For our second day we ventured to Saxapahaw to see Paperhand Puppet Intervention, a group of artists who are devoted to making larger than life puppets and masks to share larger than life messages to their audiences. Directors Donovan Zimmerman and Jan Burger are committed to making the world a better place while exploring their own styles in puppetry. They work in an old community center, utilizing the open space for construction, while past projects line the walls and stack high upon shelves. We were given a tour of past and current projects, and afterwards, the opportunity to try on a few masks!
Following lunch, everyone was given the honor of helping paper mache masks and puppets the company was working on. The process was fairly simple: a clay or cardboard form is built which is then covered by layers of paper soaked in a water and cornstarch mixture. Layer upon layer of thin paper and smoothing resulted in solid forms and faces along with very greasy hands. The puppets would eventually be painted and attached to larger contraptions or fabrics. It was amazing to experience how such easy steps combined with a passion for art brought to life gigantic characters with fantastical stories who gently guide the community to important morals through inspiring tales.
