Art is often a product of self-expression. Provide a person with a few materials and watch their imagination run wild.
The Ames Chamber Artists have grasped that notion by collaborating with a master puppeteer at Iowa State University for its “Ancient Stories for Modern Times” concerts.
The group will host a pair of puppet-anchored performances this weekend at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 16, and 3 p.m. Saturday, May 17, at Collegiate Presbyterian Church.
The singers will showcase several of their custom-made puppets, from fish to birds and even reptiles, which they’ll use to tell the various stories of Earth’s unique creatures.
“We have a set of Aesop’s Fables, a set of soundscape pieces with larger puppetry that depict the elements of earth, air, and water, and a Swedish traditional piece that will literally sing ships of returning fishers back up on to shore,” Ames Chamber Artists’ director Jennifer Rodgers said.
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In addition to the puppetry, the chorus will tell the stories of “The Forest of Loo” and “The Jabberwocky,” complete with a toy instrument orchestra.
Ames Chamber Artists members tune up their toy instruments for the group’s rehearsal of the “Jabberwocky” song.
Bringing creative puppets to life
The Ames Chamber Artists’ songs will be interwoven with original shadow and physical puppetry by Amanda Petefish-Schrag, who designs and fabricates puppets by using recycled items.
“My work typically focuses on using primarily found and repurposed materials. Things people might ordinarily throw away are what I typically build with,” Petefish-Schrag said.
Ames Chamber Artists member Kirin Martin practices with a fish puppet during a rehearsal for ACA’s “Ancient Stories for Modern Times” concerts.
In her hands, packing materials can become puppets. She used the thin foam packing sheets to create the lovely, light wings of dove puppets.
With a selection of colorful fish, as well as sailboats, birds, and ocean waves, a Chamber Artists members will help control the puppets during the songs.
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“The goal on a project like this is really transforming those found materials into something that is beautiful and captivating, and takes the audience on a journey — much in the way we might think about music,” Petefish-Schrag said.
Ames Chamber Artists member Nancy Gregory practices with a fish puppet during a rehearsal for ACA’s “Ancient Stories for Modern Times” concerts.
A different kind of concert
The concert’s material is a different undertaking for the Ames Chamber Artists, Rodgers said.
“We don’t usually have family-specific concerts, but this concert is kind of a story time for all ages,” she said.
The centerpiece is a set of Aesop’s Fables that is really beautifully set for the chorus. The local group has expanded that theme into several stories and dramatic settings.
Petefish-Schrag has also incorporated songs inspired by the Earth’s natural elements, such as a song by Canadian composer Catarina Gimon.
Ames Chamber Artists have teamed up with puppeteer Amanda Petefish-Schrag for its upcoming “Ancient Stories for Modern Times” concerts.
“She has set soundscapes to the elements, earth, air, fire and water, and they involve all kinds of interesting sounds,” Rodgers said. “They involve overtone singing, which is where you can kind of create these other sounds in the room that you’re not actually, is not actually the pitch you’re singing.”
The soundscapes use a variety of vocal percussion, languages, and rhythm to create the elemental sounds.
“Amanda has done 3D larger puppets that will be all around the sanctuary space while we perform that,” Rodgers said.
Tickets for the performances on Friday and Saturday are available at the door or online at the Ames Chamber Artists’ website, ameschamberartists.org.
Ronna Faaborg covers business and the arts for the Ames Tribune. Reach her at rfaaborg@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: These puppets will take center stage during a concert in Ames
