Over the last two and a half years I have photographed dozens of puppets at protests against corporate-led globalization. It wasn't until the spring of 2002 that I had the opportunity to photograph the birth of one of these majestic papier maché giants, as it was pieced together by volunteers from the Toronto Mobilization for Global Justice (MOB4GLOB).

The project was led by Maggie Hutchinson of MOB4GLOB with assistance from David Anderson, founding artistic director of Clay and Paper Theatre in Toronto. David has been taking his puppeteering talents to the streets of Canada, the United States, Europe and the former Soviet Union for more than 30 years.

David provided materials and technical advice, and helped MOB4GLOB with the difficult task of transforming complex political ideas into one powerful image. With David's experience, MOB4GLOB was able to create a character that spoke to the issues in an accessible way, required no wordy explanation, and made an impression on people by virtue of its presence.

The Clay and Paper Theatre continues a long tradition of using art as a means to express political resistance. Wandering puppet shows have been a part of the culture of Western European social dissent since the 14th century. Puppets have provided a non-threatening outlet to voice the thoughts of the voiceless. During the Puritan era of 17th century England, a hand puppet known as Mr. Punch became a national symbol of political resistance, with his raunchy social commentary. Punch later acquired a wife, and The Punch and Judy Show have been a puppeteering tradition ever since (not to mention Ed the Sock).

The construction of the MOB4GLOB puppet was based on what is known as the backpack design (see diagrams). This popular design utilised a wide range of readily available materials, many of which were salvaged from the scrap heaps of construction sites.

Materials for Puppet Making Cloth: This is usually the most expensive element of any giant puppet construction. Your local theatre will know the nearest sources of cheap cloth. Lining cloth is light and shiny and comes in bright colours. Fabricland and other cloth retailers often have reduced prices for roll-end items. Plain cloth can also be dyed for minimal cost - get creative!

Wood: Cheap one-by-two-inch strapping is usually good enough for most puppets. Check local construction sites for waste wood that is lying around. If you can't find any, consider a locally owned and operated lumber yard, as opposed to large chains such as 'Homeless Depot'. (Editor's note: In late September 2002, Home Depot called in the police to shut down Tent City emergency 'housing' constructed by people who are homeless in downtown Toront, Ontario).

Wire: You will need heavy wire for puppets, probably 9 or 12 gauge (the higher the numbers are, the thinner the wire). You can also use coat hangers, but these can be awkward to work with because of their limited length.

Fasteners: Pieces in the MOB4GLOB design can be fastened using wire, brackets and bolts, which can be obtained at any hardware store. Use wing nuts when possible, as they can be quickly adjusted or repaired by hand in case of emergencies during a demonstration. A large roll of duct tape, the puppeteer's secret weapon, can be useful for adding extra support, making repairs, and covering sharp edges.

Paint: School and art supply houses carry cheap bulk acrylics, which are your best choice. They are water soluble when wet, and dry quickly into a durable and water-resistant surface. They come in a wide range of colours and clean up easily with soap and water. Avoid big-box craft stores, which don't sell in bulk.

Other supplies: Paper - lots of paper - and paste ingredients.

Making the head mold: In this design, the head of the puppet is made from papier maché and supported by a wooden frame which attaches to the main support pole that will be attached to the centre of the backpack frame (see diagrams) of your backpack harness. The first step in making the head is building a mold made of clay in the shape of a face that will best express your political message. Keep in mind, of course, that a mold is the reverse of the actual thing you are creating. You will need a lot of clay, probably 100 lbs. (45 kg) or more. Try to borrow some clay from a local potter and return it when you are finished. Keep plenty of fresh water on hand to keep the clay easy to work with.

Preparing and applying papier Maché: Once you have finished the mold, begin preparing the papier maché. Almost any kind of paper can be used for papier maché, however heavy grocery bags are best, as they are strongest, give a smoother surface, and require fewer layers. Coloured paper, cloth, or shiny wrapping paper can be used in the last layer instead of paint. The paper is dipped in the paste like wallpaper and applied to the mold. Use larger pieces on flatter areas, and smaller, thinner pieces on rounded areas. If the paper wrinkles or refuses to lie flat, then your pieces are probably too large and you will need to trim them.

PASTE RECIPES

Papier Maché Paste:
3 cups water and 1/2 cup flour. Mix the water and flour together in a large sauce pan. Use your hands if you can stand touching the mixture. Your hands are the best tools to break up the little lumps of flour. Heat the mixture over a medium heat, stirring constantly. Do not use your hands to stir, of course!

After awhile the paste will thicken. When it does, remove the paste from the stove and let it cool. Make sure your project is well ventilated while drying.

Wheat Paste Method:
Wheat paste or wall paper paste and Warm water. You can get wheat paste at most hardware stores or art supply stores. Mix wheat paste and water until it is thick and creamy. Store in a container with a tight lid. Use it within two or three days.

Glue Paste:
Dilute white glue (such as Elmer's) one-to-one with water. Remember, adding white glue to any 28 of the pastes will make them stronger and more water-resistant.

Building the Harness:
A backpack harness provides a comfortable way to carry your puppet. Your backpack harness can be made from an old backpack frame or from wood, using the diagram below. Whichever you decide to use, be sure that your harness will be able to support your puppet safely and comfortably. Try on the harness for comfort at various stages of development. You may find that you will need to use alternate lighter materials in order to bring the total weight of the puppet down to a manageable level. Extra padding can be attached to the straps using duct tape.

Finishing the Head and Body:
The puppet head is attached to a pole (wooden dowel, strapping, broom stick) which extends from the centre of the backpack frame. The papier maché face should be thick enough to be screwed onto its wooden frame backing. This frame is then secured to the centre pole of the backpack frame using fasteners (wire, brackets, or bolts.) Use wing nuts whenever possible. Use glue or duct tape for extra support. Cloth or paper streamers can be sewn or glued to the top of the head to act as hair and to hide the frame. The rest of the frame is covered with a giant dress which should drape to within a few feet of the ground when the puppet is in use. Use safety pins to adjust the hem. This prevents puppeteers of different heights from tripping. Cut a hole in the puppet's dress for the puppeteer's head to allow for easy breathing and visibility.

Many thanks to The Puppeteers' Cooperative for giving permission to use their online resources - upon which this article is based. Visit the Cooperative's web site at www.gis.net/~puppetco for detailed instructions (including dozens of diagrams) for building giant puppets. You can also purchase their book, 68 Ways to Make Giant Puppets, for $4 US, or their video, How to Make Giant Puppets, for $10 US. To order, or to get help with technical questions when making your puppet, write, call or e-mail the following people:

Sara Peattie
181 Tremont Street
Somerville, MA 02143
(617) 628-2499
0002136581@mcimail.com

Or:

Theresa Linnihan
3396 12th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY
(718) 853-7350

PUPPET-RELATED LINKS:
Art & Revolution - www.artandrevolution.org
The Clay and Paper Theatre - www.clayandpapertheatre.org
An online museum of masks - www.masks.org
The Spiral Q Puppet Theater - www.spiralq.org
Luna Theatre - www.sarbek.com/luna
The Puppetry Home Page - www.sagecraft.com/puppetry

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