The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry will present the grand opening of its new exhibit American Puppet Modernism: The Early 20th Century on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018 at 6 p.m., with refreshments served at 6 p.m. and a free tour beginning at 6:30 p.m. All events will take place at the Ballard Institute, located at 1 Royce Circle in Storrs Center. The exhibition will be on display through Sunday, July 1, 2018.
American Puppet Modernism: The Early 20th Century celebrates the puppet revival that developed across the United States in 1920s and 30s. Inspired by the European avant-garde; Asian, African, and Latin American performance; the vibrant culture of American cities; and the possibilities of such new technologies as film; puppeteers, artists, and writers decided that puppetry was an ideal medium for representing modern life. From cross-country touring shows to giant inflatable street puppets, avant-garde operas, and other ground-breaking innovations, Americans rediscovered and redefined puppetry in ways that still guide the form today. American Puppet Modernism: The Early 20th Century, curated by Ballard Institute Director John Bell, includes works by Tony Sarg, Margo and Rufus Rose, Ralph Chessé, Marjorie Batchelder, Martin and Olga Stevens, Bil Baird, Frank and Elizabeth Haines, Alexander Calder, the Yale Puppeteers, the Federal Theater Project, and Hazelle Rollins.
For more information, contact: Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry at 860-486-8580 or bimp@uconn.edu