BOSCO PUPPET THEATRE
The Bosco
Puppet Theatre is a unique blend of folk art and
theater, which grew out of an apprenticeship with Mexican maskmaker Juan
Horta. The State of Michoacán, in Mexico, is the home of wood carvers,
potters, and weavers whose goods are both practical and ceremonial. It is
there that these hand crafted puppets and masks were made under the guidance
of Sr. Horta.
It's no coincidence that masks and puppets
turn up among the artifacts of all early cultures. Primitive people, finding
themselves in a strange and fierce world, used their carvings to communicate
both their joy and their terror, to hold the world safely in one hand. It
is a testament to the universal appeal of puppets that they have been making
people laugh and think for thousands of years.
It has been my fortune to explore and discover
this timeless art form and develop new symbols and characters. Now it is
my pleasure to present them to you in this collection of vignettes performed
by hand puppets, rod puppets and marionettes.
"The Glutton"- Rod Puppet
"Lalo and Lola"- Marionettes
"Workshops"
"Puppet Making"- Participants learn how
to design and construct various puppet styles using papier maché,
plaster craft or found objects. Rod puppets and hand puppets are the most
popular style of figures made. Basic puppet manipulation is also taught
so that the participant can bring to life his or her new creation.
"Mask Making"- Masks are a favorite medium
for students learning how to sculpt a three dimensional form. They can be
made from simple paper shapes or sculpted using clay or plasticene. The
more serious student can learn mold making techniques and even learn how
to cast a human face using plaster of paris. Often the finished masks are
made out of paper maché, they then are ready to be displayed or worn.
"Folk Art"- Folk art is often referred
to as primitive ar naive art. The work produced is made from commonly found
objects or local materials. Usually the techniques are passed on within
the family or community. Workshops cover the following crafts still being
produced in Latin America:
Wood Carving- This workshop is available only for
high school students and is concerned with utilizing forms found in wood
that are modified to create animals or people. This unique art form is practiced
by the inhabitants of Zapotec villages in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Ceramic Sculpture- Clay figures are molded by hand
to represent animals or people and are incorporated in household objects
such as candle holders or planters. This workshop is ideal for students
of all ages as there is no glazing involved and the finished pieces can
be brightly painted. This particular style of craft is still produced by
many families in the village of Izucar de Matamoros in Puebla, Mexico.
Retablos- Retablos are portable altars or talismans
used by shepherds and farmers in the Andes Mountains of Peru. Simple figures
depicting characters from everyday life are sculpted then placed in appropriate
levels in a box complete with doors to protect the images inside. The box
itself is painted and placed in the home or field and insures protection
from the elements and calamities. The figures are made from plaster or clay
and the box is covered with paper maché. These simple creations have
been used for centuries and are still produced by artisans in Ayacucho,
Peru.
PUPPETRY IN EDUCATIION
A RESIDENCY OUTLINE
Children love puppets, and puppetry is a perfect way to mold social
and learning skills. It's no coincidence that masks and puppets turn up
among the artifacts of all early cultures. Primitive people, finding themselves
in a strange and fierce world, used their carvings to communicate both their
joy and their terror, to hold the world safely in one hand. Children are
the developmental brothers and sisters of these meek souls, and they need
to do the same. A lonely child "creates" a friend. An aggressive
child fabricates a villain, or victim. A precocious child produces an entire
TV show (and maybe grows up to become Steven Spielberg, who crafted and
played with puppets).
The skills children learn while making masks and puppets carry over
into other areas. Because motivation is high, self-discipline is easier,
so children learn the patience required by craftsmanship. They refine their
hand-eye coordination, and they also learn to pattern their sometimes helter-skelter
imaginations into meaningful forms.
We adults enjoy primitive masks and puppets for their graceful mixture
of innocence and power. We Have to remind ourselves that these objects helped
the people who made them learn to handle life. Children don't have to be
reminded.
GOALS
* To introduce students to the art of puppetry
* To help students produce their own puppet show
* To give students a chance to observe a puppeteer at work
* To administer workshops on puppet design and construction
* To make the artist available to staff as a resident/reference in regard
to puppetry and related areas
* To help develop ways of integrating puppetry into the language arts
and social studies curricula
* To introduce the artist to the community
ACTIVITIES
* Introductory assembly, including a sample production
* Classroom lecture/demonstrations
* Multiple session workshops with core group(s) concentrating on puppet
design and construction
* Final assembly program where core group will premier their production
* Staff In-Service