Paper Puppets Workshop with Felicia Cooper
Using paper, tape, and scissors, create fun and funky characters! Recommended for ages 4+.
Materials needed: paper, tape, scissors, markers, crayons, pencils
Originally streamed on Facebook on 3/25/20.
Anything Can be a Puppet! Object Performance Exploration! with Felicia Cooper
Use household objects to explore movement, expression, and storytelling! We’ll discover movement patterns and gesture, working towards character development. Recommended for ages: 6+.
Materials needed: anything around you (check in with a grown up if it doesn’t belong to you)
Originally streamed on Facebook on 4/10/20.
Paper Fortune Teller Puppets with Elise Vanase, Parts 1 and 2
Do you remember making paper fortune tellers in school? Come see how this classic game can be turned into a puppet! Recommended for ages 7+.
Materials needed: paper (preferably thicker); paint or markers; scissors; hot glue (best option, but glue stick or tape will also work)
Originally streamed on Facebook on 5/13/20.
Ping-Pong Ball Puppet Workshop with Elise Vanase, Parts 1 and 2
Hand puppetry doesn’t have to be complicated! In the first part of this series, learn how to make an effective hand puppet using just a ping-pong ball (or other available object) on your finger. We will also explore methods of personalizing this puppet! Hold on to what you created because in the second session of this series, we will explore performance techniques for these puppets using fun exercises! Recommended for ages 5+ (with adult supervision when using the X-Acto knife).
Materials needed: ping-pong ball (if you don’t have a ping-pong ball, you can sculpt a head using newspaper and masking tape!); X-Acto knife; things to decorate (such as permanent markers, paint, googly eyes, paper, yarn, etc.)
Originally streamed on Facebook on 5/20/20 and 5/22/20.
Wrist Puppet Workshop with Elise Vanase
Come turn your hand into a walking puppet with just a few simple materials! Recommended for ages 4+.
Materials needed: old sock, scissors, hot glue or tape, cereal box cardboard, markers, yarn (optional), pipe cleaners (optional)
Originally streamed on Facebook on 6/3/20.
Cardboard Party! with Felicia Cooper
Join UConn Puppet Arts graduate student Felicia Cooper to learn methods of attachment, ways of folding, scoring, and slicing that can be used in a variety of ways! This will be an exploration of material and techniques, and we’ll build a simple puppet from a cereal box! Recommended for ages 8+.
Materials needed: cardboard, hot glue, tape, utility blade, scissors, water, and markers Felicia is leading this workshop with the support of the Department of Economic and Community Development/Connecticut Office of the Arts.
Originally streamed on Facebook on 6/24/2020.
Clothespin Puppets with Elise Vanasse
Did you used to pretend that your clothespins could speak? Well, come turn them into talking puppets with us! Recommended for ages 4+. Materials needed: cereal box cardboard, hot glue, paint/markers, pipe cleaners, yarn, clothespins #VoicesOfTheVenues #ArtsAtUConn
Originally streamed on our Facebook Live on 6/17/2020.
Trash Monster Puppet Workshop with Elise Vanasse
Come make a gnarly talking monster that looks like it came straight out of the garbage can (in a cool way)! Recommended for ages 8+. Materials needed: two small cardboard boxes (granola bar boxes work well), newspaper, garbage bag, hot glue, masking tape, paint/markers, clean trash that can be used for decoration (plastic bags, bottles, cans, wrappers, etc!)
Originally streamed on Facebook on 6/26/2020.
Direct Manipulation with Stuffed Animals! with Abby Bosley
Join us for a pre-recorded workshop led by UConn Puppet Arts Program alumna Abby Bosley as she shows us how to turn your stuffed animals or toys into puppets! This workshop is a great two-person activity, so bring a friend! Recommended for ages 5+. Materials needed: stuffed animals or toys (preferably ones that can be manipulated or moved) Posted to Facebook on 7/8/20.
Toy Theater Aquarium Workshop with Elise Vanase
Don’t want the responsibility of owning fish? That’s okay! Make your dream aquarium and its inhabitants out of a cereal box. Recommended age 7+.
Materials needed: cereal box, scissors, skewer/stick, hot glue or tape, paint
Originally streamed to Facebook on 7/10/2020.
Let’s Get Crankin’! with Felicia Cooper
A crankie uses a pulley system to create a scrolling image or moving panorama. Create an analogue movie to show your pals! Recommended for ages 7+. Materials needed: paper (long scroll preferred, but pieces of paper taped together is okay too!), box, utility knife or scissors, tape, crayons/pencils/markers, dowels or sticks This workshop is made possible with support from the Department of Economic and Community Development, Connecticut Office of the Arts.
Originally streamed on Facebook Live on 7/22/20.
Edible Puppets Workshop with Elise Vanase
Who says you can’t play with your food? Make some puppets out of what you have in your kitchen! Materials needed: apples, pretzel rods, bananas, Twizzlers, string cheese, butter/carving knife, googly eyes (optional), OR whatever food strikes your inspiration! #VoicesOfTheVenues #ArtsAtUConn Originally aired on Facebook Live on 7/31.
Puppets for Demonstrations with Felicia Cooper
Join UConn Puppet Arts graduate student Felicia Cooper on July 15 for a Puppets for Demonstration Workshop! With so many opportunities to use striking images, voices, and sounds in public spaces, here’s a way to make it even louder! Perfect for neighborhood parades or activist events in your community, puppets have been a significant part of public demonstrations throughout history! Recommended for ages 9+. Materials needed: big sticks, paper maché, cardboard, tape, newspaper, scissors, glue, fabric, and an idea! This workshop is made possible with support from the Department of Economic and Community Development, Connecticut Office of the Arts. Originally streamed to Facebook July 15, 2020.
The “No Puppets Puppet Show” Workshop with Felicia Cooper
What do you do when you have no puppet to play with? In the car, in a waiting room, with no fun crafts? Join UConn Puppet Arts graduate student Felicia Cooper on August 5 to find out how to entertain yourself when there’s nothing to do. We’ll use our hands themselves to create fun and funny characters! Recommended for ages 5+. Materials needed: none! This workshop is made possible with support from the Department of Economic and Community Development, Connecticut Office of the Arts.
Originally streamed to Facebook on August 5, 2020.
Storybuilding Workshop with Felicia Cooper
Storybuilding Workshop with Felicia Cooper Puppets are a wonderful way to tell stories, but where to start? Take it from Felicia, UConn Puppet Arts graduate student, how to put together stories that make sense. We’ll go over some exercises, ways to think about structure, and inspiration exaltation! Recommended for ages 5+. Materials needed: timer or watch, note cards, pen, and paper
Originally streamed on Facebook on August 12, 2020.
Ask a Puppeteer with Elise Vanase and Felicia Cooper
While the Ballard Institute is closed, the museum will offer short, puppet-building and craft workshops via Facebook Live (http://facebook.com/BallardInstitute/) every Wednesday and Friday at 2 p.m. ET! All past workshops are available on our Facebook and YouTube. Ask Felicia Cooper, a UConn Puppet Arts graduate student, and Elise Vanase, a UConn Puppet Arts undergraduate student, all about being puppeteers and students during these trying times! They will be open to questions about materials, performance, and construction techniques as well as their experience as students of puppetry. Also, they will discuss their upcoming projects this year in addition to how they will continue their studies effectively online. Recommended for ages 6+.
Originally streamed to Facebook on 8/7/2020.