Location: Jacquemin Family Foundation Hall
Speaker: Heidi Rugg of Barefoot Puppet Theatre

Join Barefoot Puppet Theatre for a deep dive into the art of puppetry. Learn the five basic types of puppets (hand, rod, shadow, marionette, and object) in this interactive demonstration. There will be a dash of history, a handful of contemporary examples in how puppetry works in movies and television, plus a pinch of geography to round out this interactive experience.

Heidi Rugg is an interdisciplinary artist with her feet firmly planted in the worlds of both performance and visual arts. As a builder, Heidi has a passion for eco-friendly processes in puppet-making. In her creative practice, she is on a quest to create biodegradable puppets and works primarily with wool, handmade papers, and recycled materials. Sometimes she even knows the name of the sheep who provided the wool!

Heidi founded Barefoot Puppet Theatre in 1997, a company born of her desire to share story-driven, timely works to uplift young audiences. As a performer, builder, writer, and designer, Heidi has her hand in every aspect of production while inviting collaborators into her process. In 2005, Barefoot Puppet Theatre was awarded a UNIMA Citation of Excellence for their original work, Galapagos George. Barefoot Puppet Theatre continues to tour works to theatres, schools, museums, festivals, libraries, and community centers. People always need a good story.

Heidi maintains a studio practice from her home on the edge of a swamp in Richmond’s Northside where she lives with her husband (and fellow company member), Sam Rugg, an immortal gecko, a rescue pup, and a host of puppets.