RTBTCKI (The I'm Building a Pigeon Edition)

[puppetmaker]

But first a photo of Pig and Elephant.

For the Visual Impaired: This is a picture of Gerald the Elephant (he wears glasses) and Piggy from the Mo Willems series of book.

My husband has been working very hard this week. He finished a novel (that we can’t talk about yet), a script for the visual medium (that we can’t talk about yet), and a comic book script (that we can’t…what’s that? That was announced? OK) for the Coheed and Cambria comic book he is working on.

So today he is taking Caroline out for a Daddy and Daughter Day. They are going to the gym then to lunch and then to a movie (Marmaduke which she really wants to see)

Which gives me the day to work without interruption for the most part. I figure I can do both my chores and work on my art. That is going to include a lot of power tools. I also have to find a piece of spring steel to complete the mechanism. I finally found the spring I needed.

I just found out that Frank Ballard passed away (as in I was typing this entry and an e-mail about his passing appeared in my mail box) He probably wasn’t a household name for most but if you were a Puppeteer, his name means a lot. He started the puppetry program at UConn. He taught a generation or two of puppeteer. He got other people in theater to look at puppetry differently. He enriched the landscape of American Puppetry. He will be missed by his family, his friends, his students and a lot of puppeteers who admired him greatly. I met him only once but we had a nice conversation about the state of Puppetry in America and Europe. I left the discussion inspired to continue my quest to teach others about puppetry.

So I am dedicating my performance at Field Day in memory of Mr. Ballard.

Off to make nails for the Elephant and then make KnuffleBunny and the infamous pigeon.

I am grateful for what Frank Ballard did for puppetry.

Comments

[paigemom.livejournal.com]

Keely and I had a "mommy and daughter day" and we went to see Marmaduke as well. She was the perfect age for it, and it didn't suck as much as I feared it would. There were enough inside references to other movies that the adults were somewhat entertained.

[xdaemon.livejournal.com]

Frank Ballard passed? *blink* *blink*

I should have realized I would find this out from you, but I expected to get it from my mother.

My mother was the publicity director at UCONN's School of Fine Arts for 5? years. I believe I was 10 when she left that job. It means I was going through some pretty formative times while exposed to that place - and puppetry has a particular attraction to children.

Mr. and Mrs. Ballard (remember, I met them when I was 7 or so) were wonderful people. The amazing talent and skill coupled with just being friendly and kind. I guess in his field fame didn't generally equate to celebrity. I have vague memories of having dinner at their house once, but I could be wrong.

I have to admit I'm surprised he lasted this long. He was starting to phase out of the program at UCONN back in the 80s due to Parkinson's.

And looking for his obit just took me to hers. Less than 3 months ago.

[xdaemon.livejournal.com]

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/hartfordcourant/obituary.aspx?n=frank-willard-ballard&pid=143435559&fhid=4185

In case you were interested. He was a truly amazing man.

And in a wonderful coincidence, he was an Alpha Psi Omega member, from a chapter I had no record of at all. By his passing we have re-discovered a forgotten chapter, and thus a bit of our history.

[puppetmaker40.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link

Did you know that I was a member of the Mu Beta Cast of Alpha Psi?

[xdaemon.livejournal.com]

I knew you were a member, but I didn't know from where. That's why I thought you'd be interested in that tidbit :-)

[kernsville.livejournal.com]

These look incredible! Don't let my son see them or I'll have to make him a pair as well. The kids will love them. I'm sure Mr. Ballard would be honored at your dedication, and I look forward to seeing the Bunny and Pigeon!