March 31, 2011
Marching towards FoolMoon + FestiFools 2011
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![Marching towards FoolMoon + FestiFools 2011 | An unusually quiet moment in the FestiFools studio before the current year’s crop of puppets get their colors. Amo la prim[er]vera!](http://relish.myraklarman.com/images/860.jpg "Marching towards FoolMoon + FestiFools 2011 | An unusually quiet moment in the FestiFools studio before the current year’s crop of puppets get their colors. Amo la prim[er]vera!")
An unusually quiet moment in the FestiFools studio before the current year’s crop of puppets get their colors. Amo la prim[er]vera!
Without a moment to spare — I mean, a weekend of Foolishness kicks off TOMORROW NIGHT! — I am finally ready to unveil my annual, behind-the-scenes sneak-peek at the making of FestiFools. Given that FestiFools is now celebrating its fifth anniversary, our Foolish friends have seen fit keep the Foolish franchise fresh by adding a brand new event: FoolMoon, which will happen this Friday (April 1), from dusk to midnight!
FoolMoon is exactly like FestiFools, except for a few minor — negligible, really — differences:
- • FoolMoon is at night; whereas FestiFools is during the day.
- • FoolMoon is a 4-hour event (4 times as long as FestiFools).
- • At FoolMoon, individual frolickers will carry smallish sculptures, which they themselves likely built (see below). In contrast, at FestiFools, each puppet requires a team of 3–4 “wranglers.”
- • FoolMoon aspires to shimmery, shadowy, mysteriousness (I’m totally curious to experience the vibe of this new event); whereas FestiFools is more bold, blatant, in-broad-daylight.
- • FoolMoon starts with luminary processionals originating from three separate “Constellation Stations” (Kerrytown Market & Shops, the UMMA, and Slauson Middle School) and threading their way through Ann Arbor, ultimately converging on W. Washington St., between Main and Ashley. In contrast, FestiFools starts from Williams and Washington, stays between Williams and Washington, and ends when the puppets exit at Williams and Washington.
- • And if you ignore the live music from Vulf Duo, Juice, and Third Coast Kings, and also the barber chairs in the middle of Washington St. (Orbit will be providing FREE, Fool-luminous hair designs to all who dare), it will be rather like FestiFools. Indeed, I venture that many will not be able to differentiate the one event from the other.
Stay in the Foolish loop!
- FestiFools website: festifools.org
- FestiFools (the ORGANIZATION) page on Facebook (this is the best way to stay up to date)
- FoolMoon April 1st EVENT page on Facebook
- FestiFools April 3rd EVENT page on Facebook
- A Photo-Essay in the Ann Arbor Chronicle (by yours truly) on the Luminary Workshops at Workantile
Rick Cronn’s luminary gets its wiry start.
Hundreds of people dropped in to build luminaries at Workantile during the four Sundays in March. Others built luminaries at the UMMA, the downtown branch of the Ann Arbor District Library, at the FestiFools studio, and at home with special FoolMoon-branded kits purchased from area retailers.
Once the wireframe is built, it’s covered with clear packing tape, a layer of glue, and finally a layer of tissue paper. (Yeah, it’s pretty hi-tech, cutting edge stuff. But don’t be afraid, ’cause these guys know what they’re doing.)
Making light-blue bubbles for a fish. | Workantile’s very own luminary. | Sculptor Jimmie Thompson facilitated the luminary-building workshops held at Workantile.
A busy March Sunday making luminaries at Workantile!
The FestiFools steering committee and friends braved early March’s frigid weather to stage a press release photo for FoolMoon. The actual event, this Friday, will be much bigger — and much, much warmer! (There’s my Punk Goose in the lower, left-hand corner.)
For the past few years, the start of puppet-building season has been celebrated with a favorite, friend-raising event in February for donors and volunteers: Puppets + Pancakes! Kids, big and small, created shadow puppets at the FestiFools studio. (Not pictured: Flapjacks were consumed, as were waffles and fresh fruit.)
This is what I live for. This. This right here. Just look at it.
Mark Tucker announces FoolMoon, a brand new event for 2011. (Mark’s suit courtesy of Vincent Van Roadkill.) | A good friend with his shadow puppet. | Max helps hawk FestiFools t-shirts.
Shary Brown and Rico man the coatrack at Puppets + Pancakes. In a perfect world, FestiFools wouldn’t steal its studio visitors’ coats and then fence them at pennies on the dollar, but a cash-strapped arts organization has gotta do what it’s gotta do. I wonder if there might not be a better way for FestiFools to raise funds…
Comments
Perhaps there’s a better way to raise funds. Ask “Can I take your coat?” Then instead of ransoming it back, just sell it off then and there on the spot (or out the back).
These images are brighter than bright. You folks are so clever…fool moon… carry on!
Hey Ed, it’s apparent from your comment that you believe FestiFools to be far less evil/amoral/Machiavellian than in fact we are. In truth, we were selling those coats to anyone with cash in hand. Fool on!
For all the drama and fancy talk surrounding so called “public art”, FestiFools and FoolMoon is the best example of what Public Art truly is, a celebration of creativity and community spirit.
Oh Myra! Thanks for your usual beauty and magic. Can’t wait to see what you create after the events! ~LG
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