*UPDATED* Master of Prayer Puppet Show this Wednesday Night at JALOPY

Remember my early December post about that book I made for the puppet show, Master of Prayer? Those good folks are performing as part of the fourth anniversary of Roots N' Ruckus at the Jalopy Theater in Red Hook. The puppets (and fiddle, and band of merry puppeteers) go on at 9pm sharp, with other super awesome musical acts. Best of all the whole thing is free. I will be trotting around taking pictures and drawing and admiring the new additions to Jalopy (if they're open--they've claimed the bar-next-door recently). Here's the line-up for Wednesday evening:

This Wednesday we celebrate 4 years of Roots n Ruckus at Jalopy! The Showstarts a half-hour EARLY this week!
9:00 (SHARP) - The Master of Prayer (an hour-long puppet show about a hilarious and insightful story written by an 18th century rabbi. featuring Craig Judelman)
10:00 - Feral Foster
10:30 - The Whiskey Spitters
11:00 - The Dust Busters 
11:30 - I$TO

The Jalopy Theater is located at 315 Columbia Street in Brooklyn. Directions here. 

Here's some more info about the show from the writer and director:

The Invisible Kitchen presents:

MASTER OF PRAYER

A puppet allegory based on the story by Rebbe Nachman.

Based on a story by by the 19th century rabbi, our show tells of a mythical kingdom, thrown into chaos by a great wind. The Master of Prayer, who lives in the woods with his followers, singing and dancing like hippies, hears of a city of riches where people are valued only according to how much money they have, and is compelled to save these poor fools from their money-lust. To this end, they depart together on a journey that takes them through many kingdoms, each one obsessively valuing one trait to the exclusion of all else. Through the journey we learn that whether they worship money, wisdom, prayer, lust, or death, they are all misguided, because a man must have all the colors on his palette in order to paint life's picture.

Some say the protagonist symbolizes Rebbe Nachman and is thus at the same time a comment on the role of the tzadikim (enlightened teachers) in a corrupted society, and how they provide instruction for social change. This in turn reflects back on the important role of the artist/storyteller in modern society, and ourselves as performers/puppeteers retelling and reintroducing this old story to contemporary audiences.  And so, in our show, the puppeteers themselves play important roles as characters in the piece.

I know this all sounds very serious, but most of the time we are playing for laughs, and most of the story is told in clowning and hand puppets.  It's fast paced, and funny, and features great live traditional and original klezmer music by Craig Judelman (facebook.com/CraigJudelman).

The show makes use of many kinds of puppetry including hand puppets and cranky, as well as giant masks and clowning.  The puppets are designed and built from recycled materials by me, Adam (www.adamende.com).

Photo Source: http://benjaminslure.blogspot.com/2011/03/tune-in.html

 

Framing and Puppet Show

I have been busy this month preparing materials for the Society of Illustrators reception and annual I am a part of this year. I've also been helping some new friends with puppet propping for their forthcoming show, The Master of Prayer. (I made a book out of paper bags and cardboard, and drew the illustrations--I neglected to get photos of the book-- but it was a fun assignment!) These guys are incredibly talented and high energy--there will be live music accompanying very dramatic puppet action, with an occasional human soliloquy. I am waiting on details about their upcoming shows this month in Brooklyn and beyond, details will be posted here as I get them.

Framed and dropped off my pieces for the Society of Illustrators Sequential Show. Come see!

Craig's cat Meow-Meow nestled in the fiddle case.

Adam examining a guard puppet.

Noah playing guitar in Craig's living room.

ATTRACKTION!

Thanks to everyone who came out! A special thanks to the following dudes and ladies:

LAURA ARENA - gallery director
JAKE ARMSTRONG - voice talent
RIDGE CARPENTER - puppeteer and stagehand
SHIRAJ GANGULY - puppet roadie
MARLON HURT - guru of sound
JAZ HAROLD - mistress of sewing
RICHARD MEGNA - materials supplier and patron of the arts, director of photography
ALEC LEWELLYN - puppet music
MICHAEL BODEL - wizard of puppetry
GEORGE HO - chair chauffeur and pizza deliverer

Super awesome time and the show turn out was AMAZING! More puppeting in the future from us I hope!
There won't be another puppet performance but the art is still up on the walls till this sunday, be sure to take a gander before they're gone!

Lucky Gallery This Sunday

Sorry for the lack of updates. Here's what I've been working on, please come check it out!

Some images I pilfered from Diana Ho's blog:




We're having a reception and puppet performance this Sunday, September 27 from 3-6pm (puppet show at 3:30). Please come and show your love! It is a super cute space (close to IKEA) and we're very excited to put it on! Bring all your friends!

Embroidery in Progress

I have had an "auto-tune the news" song stuck in my head. I would encourage you to seek the videos out online but then you'd be mad for having the same dilemma. They sure are catchy.


a view of the new studio.



An embroidery piece (and sketch) I'm working on for the Lucky Gallery show.


My puppet was transformed into a marionette on friday, thanks to Diana and Shiraj. His instruments need some love but I think he's coming together and is very charming.

Stuff for Lucky Gallery show 9/27

Diana Ho, Suzan Choy and I have been slaving away at our puppet production, it looks like it's gonna be great. It's just a month away and I have so much to do! Probably won't hear from me for a long while, I'm sorry! Maybe I will start drawing again on the train. The train line I'm near now is way less friendly than the N, W. Bummer.


Note: The Really Goodlooking puppet is foxy because Diana Ho made it...also it was modeled after me, and I am a total babe.
The not-so goodlooking puppet is the one man band marionette I am working on.

Come check us out at the end of September, it'll be great!

Also I've been cooking. Have a pancake on me.