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Workshops in Puppetry / Drama
The following are some examples of the types of puppets I teach students to make. If you have particular desires, I can work with your school to design custom workshops to meet those goals.  In addition to the building of puppets, I teach entire programs where a group or groups of students can be taken through a complete production process, learning how to design, create, write, rehearse and perform a puppet play. Should you prefer, I can also direct your students in a production performing as actors, instead of puppeteers. I offer individual workshops in all of these aspects, including design, playwriting, acting and directing for the stage.
These hand and rod puppets are excellent for multi-day residencies as there is drying time needed for the sculptural material. They offer not only practice in building and working with puppets, but teach your students sculptural techniques such as facial proportion, caricature and creating expression and character.  In the painting of the puppet heads, the students learn the use of highlights and shadow and color to add depth and dimension to the sculptural form.  
Shadow puppets are unique and unusual in our modern western world. They are flat puppets, that are performed behind a cloth screen , so that the audience sees not the actual puppet but the shadow of the puppet. They are often made of translucent materials so that the coloration of the puppets actually shows through the screen. Our student shadow puppets are cut from a lightweight plastic sheet and painted with colored markers. In many eastern countries, shadow puppets have historically been the primary form of theater, allowing this workshop to teach not only art technique but to also explore the rich history, literature and diversity of these foreign cultures.
It takes several classroom periods to build and learn to use these puppets. It can be part of a multi-day residency, or can be done in one day if it can be arranged in the students' schedules. For example, I could meet with one group before lunch for several periods and another group after lunch for the same.
Lunch Bag Puppets
Using three paper lunch bags, a paper plate, two Styrofoam cups, two plastic forks, three bamboo skewers, a few staples and a bit of masking tape, the basic form of this attractive and very workable hand and rod puppet can be constructed in one class period for only pennies in material cost! The basic form of the puppet with three interchangeable, different faces is shown here ready to paint and decorate.
On Being an Artist and a Teacher
I am a professional artist and though I have much experience as an artist in the schools, I am in no way a professional teacher. I have had the good fortune to work with many teachers who have inspired and taught me about the nitty gritty every day work of teaching as a profession. In my very first experience as an artist in the schools, I was blessed to work with a dedicated career professional art teacher. She had posted on her door a story called "About School". It went something like this. In the story, Johnny was just a little boy. One day his parents gave him some paper and crayons and asked him to draw a picture; and Johnny did.  He drew the sun and moon and stars and earth and and all the wonders of the world around him. He proudly showed it to his parents who told him how wonderful his drawing was, even though it was only scribbles.  Johnny was very proud. He often drew such pictures. The next year, Johnny started school. One day his teacher gave them all paper and crayons and asked them to do a drawing. Johnny, excited, drew the sun and moon and stars and earth and all the wonders of the world around him and proudly showed it to his teacher. His teacher said but Johnny, this is only scribbles. Why don't you draw a nice house and people and pets like Mary here. And from that day forward, Johnny only ever drew stick people and stick pets and stick houses. He never again felt the joy of drawing the wonders of the world around him.
As an artist in the schools, I teach technique. I have a formula that I have developed that works extremely well for most students. But my true role is to inspire. Each student is an individual that needs individual attention. My job is to recognize and encourage their individual creativity. My job is to work with teachers and assist these professionals in the excellent work they are already doing.
Many years ago, I was teaching a residency in a middle school in playwriting. One of my students was a popular leader of her peers. I heard another student describe her as "too cool for words".  She was the bane of my existence. She never missed a chance to belittle and make fun of the program I was teaching. I considered having her removed from the class, but instead decided to persevere and do my best with her. At the end of my residency, I felt that I had not influenced or inspired her in any way. Many years later, I got a letter from her out of the blue. She was now a student in college. In her letter, she apologized for her behavior in my class and told me that I had actrually been a great inspiration for her and she was now studying to become a professional writer. She thanked me. I learned a valuable lesson. We never know how we might affect or inspire even the most difficult of students. My philosophy is to always give my best no matter what.
David also performs comedy / variety shows and programs in living history. In addition he is a puppet maker. Click on the links below to find out more about David, his experience and his work.
Birthday Parties
Hand Crafted Puppets
For prices and more information, please contact: David Ballard / 12610 West SR 235 / Alachua FL 32615
Tel: 386-462-5797  Cell: 904-233-7093  E-mail: MoxieProductions@aol.com

 

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