“This figure is not simply a puppet, but it’s considered a religious artifact or an embodiment of a God,” he continues, adding “It’s not Kermit, that you’re putting in a box after the show.” It sits next to a wall of photographs including one where the puppet is the center of a ritual. “This is a representation of Rama Sri Rama, the God Rama, who’s the hero or the main figure of the Ramana, one of the two main epics of Hindu culture,” Bell says, pointing to one of the primary figures on display. These handmade leather pieces burst with color, depicting Hindu gods and characters of folklore, their stories played out by puppeteers who are part of an ancient style of performance. Until December 17th, the museum is playing host to a collection of traditional Indian shadow puppets.
The other two rooms house a rotating schedule of temporary exhibits to use the small space to teach as much as possible and offer a new experience even to the museum’s most frequent visitors. At the time of CII’s visit, it was a Puppets of the World exhibit, with dozens of styles of puppets on display. The main space is just three rooms, including the foyer, which connects to the campus Barnes & Noble.Ī floor-to-ceiling glass case at the entrance contains parts of their standing collection. The museum is a small space, especially considering the size of its collection and the scope of history and culture it tries to represent. We’re particularly strong with United States puppetry, especially from the 20th century.” From Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. “This world of puppetry exhibit has puppets from, as one would imagine, all over the world. “We have over 3000 puppets in our collection,” says John Bell, the museum’s Executive Director. Now, it is a place where students and the public can experience the rich history of a nuanced art form. Despite having to initially limit the program’s enrollment due to high popularity, the University has since expanded its puppet arts classes and the museum has grown its collection and its work with the community.
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