A new exhibition at ARC Creative Studios will showcase a selection of puppets from around the world.
The display of 55 puppets will be at their location on 101st Street and 11th Avenue, and will be open Fridays and Saturdays between noon and 4 p.m. A reception is planned for this Saturday, Jan. 14 from 1 to 3 p.m. where the public is invited to enjoy milk, tea and cookies and hear the stories behind these puppets.
It is curated by Sherron Burns with guest artists Miloslav Drtina, Oriol Dancer, Joyce Dancer, Birgit Lessing, Lenore and Larry Kingayoak, Ben Nind and others.
According to their news release, the puppets represent traditions from Indonesia, the circumpolar Arctic, Turkey, Greece, Vietnam, Burma, Czech Republic, United States and Canada. Also included is a collection from the North Battleford Public Library.
Some of the puppets date back to the 1920s while others are more recent creations.Ìý
According to the news release from ARC Creative Studios, “puppets, dolls, and figures have been with us for at least 3,000 years. They are used to entertain, teach lessons and keep traditions alive. They tell our old stories, interpret our dreams and invent possibilities. Sometimes they chide us and warn us of our folly – especially politically and socially – saying things to the King that no one else can say. They break the laws that govern, extend belief to a place where anything can happen. They excite the imagination with their low-tech ingenuity, inviting the viewer to step into the world of make believe. With puppets, we are forever children, playing with possibilities and imagining stories.â€
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