In September, 2010, Anne will be heading to the New York Mills Artist Retreat for two weeks to work on her children’s book Nalah and the Pink Tiger. The book was inspired by her husband’s lively niece. Sawyer-Aitch developed a style which she calls Illuminated Illustration, featuring multiple layers and backlighting. She hopes to complete the second third of the book during her time in New York Mills.

Magic Lantern Puppet Theater Presents: Children and Other Optical Illusions, an original multi-media puppet show by Anne Sawyer-Aitch.

• June 17-19, 2010
• Dreamland Arts,
  677 North Hamline Ave, St Paul
• 651-645-5506.
• All performances at 7:30 pm
• ASL Interpretation Friday, June 18th by Gretchen Toay

Tickets $12 in advance, $14 at the door. Order tickets online.

Children and Other Optical Illusions is an original multi-media puppet show featuring shadow animation, live-feed video, rod puppets, and actors. The piece explores the questioning and grief that two couples experience in their unsuccessful quest to become parents. Optical illusions are often about missing information – what the eye is drawn to, instead of what it should be looking at – or a simple lack of available data. For couples struggling with unknown causes of infertility, this metaphor can be a very poignant one.

The show stars award-winning puppeteer Janaki Ranpura, Jennifer Weaverling, and Reid Knuttila and Patricia Gage. Music created by visiting New York Artist Lisa Abbatomarco, with Matt Larson.

Children and Other Optical Illusions also depicts rituals and customs from around the world surrounding the topic of miscarriage. The script was born from the playwright’s own quest to become a mother, and is in part autobiographical. It is our hope that it can both entertain and raise awareness of a subject which is still somewhat “taboo” and misunderstood.

Because of its subject matter, this show is not recommended for children. This activity is made possible in part by the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council through a grant from The McKnight Foundation and an appropriation from the Minnesota Legislature. Additional funding provided by the Twin Cities Pregnancy and Newborn Loss Coalition and private donors.

Links

• Janaki Ranpura
• Lisa Abbatomarco
• Metropolitan Regional Arts Council
• The McKnight Foundation

Ganesh is the God that people in India pray to when they start anything new: planting a crop, moving house, getting married. Ganesh removes obstacles and makes wishes come true. He didn’t always have this elephant head, and this is the thrilling story of how it came to be.

This show features shadow and pillow puppets and is geared to the youngsters. Starring Rachel “Olli “ Johnson, Janaki Ranpura, Liz Schacterle, and Anne Sawyer-Aitch.

• Saturday, February 6th
• at In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater
• 1500 East Lake Street, Minneapolis
• Shows at 10 am & noon
• Tickets $5 per person
• More info