Projects

The Ground

In January Odd Savvy received a Workshop Grant from The Henson Foundation to further explore our current project ‘The Ground”. These are photos from our first explorations of the next phase of this work. We are introducing new elements of puppetry, mask and design. Everything was built in cardboard this time to be able to more quickly work out ideas. It also makes changes easier to incorporate. Marie-Claire Erdynast is back on tabletop puppetry. She is also assistant directing and dramaturgy. Her, Jessica Nguyen and Tracy Nguyen all helped with shadow design of this latest incarnation.

These pictures were taken at Paul Dresher Studio in Oakland California. The space was made available by the generosity and continued support of Paul Dresher for this project.

Our figure  awakens from slumber into a dream. We watch her take her first steps. As she learns to move her body, so do needs and emotions feel flexed. Can she come to balance in this world. Can her striving to make a better world through innovation stay in accord with the natural world? Will the creatures that befriend her fall victim to her improvements, or reap the rewards of her caring? Will this dream of a better life, this struggle forevermore, be a life well lived? We will explore this hour how we strive to overcome the natural world while often losing sight that we are part of it.

Mock ups for June 2023’s workshop of “The Ground” Photos: Jessica Nguyen