Northwest Puppet Center

The New York Times instructs readers on “How to be cultured” with an introduction to six puppet traditions.

Did you know that Northwest Puppet Center is one of the few places in the country to have all of these traditions in our collections?

For those wanting to become more cultured, plan your visit to see the puppets! Learn about these six traditions and many other wonderful traditions from around the world!

Photo:
Taiwanese Hand Puppet
Mid 20th century
The Aurora Valentinetti Collection
Northwest Puppet Center

Celebrating UNIMA Internationale World Puppetry Day by transporting some historic puppets back to Seattle. Thanks to Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry for hosting a wonderful exhibit of puppets from Mexico. Northwest Puppet Center was happy to lend some of the treasures from The Cook/Marks Collection.

Read more about Mexico’s most famous marionette company at World Encyclopedia of Puppetry Arts:

https://wepa.unima.org/en/rosete-aranda/

Photos:
19th century marionette
Compania Rosete Aranda
The Cook/Marks Collection
Northwest Puppet Center

Did you know the origin of the word “marionette”?

It is said that puppeteers would perform the Nativity Play so the puppets became known as “Little Mary”. Some of the sculptors who made crèche figures would also make marionettes.

The current exhibit at Northwest Puppet Center focuses on the puppet traditions from Italy. Come see beautifully sculpted crèche figures from Naples, burattini from Venice, marionetti from Rome, pupi from Palermo and much more.

Exhibit open Saturdays and Sundays 12-4pm. Admission is free but donations are always appreciated.

GiveBIG is here! Please make a donation:

https://www.wagives.org/donate/northwest-puppet-center

“You are certainly right in your feeling that poking fun at each other is a genuine American freedom. Anything not malicious that will make people laugh is good news these days”

Eleanor Roosevelt
Sept. 17, 1942

Portrait marionette of Franklin Roosevelt
By The Yale Puppeteers/Turnabout Theatre
The Cook/Marks Collection
Northwest Puppet Center