World Puppetry Day 2019

If you are in Atlanta, the Center for Puppetry Arts is teaming up with StoryCorps.

From their Facebook page “The Center for Puppetry Arts is proud to partner with StoryCorps Atlanta to collect and preserve memories about how the Center for Puppetry Arts and Jim Henson’s legacy has touched peoples’ lives.”

They have a list of ways that you can participate even if you are unable to be there in person.

I am thinking of telling the story of the opening of the Center with Jim and Kermit cutting the ribbon since I was there.

Puppetry for me is like breathing, I honestly don’t know how to not puppet.

I cannot remember a time that there were not puppets in my life from Kukla, Fran, And Ollie to Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood (I remember when he got a statue of each of the places in the land of make-believe) to the Muppet Show with a side stop at Sesame Street. Puppets have always been there.

Since then I have made friends because of puppetry.

I found my husband because of puppetry that lead to my daughter being in this world.

Because of the Center for Puppetry Arts, I have seen a lot of really good puppet shows performed with all kinds of puppets showing me the possibilities for the art form. I learned how to make and repair lots of different kinds of puppets. It really gave me an education that I appreciate to this day.

I have become an educator about puppets over the years. I have talked about them at various conventions. I have taught people how I make puppets. I have helped people execute their ideas for puppets. I love seeing what they have made with the information I have given them.

So let’s celebrate all things puppet today.

Puppetry is a world-wide language that is spoken in many tongues.

I am proud to be a professional doll wiggler.

I am grateful to Vince Anthony and the Center for Puppetry Arts.