Part of the 2014 Art Shanty Projects, The Drama/Puppet
Therapy Circus -- Sami Shanty housed an interactive theater piece. It was a
group experience structured as a three ring circus that addressed the past,
present and future. Audience members’ confessions, wishes for their future and
gratitude lists plugged into short scripts (mad-lib style). The audience then
performed the scripts with puppets, balloons and scripted tarot card readings.
For our shanty, we constructed a lavvu, a structure used by the Sami people of
Northern Scandinavia. The lavvu canvas was created by Chris Pesklo of Northern
Lavvu. The base and pole system was designed by engineer Ben Pecholt. Deborah Yarchun created the performance piece. Saga Blane was the project's
environmental design consultant. Most of the puppets used were provided by
Chris Lutter of Puppet Farm Arts.
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| Engineer Ben Pecholt planning the base so we can assemble it like Ikea furniture. |
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| Chris Pesklo (on the right) of Northern Lavvu consulting with us at Bedlam Theater's Community Design Center |
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| our work in progress at Bedlam Theater's Design Center |
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The start of our efforts
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our completed base
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| On the ice |
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| Night shot |
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Our lavvu lit up at dusk
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| A shanty audience member / performer wearing a hat to match his puppet. |
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Our shanty interior
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| Puppet/Puppy stare down |
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| Shanty Visitor: Groundhog on Groundhog Day |
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| A line to participate in Drama/Puppet Therapy Circus - Sami Shanty |
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| "Self Reflection Chair," "Just a Chair" - Photo from CBS's Wander Minnesota |
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| Post snowstorm |
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| View from the back our shanty |
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| Some of our audience members / participants |
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| Shanty cushions |
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| wood-burning stove |
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| our wood burning stove, all that was left of our shanty after we hauled it away |
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| hauling our shanty off the ice at the end of the project |
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| More participants |
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| Shanty performer with a tarot card |
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| Participants were invited to leave their wish for the future, gratitude list or confession on our shanty's wall |
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| "I hope one day I'll become an award winning author. I would write every genre of books. I want to also become a professional soccer player (defense). I also want to sometime be a banker in New York. I also want to be a librarian." |
special thanks to:
Chris Pesklo / Northern Lavvu (historical consultant / Lavvu expert)
Puppet Master Chris Lutter for the awesome puppets
Donovan Walker, Lauren Thrift and others who have helped along the way!
Sarah Saltwick and Robert Frost, Lauren Thrift (Drama/Puppet Therapy guest facilitators)
Bedlam Theater (for the build space)
Siwek Lumber
Menards
Savers
Jake Jeppson for the ride to Savers and Walmart
Every participant
All friends who contributed confessions
