Shadow Play

Last autumn I created a group of shadow puppets for the telling of a contemporary fairytale and finally, in May, was able to see the end result performance at a theatre near my home in Nantes. The shadow show is part of a larger work entitled "Les Fabuleuses Histoires du Fabularium", a charming piece full of humour and accordion music performed by Les Aretes du Biftek troupe:
http://lesaretesdubiftek.wix.com/lesaretesdubiftek

Below is the princess character minus her control rods...

She is beloved of the wolf, a dandified fellow who in some ways might not be all bad, although still obsessed with harassing pigs...

Here they are in performance...

And we all hope they lived happily ever after...

Or in the meanwhile at least had a very good time...

Collage Animation

A trio of photos from a recent short film segment I created to celebrate the centennial of the riot provoking first performance of the Ballet Russe/Stravinsky work "Le Sacre du Printemps" (or "Rite of Spring" as it is sometimes known in English). As part of a larger collage of works by various choreographers/dancers/artists it will premiere at the International Video Dance Festival of Burgundy, France next month, after which I'll post a video here.

The puppets were created from vintage French art history magazines which my corner used bookshop sells for twenty centimes--- a steal for gorgeous full colour magazines on heavy stock! I always feel a bit guilty cutting them up but often find duplicates to keep for my own viewing pleasure. I mixed and matched parts from works ranging from Etruscan sculpture to medieval Spanish fresco to a Titian painting and added an actual hair extension braid to the central figure of "the chosen one" for a bit of variety. (The braid was fun to animate!).

All movements were still photographed one small motion at a time. Afterward all the many photos were altered in photoshop and an online editing program to create a more unique and encompassing  look to this 2D world. The final step was loading them into a video program and creating a continuous effect of movement with musical score.

Here's a link to some of my other earlier animations in 2 and 3D:
http://www.youtube.com/user/artemiscalliste/videos

I look forward to the coming of spring here and wish you all the best whatever the season, wherever you are!

Some Puppet Work In Progress

The cage-like skirt of the largest marionette becomes a miniature theatre for smaller puppets or with a draping of sheer fabric, a screen for shadow projections that revolve or interact with the grid in various ways.

The Alchemist's House

A melange of puppets, Gothic elements, flaming digits and lots of candles with video, animation, art and scorched fingertips by yours truly (with some interesting UK guest collaborators at work on a sound track to be added soon).

A Short Stop Motion Video Test With Wire Frame Puppets

Yet another video test of stop motion techniques--My second attempt in this genre and a bit funky but I hope not without some charm. All puppets and sets were constructed by me, principally with pulped papier-mache and natural materials such as twigs and moss.

Nightlight

Shadowy views of my night time work table with puppets and poppets ensconced, awaiting their moment on the stage...alongside some small mixed media works in progress.

I recently discovered this small brass and bone Moroccan mirror with broken frame on the dumpster top--brought it back to my workspace and filled the gaps with a mosaic of minuscule shells from the magic isle of Noirmoutier on France's Atlantic coast. It now has a proud, toothy grin.

Of Griffin Claw and Dragon Tooth

A Found Object Puppet

I fabricated this puppet last year for a stop motion animation. It was inspired by the twin faces of the Roman deity Janus, gazing in two directions, looking both forward and back, past and future, here and there. Its hollow torso represents the blind windows of the crow inhabited multistoried temple of Janus ruin in Autun, France.
If you look closely you will discover butterfly wings preserved between thin sheets of mica, a demitasse spoon found flattened in a parking lot, a pocket watch case that lay many years at the bottom of a great river, a porcelain doll leg of late nineteenth or early twentieth century vintage, snapping turtle bones, almond shells, slices from deer antlers and so on... I love the stories that one can spin around such objects, the histories known and imagined. And the weird synergy of attempting to bring together so many disparate objects into a coherent and evocative whole.

The Merry Month of May

May has been a month of travel thus far---with internet connections few and far between. I feel the frustration of not being able to share as easily as I would like all the fascinating places I have had the privilege to see, yet who could be really unhappy in the midst of so much beauty? I am currently in the mountains of the South working out of our van on the property of friends who have created a truly charming home in an old water mill (more about that later, along with photos). During this stop I have designed and cut more paper shadow puppets and have almost completed a bevy of papier-mache heads for marionettes. Sometime in the next few days, in order to meet my schedule I must begin filming a stop motion paper animation (ready or not!) at another friend's apartment.

In the meantime, I would like to show you a few late afternoon photos of the lovely Chateau of Chambord, happily happened upon in the midst of travel. It deserves much more attention than I have time to give at present---it is a noteworthy site among the many lovely chateaux France has to offer. As you can see, Chambord is massive in size and has a truly memorable roof line of ornate windows, domes and lovely chimneys. So, until next we meet, enjoy...

P.S.

Since the naughty blog gremlin stole in and wouldn't let me complete my post as planned I will use this post script to share the almost finished puppet I previewed yesterday. She is designed to be worn over one extended hand and arm while the operator's other hand controls the rods to the puppet's hands and articulated arms. (At this point she still lacks finished hands and rods for manipulation). If the body appears a bit flat it is because it's designed to be "fleshed out" so to speak, by the operator's arm and hand---and since no one was around to model and my own arm not long enough you'll have to use your imagination to provide her rightful form. (Whew!!! There were an awful lot of "hands" and "arms" in there!!!).

And lastly, the mystery flower from the front yard of our borrowed house finally showed itself to be a lovely iris. Happy May Day to all !!!

Enchanted April

Spring has been really lovely here in France and was a magical first experience for me of March and April in this country. My recent travels have taken me from intense heat one day to a high elevation blizzard in the glorious Alps, back to picnics beside the turquoise waters of southern rivers in short sleeves and finally to the west coast again. On the drive across the country it seemed there was a wonderfully romantic looking castle ruin on every hilltop and I wish I could have stopped to photograph all of them! As it stands I have an alarming number of interesting photos I want to share with you--- but they will have to wait for a bit of sorting and selecting---soon, I promise! Meanwhile I'd like to show you what else I've been doing with my time besides snapping pix.
A sampling of cut paper shadow puppets for upcoming performance works...

Another sort of  puppet---a hand held rod version in process--with recycled newsprint papier mache head, faux fur hair and the beginning of rag wrapping to give her body and arms shape. I wasn't initially certain how I felt about creating a more standard, doll like face than my usually fantasy, but it seems to be called for in the particular production for which it is destined. I think the clothes and final touches will help to make her more memorable. To give you some idea of the proportions, the head and neck measure 15 centimeters. Below her are three older creations in my more "normal" fantasy style for comparison.

               And a lovely, merry month of May to all from my house of faes...until next we meet!!!

Beginnings

Once upon a time in the small season between seasons called March, in the kitchen of an ancient house tucked under the ruined walls of a medieval city an artist sat pondering this thing called a blog---wondering how to begin, how to share all the images and ideas from today and yesterday, from traveling here and there and beyond...And so it begins with an artists' residency at a petit theatre in the west of France. I am here to create a new work, jointly, with music and shadow puppets, projections and marionettes. But the beginnings of spring and the evocative remains of history beckon between work sessions--the ruins of a fortified chateau are outside the back doors of the theatre, beyond them a series of waterways bordered by an ancient mill and 15th century dovecote, first violets tucked among the mossy roots of a massive oak and the sound of bells and new lambs calling out to their mothers.