxing process however if you invite a few friends over
however if you invite a few friends over
however if you invite a few friends over what started as work can just too soon
what started as work can just too soon
what started as work can just too soon become a work party right Sheila as we
become a work party right Sheila as we
become a work party right Sheila as we discovered through small puppet heads
discovered through small puppet heads
discovered through small puppet heads bringing art and theater to the streets
bringing art and theater to the streets
bringing art and theater to the streets can also transform public spaces and how
can also transform public spaces and how
can also transform public spaces and how we interact with them infusing them with
we interact with them infusing them with
we interact with them infusing them with joy and new possibilities creating a
joy and new possibilities creating a
joy and new possibilities creating a sense of ownership at a place to share
sense of ownership at a place to share
sense of ownership at a place to share ideas and vision we see this through
ideas and vision we see this through
ideas and vision we see this through other public play events such as
other public play events such as
other public play events such as Flashdance mobs or Knoxville’s new open
Flashdance mobs or Knoxville’s new open
Flashdance mobs or Knoxville’s new open streets through disrupting routine
streets through disrupting routine
streets through disrupting routine suddenly a simple transit the transit
suddenly a simple transit the transit
suddenly a simple transit the transit wait can become a gathering space a
wait can become a gathering space a
wait can become a gathering space a place for communion a place to dance and
place for communion a place to dance and
place for communion a place to dance and dream and play together and giant puppet
dream and play together and giant puppet
dream and play together and giant puppet parades can similarly transform a
parades can similarly transform a
parades can similarly transform a streetscape birthing magic one friend
streetscape birthing magic one friend
streetscape birthing magic one friend palpable love through creating these
palpable love through creating these
palpable love through creating these communal spaces respite cultivate
communal spaces respite cultivate
communal spaces respite cultivate imaginations and share and listen to
imaginations and share and listen to
imaginations and share and listen to each other stories now we both got to
each other stories now we both got to
each other stories now we both got to experience with magic firsthand carrying
experience with magic firsthand carrying
experience with magic firsthand carrying big dolly in the 2016 Pride Parade
big dolly in the 2016 Pride Parade
big dolly in the 2016 Pride Parade watching her towering 14-foot tall body
watching her towering 14-foot tall body
watching her towering 14-foot tall body of a laughter and smiles and swans
of a laughter and smiles and swans
of a laughter and smiles and swans dancing as we participated in this
dancing as we participated in this
dancing as we participated in this community celebration of the power of
community celebration of the power of
community celebration of the power of love you see when we come together as a
love you see when we come together as a
love you see when we come together as a community to create to listen and to
community to create to listen and to
community to create to listen and to share a synergy occurs new possibilities
share a synergy occurs new possibilities
share a synergy occurs new possibilities the new relationships arise in a time
the new relationships arise in a time
the new relationships arise in a time when many of us find ourselves a
when many of us find ourselves a
when many of us find ourselves a disconnected from our data communities
disconnected from our data communities
disconnected from our data communities from my natural world and from ourselves
from my natural world and from ourselves
from my natural world and from ourselves the uncanny a vehicle for helping us
the uncanny a vehicle for helping us
the uncanny a vehicle for helping us come back to life for helping us imagine
come back to life for helping us imagine
come back to life for helping us imagine and create a life-sustaining world where
and create a life-sustaining world where
and create a life-sustaining world where everyone’s health and wellness is
everyone’s health and wellness is
everyone’s health and wellness is you’d playing together can also give us
you’d playing together can also give us
you’d playing together can also give us the fuel strength and the resiliency
the fuel strength and the resiliency
the fuel strength and the resiliency that we will need to do this enormous
that we will need to do this enormous
that we will need to do this enormous and often exhausting work more now than
and often exhausting work more now than
and often exhausting work more now than ever this form of collective public play
ever this form of collective public play
ever this form of collective public play and storytelling can promote life
and storytelling can promote life
and storytelling can promote life cultivate empathy and connect us and
cultivate empathy and connect us and
cultivate empathy and connect us and it’s the fear destruction violence and
it’s the fear destruction violence and
it’s the fear destruction violence and hate that seems to be pervading our
hate that seems to be pervading our
hate that seems to be pervading our world in our government right now see
world in our government right now see
world in our government right now see the act of playing together and sharing
the act of playing together and sharing
the act of playing together and sharing our stories can and must be a part of
our stories can and must be a part of
our stories can and must be a part of our healing as a people and a planet in
our healing as a people and a planet in
our healing as a people and a planet in fact we would argue that through its
fact we would argue that through its
fact we would argue that through its sheer ability to connect us in a world
sheer ability to connect us in a world
sheer ability to connect us in a world that so often seeks divide us plain in
that so often seeks divide us plain in
that so often seeks divide us plain in these times isn’t truly a radical act as
these times isn’t truly a radical act as
these times isn’t truly a radical act as a late poet Jack Gilbert wrote we must
a late poet Jack Gilbert wrote we must
