May
7
The Puppets Are Coming!
Posted by: lmairs | May 7, 2010 | Leave a Comment
The Woodhaven Eco Art Project presents “Fairies of the Forest,” a puppet play for and by children on Saturday, May 15 at 1 pm and again at 2 PM. Set inside the greenery of Woodhaven Nature Conservancy, this is a celebration of the natural world in song, word and movement. The eleven children playing in the puppet play have created plant-dyed, silk fabric puppets that will tell a story as they dance and work in the forest. The goal is to create beauty and wonder in the magic of the natural world. Created by Waldorf educator Denise Kilshaw with a team of children and helpers, the puppet play is suitable for children age 3 to 93. It is free admission
I spent three days in March with Waldorf educator Denise Kilshaw as she and the children attending her day camp made the puppets featured in the upcoming show at Woodhaven. True to Waldorf form the children created their puppets from the raw material available to them. 
We met in Denises’ back yard and went down into the gully in the forest behind her house. Each of the children had a basket for gathering grasses and nettle to dye silk, and each carried a sturdy walking stick.
The grass & nettles were cooked in a large pot over an open flame and when the dyes were successfully infused into the water, the silks were added to soak overnight.
Each silk is taken from the bath and laid flat to dry. The following day all organic plant-dyes are mixed and the children painted their silks. The silks cover the form of the body and create a floating like quality for each ‘Fairy’.
After the dyes have been set, each puppet is given a head and body-form and the silks are sewn on along with dyed sheep wool for hair.
The making of the puppets was truly a sight to behold. Children fully engaged in the creative process from raw materials to completed form, with natural elements as their medium and intensity and concern with focus and surrender guiding a natural creative venture. It was a privilege to watch it evolve.
They are due here today for their second rehearsal and I imagine will be at their shining best come next Saturday.
Please join us at Woodhaven at 1pm or 2pm for ‘Fairies of the Forest’
4711 Raymer Road South on Gordon, cross over Dehart, second left is Raymer Road, it zig zags a bit, turn left at ‘slow to 30km’ you’re still on Raymer, at the T in the road is Woodhaven. See you Saturday May 15th.