Dorri Partain
Contributor

With so many creatures that inhabit “Our Blue Planet,” which would you choose? Perhaps a colorful bird, a spotted giraffe, or magical unicorn, all made from cardboard, fabric, and lots of glue.

“Our Blue Planet, a Handmade Parade” is a new event offered by the StoneLion Puppet Theater that will feature not only the theater’s larger-than-life puppet creations, but also masks, costumes, and puppets created by the community. In preparation for the parade, their workshop is open for crafters of all ages to utilize all the materials provided to make whatever type of creature they desire.

On a recent Sunday afternoon, the workshop was abuzz with activity. With large puppets hanging from the ceiling and displayed throughout, volunteers and employees helped participants select pieces needed, provided a selection of fabrics and paints, and offered assistance while letting young crafters do as much as they could on their own.

The one exception was the hot glue gun.

“Hot glue is only with my supervision,” explained theater director Heather Lowenstein as she assisted Xavion, age 10, with his puppet. He has already created several puppets at home; today he is crafting a sparkly purple frog he will puppet during the parade.

At another table, puppeteer Shawn Murphy is helping Alex, age 6, create a bird mask, complete with a sharp beak. He demonstrates how the beak is used to poke (imaginary) mice. For Alex, being a bird was his absolute first choice, though a lizard would be another choice.

“But a lizard might be too scary,” he concluded, happy in his choice to be a bird, complete with wings and feet.

At the same table, his mother Lindsay was working on a mask for his sister, Brooke, age 4, as she happily played with pieces of fabric and glue; her mask will either be a fox or a wolf – with a hair bow.

The family traveled from Overland Park for the workshop after checking the theater’s website. They enjoyed a Halloween parade last fall and were looking for other events they could attend as well.
“It’s an attempt to bring the community together,” Murphy said. “It’s a free art activity, and the parade will be a unique opportunity for the kids.”

With previous StoneLion puppet parades, kids would only be able to watch, but this new event is designed to get them involved, making costumes and walking with the giant puppets along the parade route, with a festival-type party to follow.

The parade will focus on the need to protect our planet and its life-giving water resources as it makes its way through the 18th & Vine Jazz district, ending at the Gregg/Klice Community Center for a festival with live music and other family activities.

“We have three bands that will perform, the Mid-America Freedom Band, KC Riddem Crewe, and the Sassafras Band,” Lowenstein said. “And we were given a donation of cow bells – so we’ll have a cowbell band, too, just another fun activity for anyone who wants to ring along.”

The parade route will be short, just a few blocks long, as a globe, heron, flamingo and rhino are accompanied by those who created costumes for the event.

“We have to keep in mind little legs and feet that may not be able to handle a long route,” Lowenstein said. “We’d like everyone to stay for the festival and not be too tired and leave after the parade.”

Open studio workshops are held every other Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m., and all materials are provided.

Costume makers just need to provide their imaginations, whether they just want to make a mask or a full costume.

For her costume, Genevieve, age 10, painted spots on her costume and mask to create a giraffe, the first animal she thought of. Her younger sister Alaina, chose to become a unicorn, her favorite animal. Once the costumes are complete, participants take them home until the day of the parade.

“It’s all about encouraging their imagination,” Lowenstein said. “Repurposing materials, reusing things that might get thrown out. We provide everything but encourage anyone who wants to bring items to do so, too.”

While most children gravitate to portraying an animal, plants and insects are possible choices too. Staff will help come up with a design and have examples on hand to help those who may have a hard time deciding what to create.

Workshops are held at the StoneLion warehouse at 2400 E. Truman Road, with the final session on May 29. Visit stonelionpuppets.org for the workshop calendar, as additional dates may be added. Volunteers will also be needed to operate the giant puppets, those interested can sign up on the website.

The parade will be held Sunday, June 4, and begin at 2 p.m., with the festival running from 2:30 to 5 p.m. In addition to the StoneLion Puppet Theater, parade and event sponsors include KC Water, ArtsKC, The Francis Family Foundation, Kansas City Parks and Recreation, and the Historic 18th and Vine Association.