a late poet Jack Gilbert wrote we must risk delight we must have the
risk delight we must have the
risk delight we must have the stubbornness to accept our gladness in
stubbornness to accept our gladness in
stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless fairness of the world so
the ruthless fairness of the world so
the ruthless fairness of the world so without further ado we are excited to
without further ado we are excited to
without further ado we are excited to announce that this spring the Caddy
announce that this spring the Caddy
announce that this spring the Caddy Wampus puppet council will be creating
Wampus puppet council will be creating
Wampus puppet council will be creating facilitating Knoxville’s first-ever
facilitating Knoxville’s first-ever
facilitating Knoxville’s first-ever giant puppet parade the Appalachian
giant puppet parade the Appalachian
giant puppet parade the Appalachian puppet pageant will be an East Tennessee
puppet pageant will be an East Tennessee
puppet pageant will be an East Tennessee inspired community arts project bringing
inspired community arts project bringing
inspired community arts project bringing together members of all ages and
together members of all ages and
together members of all ages and backgrounds to celebrate the local
backgrounds to celebrate the local
backgrounds to celebrate the local ecology and rich culture of our region
ecology and rich culture of our region
ecology and rich culture of our region community members will be the driving
community members will be the driving
community members will be the driving force of this parade crafting both
force of this parade crafting both
force of this parade crafting both individual and collaborative pieces then
individual and collaborative pieces then
individual and collaborative pieces then joining together to sell in celebration
joining together to sell in celebration
joining together to sell in celebration and play to share these artworks with
and play to share these artworks with
and play to share these artworks with the rest of the community the parade
the rest of the community the parade
the rest of the community the parade itself will engage its participants and
itself will engage its participants and
itself will engage its participants and viewers through all of their senses as
viewers through all of their senses as
viewers through all of their senses as we create a living breathing work of art
we create a living breathing work of art
we create a living breathing work of art and take to the streets of Knoxville the
and take to the streets of Knoxville the
and take to the streets of Knoxville the theme for this year’s parade is synergy
theme for this year’s parade is synergy
theme for this year’s parade is synergy as we honor the power and the beauty
as we honor the power and the beauty
as we honor the power and the beauty that can emerge when we collaborate when
that can emerge when we collaborate when
that can emerge when we collaborate when we recognize that our Liberation’s and
we recognize that our Liberation’s and
we recognize that our Liberation’s and our well-being as a planet a species in
our well-being as a planet a species in
our well-being as a planet a species in a community are all intertwined the
a community are all intertwined the
a community are all intertwined the parade will be free to participate and
parade will be free to participate and
parade will be free to participate and is open to all members of the community
is open to all members of the community
is open to all members of the community in part due to a small seed grant from
in part due to a small seed grant from
in part due to a small seed grant from the Burning Man global arts foundation
the Burning Man global arts foundation
the Burning Man global arts foundation we are however still need of in need of
we are however still need of in need of
we are however still need of in need of financial support material donations in
financial support material donations in
financial support material donations in studio space to bring this project to
studio space to bring this project to
studio space to bring this project to life and to continue to grow
life and to continue to grow
life and to continue to grow community-based art in Knoxville in the
community-based art in Knoxville in the
community-based art in Knoxville in the coming months we will be offering
coming months we will be offering
coming months we will be offering several free workshops to community
several free workshops to community
several free workshops to community leaders as well as partnering
leaders as well as partnering
leaders as well as partnering with several community groups to create
with several community groups to create
with several community groups to create creations for this parade we also have
creations for this parade we also have
creations for this parade we also have plenty of free resources available on
plenty of free resources available on
plenty of free resources available on our website and we hope that we’re
our website and we hope that we’re
our website and we hope that we’re information on the website is there to
information on the website is there to
information on the website is there to inspire you to create your own puppets
inspire you to create your own puppets
inspire you to create your own puppets masks and costumes and to come out and
masks and costumes and to come out and
masks and costumes and to come out and join us in this parade we’d ask that you
join us in this parade we’d ask that you
join us in this parade we’d ask that you tell your stories of place and to make
tell your stories of place and to make
tell your stories of place and to make art celebrates the culture of love
art celebrates the culture of love
art celebrates the culture of love creativity and mutual dependence that we
creativity and mutual dependence that we
creativity and mutual dependence that we wish to foster in southern Appalachia so
wish to foster in southern Appalachia so
wish to foster in southern Appalachia so half of the puppet council we asked you
half of the puppet council we asked you
half of the puppet council we asked you to grab some cardboard and a paintbrush
to grab some cardboard and a paintbrush
to grab some cardboard and a paintbrush and maybe some googly eyes and come and
and maybe some googly eyes and come and
and maybe some googly eyes and come and play with us this spring thank you thank
play with us this spring thank you thank
play with us this spring thank you thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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