Ever find yourself mesmerized by the charm of a puppet show, or recall the nostalgia of marionettes dancing on strings? We've got a treat for you! Sparrow Art Space in Bridgeland, Calgary transforms into a lively hub, hosting puppeteers Jenny Dale Stables and Tia DeLauria. They're drawing back the curtain to reveal the magic and allure of puppetry, sharing how they've sculpted their artistic paths and the unique voices they bring to the stage through their enthralling creations. This spellbinding episode is a journey into the heart of imagination, where traditional craftsmanship pairs with contemporary storytelling, reminding us that creativity isn't just child's play—it's an innate language woven into our human fabric.
Puppet project: Calgarians learn to make ‘really entertaining’ little characters
By Gil Tucker, Global News
March 8, 2024
Calgarians are getting a new chance to do some real hands-on creative crafting. They’re bringing some cool characters to life with some pretty unusual materials. Sparrow Artspace in the city’s Bridgeland neighbourhood is hosting several puppet-making workshops throughout the month of March.
Veteran Calgary artist Jenny Dale Stables is one of the people leading the sessions. “Puppets require us to be creative, to problem-solve” During one workshop, Stables was encouraging the kids in attendance to imagine what kind of puppets they could fashion out of small dried gourds.
Magic, Motion, and Make Believe: Exploring Puppetry, Story,and Play
Jenny Dale Stables & Tia DeLauria
in conjunction with the Festival of Animated Objects
March 1-30, 2024, Open Thurs-Sat 11am-6pm
Puppetry is a timeless art form filled with endless possibilities. Throughout the month of March, join multidisciplinary artists, Jenny Dale Stables and Tia DeLauria as they explore the art of puppetry. This residency will include an interactive puppet theatre installation, a series of puppet making workshops, and a drop-in “puppet lab” for the public to engage in. Various forms of mask and puppet art will be explored including mouth puppets, rod puppets, marionettes, found object puppets, and animal masks. Experience the connection between emotion, play, and storytelling; and connect with family and the community through this captivating art form.
Jenny Dale Stables
Jenny Dale Stables is an experienced multidisciplinary artist and art educator. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Art (2001), a Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Education (2005), and a Certificate as a Therapeutic Arts Practitioner (2021). Through her business, Jenny Dale Designs, Jenny creates whimsical paintings, sculptures, book illustrations, public art installations, and puppets. She has written and/or illustrated over 20 publications including picture books, early readers, chapter books, poetry books, and educational resources. Jenny's artwork aims to capture the essence of joy and love– two incredibly powerful yet vulnerable human experiences.
Tia DeLauria
Tia DeLauria is an emerging mixed-media puppetry artist with a background in painting and sculpture. After completing the Bachelor of Fine Arts program at the University of Ottawa, she moved to Calgary where she has continued to develop her practice. She recently completed her studies at Bow Valley College in the Digital Design program and is spending time as a Community Program Artist with the Calgary Animated Object Society (CAOS) exploring the vast joys of storytelling through mask and puppetry performances.