Pt. 1 - When a good dream comes true you want to shout it out to the world, so here goes.
After two years of planning, Matrix Theatre Company and friends began the building of a giant puppet of Justin Dart to be used in upcoming social justice events. Justin is known as the “father of the Americans with Disabilities Act,” which was signed into law 20 years ago on July 26, 1990. Most people know of the ADA, but few know Justin Dart.
The puppet of Justin Dart will soon join the distinguished group of Matrix puppets honoring such activists as: Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Jones, Ella Baker, Cesar Chavez and others. These beautiful puppets have a powerful presence at any event and immediately draw the attention of people of all ages. This curiosity with the puppet lends itself to sharing more about the real person the puppet is based on and their social justice activism.
We carried art supplies and the molds of the head and hands for the Justin puppet from Matrix Theatre Company, across the street, to the Roberto Clemente Recreation Center in Southwest Detroit. We set up the small room, put photos of Justin Dart and his beloved wife Yoshiko on the sign-in table, and encouraged staff, families and youth to get involved. Over time we will watch the giant puppet of Justin Dart come to life. As we build it, more will come to have fun and learn about Justin and the disability movement.
Over the next few weeks, visit us to learn more about Justin Dart and to watch the puppet being built by artists Carl Goines, Megan Harris and folks like you.
Consider joining us for an hour, an afternoon or more. No experience necessary. Individuals are welcome Tuesdays 1:30 - 3:30 p.m., Thursdays 5 - 8 p.m. and Saturdays 12 - 3 p.m. Groups should call ahead to let the artists know they are coming, call Ken Srdjak 313-967-0999 or e-mail him at ksrdjak@matrixtheatre.org.
It always feels good to begin the day with a dream come true!
Pt. 2 - I walked into to the puppet making art room to the squeals of laughter of a few young children and the sound of ripping tape. The artist, Carl, with his soft voice and attentive eyes was instructing the kids to “keep the tape tight as you wrap it around the hands and heads of the puppet.”
Balancing the large puppet hand in her own tiny six-year-old hand, Ana looked up to Carl for reassurance, “Like this? Am I doing it right?”
“Perfect,” he said as he handed the scissors to another young boy who was eager to help shape the puppet’s face.
Another young boy, covered in a paint-splotched apron, was helping to recycle the pieces of previously-used hard clay by adding water and massaging the pieces. There was no hesitation about getting his hands dirty.
I arrived at the perfect time. The head and hands of the puppet had been wrapped with miles of tape, and only a bit more was needed. I learned from Carl that the tape kept the inside newspaper from getting wet from the clay that would soon be smeared over the tape. My son Micah jumped right into the final phase of the taping. Micah was relieved that he could tape.
After about an hour Carl announced that “The head has enough tape - it’s time to smear the clay over the tape.” The kids cheered and leaped over each other to be the first one to put their hands into the clay, or as Carl called it “terra cotta.” When I referred to the clay as mud, Ana was baffled, because playing in mud had never been an approved form of play for her. To reconcile this contradiction, she announced, “But this is clean mud, so I can play in it!” And did she ever.
“Perfect,” he said as he handed the scissors to another young boy who was eager to help shape the puppet’s face.
Another young boy, covered in a paint-splotched apron, was helping to recycle the pieces of previously-used hard clay by adding water and massaging the pieces. There was no hesitation about getting his hands dirty.
I arrived at the perfect time. The head and hands of the puppet had been wrapped with miles of tape, and only a bit more was needed. I learned from Carl that the tape kept the inside newspaper from getting wet from the clay that would soon be smeared over the tape. My son Micah jumped right into the final phase of the taping. Micah was relieved that he could tape.
After about an hour Carl announced that “The head has enough tape - it’s time to smear the clay over the tape.” The kids cheered and leaped over each other to be the first one to put their hands into the clay, or as Carl called it “terra cotta.” When I referred to the clay as mud, Ana was baffled, because playing in mud had never been an approved form of play for her. To reconcile this contradiction, she announced, “But this is clean mud, so I can play in it!” And did she ever.
There was something comforting to me when I heard one of the boys ask Carl, “Is this where Justin Dart’s ear goes?” Before this day, Justin Dart was not a name he knew. Now Justin Dart and the Americans with Disabilities Act are familiar to him. In our puppet making we have fun with the clay and we also talk about creating a world where all people belong, where buildings and buses are accessible, and where we realize that fairness for all is possible.
The creation of the Justin Dart puppet is being documented through this blog by Janice Fialka. Check back now through June as she documents the birth of this giant puppet.
what a wonderful man and a wonderful project! i am so glad that you educated children about the ADA and its founder! thank u!
ReplyDelete