Popup ArtSpace: Museum Puppet Throwdown

Posted by Brad on August 23, 2013 in Projects, TechMuse Blog, The Museum Learning Experience | 0 comments

Earlier this summer, Providence artist Amy Walsh and I tried an experiment: we booked a space at AS220, Providence’s maker hub (and a fine restaurant/bar as well), and created a “museum puppet throwdown.”  Basically, we invited people from the Providence museum community to come, sit down, have a beer, and make puppets.  Then we recorded puppetshows on storykiosk and uploaded to YouTube. We also projected highlights on the wall.

I think it’s safe to say, a good time was had by all.

We themed the event to Providence museum exhibits, and created puppets related to the museums.  From Providence Children’s Museum: Nori the Dragon, from RISD Museum: Man of Fashion, and from Roger Williams Park Zoo, the giant anteater (who playfully morphed into the “pantseater” in one puppetshow).

This all relates to one the major themes in the museum world: the “distributed museum.” Museums with presence throughout the community, beyond the physical walls of the museum.  From pubs and restaurants to community festivals and commemorative events. It’s one of the themes emerging in the “Reimagining Children’s Museums” initiative.

We’ll be looking for more venues for this popup/maker event, maybe closer to Boston or Cambridge. In the meantime, you can check out puppetshows we posted to YouTube…