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No strings attached

Tucson Puppet Works give city a new glimpse of puppets and art

For the members of the Tucson Puppet Works, there is much more to puppetry than merely entertaining a crowd - it is both artistic expression and social commentary held together by a string.

The group's cast includes, among others, six-foot puppets, puppets controlled by multiple people and some incorporated into non-violent protests.

One month ago, Tucson Puppet Works moved to its current downtown gallery, 111 E. Congress St., where five puppeteers, three painters and a jewelry designer reside.

Charles Swanson, part of the Big Head Puppet Company and Tucson Puppet Works, became interested in puppets in 1995.

"It was spring '95 in a St. Patrick's Day parade when I did some of my first parade puppets," Swanson said.

Later that year, Swanson found himself with some friends taking a giant conquistador puppet across the Mexican border in protest against the North American Free Trade Association and then later as part of a group who received a grant from the U.S. Children's Museum.

This type of non-violent protest was also demonstrated yesterday when puppets were brought to the Bank One on Stone Avenue. This protest was against the International Monetary Fund meetings in Washington, D.C.

On the more entertaining side of puppetry, Swanson and the group have also done installations for Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St., including the outer space decorations displayed at the New Year's celebration.

Matt Cotten, part of the Big Head Puppet Company and Tucson Puppet Works, is not only a puppeteer for the gallery, but is also one of the featured artists.

Cotten said he became involved with the puppets as a University of Arizona graduate student. He said he met a lot of creative people in the community and joined them in the parades, street performances and the making of giant puppets.

"My first puppet was a giant pig riding a farmer's back, which I carried on my back for an All Souls procession-parade. It was extremely heavy, so I learned a lesson from carrying that around," Cotten said.

Although Tucson Puppet Works doesn't have its permanent stage set up yet, they are working to complete that as soon as possible.

On April 29, Tucson Puppet Works will be holding its official opening. At 10 a.m., they will have skits for children, at 3 p.m. there will be puppetry that is slightly more mature but still suitable for children and at 10 p.m., they will have puppetry for adults.

On Sunday, April 30, Tucson Puppet Works will be holding "Puppet Church." This show is at 3 p.m. and will include tales from the Hindu and Buddhist traditions.

Tucson Puppet Works charges a "$3 tithing" for the shows on Sunday. For more information call 770-1533.