EGRETION: Giant Puppets!

The local convention center is having a grand opening event for the new atrium that has been constructed, and they ordered three giant puppets to perform at the event! Here is a post about how, step-by-step, Megan Dunn and I have been making them!

The back pack framed and arms are made with PVC glued together.

First you apply a solvent to take the shiny coating off the surface of the pipe, and then you apply the glue, which actually dissolves the plastic on both the pipe and the connector, and welds the two together. Put the pieces together, push them firmly into one another and the turn the pieces slightly to smush the material together.

The Short sections are for supporting the arms, the long section for the head. the tennis balls are to allow mobility on the joints.

We made two pillow to cushion the shoulder and hips, and straps that were sewn through holes drilled in the frame so the puppeteer can comfortable wear the puppet.

The shape of the heads was made with hard-ware cloth wire mesh and a laregr piece of PVC pipe that slips over the neck pole is anchored at the top and bottom of the wire cage frame, so the heads can be taken on and off the back pack.

Then we started decorating the heads and sewing the costumes, which are all separate re-moveable pieces that either tie on to the frame or the head, or slip down over the pole. Materials used include hot blue, paper and fabric.

This is the beginning of what we call The Universal Being.

Here is the yarn wig Megan made for the woman.

She is the rainbow bearded pocket theater lady! her skirt has pockets to hold smaller puppets and also has two opening near the top so someone can be underneath the skirt and stick their hands up and out through the opening and perform a show with smaller puppets inside her arms, which are decorated like the curtains of a stage.