Parades are one of the oldest forms of performance in human history, uniting communities in celebration and protest. What makes art powerful within the context of a parade, protest or public spectacle? Who are the people that parades and protests hope to reach? In this course, students will make artwork for a parade, protest or spectacle. They will build puppets, wearable sculptures, masks, performance objects, banners, cantastorias, and toy theater sets. Students will decide what themes or issues they want to explore through their projects, and the parade will take place at the end of the semester. We will study a variety of groups creating art within this framework, often in service of social justice and grassroots community-building: Bread and Puppet, Great Small Works, Spiral Q, Circus Amok, Poncili Creación, and the Beehive Collective. Students will also learn about the history of these art forms and apply them to new contexts. Collaboration with theater, music or movement students on group projects is welcomed.
- Teacher: Sunny Allis