Saturday, 13 May 2017

Script Planning

Fellow freaks! May I introduce myself as Jay, Queen of the weird.
Maker of creeps, oddities to be feared.

Since this year has been all about making crazy things
I thought today that I'd pull some more strings.

Make this a performance about what I love most
telling you stories and being your host.

And so here I am, where I love to be.
Being in character makes me feel more like me.

All of the freaks I'll show you today
have been lovingly made by the hands of Jay

and I'll show you some are examples of practitioners I admire
the sort of work I'd like to make and puppets to inspire

Hold your breath, be prepared and sit tight.
Please don't feed the exhibits, they have been known to bite.

So if you're all ready, without further ado,
May I roll out the freaks to show to you!

Roll up, roll up, if you're here for the show
The first cage I'll open is where I keep old Poe.

 -----------------------------------------------------

A dismal chap, a poor lost soul
made with monoprinted textures as black as coal.

I loved researching Poe and reading his work
finding where the Ravens and darkness lurk

Poe melts my heart, he really and truly does
his melancholy tone suits freaks like us.

I miss him already, he was like on of my own
his humour, his mystery, his narrational tone

 -----------------------------------------------------

The value of puppets is in the way that they feel
tactile textures technology can't steal.

My freaky friends are imbued with the texture of life
suspend your disbelief that they won't bleed from a knife.

This character knows all about what's ahead
Ask her a question and listen carefully to what's said,

I read essays by Gross and Walter Benjamin this year
Freud said when puppets are uncanny they can evoke fear.

 -----------------------------------------------------

Long Nose Puppets have their own group of creatures
puppets in bright colours with the most friendly features

I spoke to Katherine Morton about starting the team
making a puppet company is the absolute dream.

She told me that she studied illustration before
she discovered puppets and opened that door

She had no experience or training in making plays
But that's what makes them charming, Katherine says.

They travel the country with their props in a van
It's time to think about my post-uni plan.



 -----------------------------------------------------

I continue to put my freaks up for adoption
where clients can request a look-a-like option.

Mary Queen of Scots with her head removed.
My customer base this year has really improved.

I've been making so many for punters around
America, Australia and Germany-bound.

I sold a doll to the author of Wreck this Journal
my connection to these creations has become quite maternal

I hate to see them go, I get a little sad
but knowing they're out there isn't so bad.

I've got a waiting list of orders I need to get done
It's not work when I'm making, in fact it's quite fun.

 -----------------------------------------------------

And here is the notorious butcher dragon, Smoky Bacon
Be quiet now or the beast will awaken!

I made a puppet animation for festival called Moving Parts
where puppets and stop motion are celebrated as arts.

Smoky was inspired by 70's kids TV.
with colour and fantasy being the key.

Puff the magic dragon, the soup dragon of course
Whimsy and kitsch being the ultimate source.

 -----------------------------------------------------

This is Chris Sickels, a model-making king
innovative and exciting, a new dimension to bring

Chris Sickels sculpts models and constructs entire scenes
as editorial illustration in newspapers and magazines.

Sickels's practice is similar to my own,
his studio is a manic puppet-filled zone.

When I graduate I'd love to be just like Chris.
Going to work to make characters like this.

After worrying that I wasn't an illustrator, I've had time for reflection
I've realised that illustration practice can take any direction

 -----------------------------------------------------

In this collection you can see if you look
Each is a character from a different Roald Dahl book,

Brought into our dimension using a magical spell
translating the stories your teachers would tell,

Here is a witch with the power to transform you completely
into a rat, a mouse, and all quite discretely.

This one's an orphan, trapped forever in my loot
James and his giant peach-coloured fruit.

BEHOLD the tiny Minpins you can see in this frame,
out of all the exhibits, these are the most tame,

 -----------------------------------------------------

Now look closely, you can see my freaks on tour!
In a magazine in America, Art dolls galore.

Printed in a publication, I was so happy to see
they sent a complimentary copy over to me.

Art doll quarterly put my dolls in their Summer issue
GOODBYE MY SWEET FRIENDS, I'M GOING TO MISS YOU

Entering competitions, getting my freaks out there
across the world and who knows where.

Responsive challenged me to find briefs and choose
which ones to enter, there's nothing to lose.

 -----------------------------------------------------

I'm a modern day Frankenstein, doctor of dolls
Fabricating fairies, goblins and trolls.

I hope to continue, to expand and grow
make enough dolls to fill another freak show.

So thank you for coming, you've been a great crowd.
And thank you, dear freaks, you've all done me proud.

 -----------------------------------------------------

No comments:

Post a Comment