Meet the Artists
GALLIER HALL
Projection timing, sponsors
Kaleidoscopes
Kaleidoscopes symbolize the ever-changing possibilities of human experience. Inspired by NOLA’s vibrant colors, we guide audiences from shadow to light, revealing New Orleans’ spirit one color at a time. Puppets are wonderful tools for connecting and opening doors to learning. Using a mix of puppet characters, shadow theatre styles, handmade illustration, and animation, we aim to create playful scenes where animated characters reflect the city’s resilience and unity. Through joyful storytelling, music, and style, we offer a welcoming moment for everyone to rediscover hope, pride, and a sense of community.
THE PUPPETRY PARADE
sponsors
The Fantastical Gar
by Jaime Bird
The Fantastical Gar is a 12-foot illuminated creature inspired by Louisiana’s ecosystems, alligator gar, and giant lantern puppets. Its translucent, serpentine body glows from within, transforming the familiar fish into a fantastical, bioluminescent creature. As viewers move around the sculpture, they discover that its body is bifurcated to reveal a hidden wetland ecosystem inside, filled with roots, foliage, reflective pools, and tiny lights referencing plankton and fireflies. This glowing interior illuminates the creature’s exterior, creating a magical connection between the animal, its habitat, and the landscape of Louisiana.
The Lightpole Folks
by Basqo Bim
The Lightpole Person is a nine-foot puppet by New Orleans artist Basqo, adapted from his illustrated series The Lightpole Folk. Its head is a 30-inch illuminated mask mounted on a streetlight pole. Its body is overgrown with foliage, the way things tend to get here. Two puppeteers work the arms while the artist pulls the whole figure on a bike trailer. It is part streetlight, part swamp, part neighbor. After LUNA Fête, the Lightpole Person will be permanently installed at a New Orleans Public Library or NORD site.
Artwork title
by Monsters of the Underworld
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Mermaids of the Troubled Waters
This work explores the history of Divine Feminine of our local Water Goddess of the African diaspora, Pomba Gira, Mami Wata, La Sirene; the Mermaid of The Mississippi. Keeper of memories and a protector, we recognize her motherly sorrow, and warrior’s rage at the pollution that human practices have brought to the ancestral waters. This celebration takes the form of three mermaid lantern puppets. These mermaids, which will swim in the air, will be accompanied by suspended memorial portrait lanterns which display faces and quotations drawn from members of the Gulf Coast community who have been affected by environmental toxicity.
Enter the Blob: Kyle Blob 2
by MILAGROS
Kyle Blob is inspired by childhood forts and suitable for anyone with an inner child. Kyle blob is a large scale, intricately painted, black light reactive, inflated fabric environment that people can enter. Kyle Blob houses several hand made plushies that we call "cuddle buddies" as well as custom, interactive instruments and costume elements. Participants are encouraged to explore and intuitively interact within the installation.
Kaleidoscopes
Kaleidoscopes symbolize the ever-changing possibilities of human experience. Inspired by NOLA’s vibrant colors, we guide audiences from shadow to light, revealing New Orleans’ spirit one color at a time. Puppets are wonderful tools for connecting and opening doors to learning. Using a mix of puppet characters, shadow theatre styles, handmade illustration, and animation, we aim to create playful scenes where animated characters reflect the city’s resilience and unity. Through joyful storytelling, music, and style, we offer a welcoming moment for everyone to rediscover hope, pride, and a sense of community.
LAFAYETTE SQUARE
sponsors
BLOCK 1
sponsors