A scene from a recent toy theatre adaption of Dicken's "A Christmas Carol"... |
This year, Macy's famous storefront displays are using a Steampunk theme for Christmas, with puppets! |
A scene from a recent toy theatre adaption of Dicken's "A Christmas Carol"... |
This year, Macy's famous storefront displays are using a Steampunk theme for Christmas, with puppets! |
The Thorne Collection is getting dressed up for Christmas! |
The two Alices on their Wonderland toy theatre stage... |
"...she came upon a low curtain she has not noticed before..." |
The project is designed to be exhibited in a museum of contemporary art, as yet undefined. All my dolls have their origins in a tale that I believe; I like to give soul to my dolls, and that is why I started in this world.You can read more about Rebeca here and see more of your dolls here...
The Lyceum Theatre in Crewe was 100 years old this year and for their centenary they had a specially commissioned light show projected on the front of the building...in one of life's weird little coincidences I'd already been telephoned and asked if they could use some images from my toy theatre book in the show.
"The Toy Theatre is a mural being created by artist Peter Waddell with the assistance of fellow artists..." |
Slowly appearing on the wall is a huge painting of a giant toy theatre. Beneath the monumental proscenium arch, 40' high, the stage is set with scenery representing the first two great mansions of Dupont Circle. The British Legation on Connecticut Avenue and “Stewarts Castle” on the Circle arose from the area's rough farmland in the 1870s.To see the progress as it unfolds, visit the gallery page of the artist's website.
My friend Ann (who I hope to meet in person some day), her talented husband, George...and friends! [Photo Credit: Lori M. Nichols - Gloucester County Times] |
Tinselled juvenile drama portrait, “Mr. Wood as Sultan in Sublime and Beautiful.” London: M. & M. Skelt, [c. 1837]. |
Opening Event for Pollock's toy theatre iPad application competition... |
The beautiful toy theatres of the Victorian era have been brought to life again through Pollock's gorgeous and innovative application for the iPad. Just like the original toy theatres where you immerse yourself in building your own theatre sets, etc.My apologies for not posting immediately, since this actually started a few days ago, but I only became aware of it today. Get your thinking caps on and your iPads out! August 31st is the deadline. Good luck, and I hope some of you reading this will share what you come up with...
Description
Competition Closing Date: 31st August (midnight GMT)
Join in the celebrations and be in the chance to win a fabulous new iPad and exclusive Pollock's Store Lock-In. Follow these simple steps and get creative:
1. Download the Pollock's Toy Theatre app from iTunes to your iPad
2. Record your play on your iPad. Don't forget to save it!
3. Decorate your iPad
4. Video yourself, your decorated iPad and your play.
5. Upload the video to youTube and send us a link via the competition facebook page
Terms & Conditions:
Submissions after 31st August will not be counted. The prize is a pair of tickets for the winner and 10 friends to a private hire of the Pollock’s store in Covent Garden, London with refreshments and storytelling entertainment, on a date to be agreed between the winner and the prize provider before 1st October 2011, within a 6pm- 8.30pm Time Slot. These dates/ times are subject to change. The winner acknowledges that in the event that Pollock’s have to change the dates/ times, the promoter does not accept responsibility in these circumstances and no alternative prize will be provided. Prize winners under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult at all times at their Pollock’s event.
Kate Greenaway book illustrations inspired this delightful toy theatre... |
The toy theatre sat in the front room of her house for years when she was married and was played with a lot by every child that came round for tea. Once a letter was posted through the letterbox addressed to “Wooden O’Theatre”. - From Treasure: The World's Most Precious Objects
Pre-cinematic technology takes over for a week of contemporary cantastoria, cooked up by puppeteers, artists and craftspeople from across the country. A millennium-old art form is rejuvenated and re-imagined, as performers animate paintings and banners alongside texts, puppets, jokes, songs and stories.
Each unique program features several original shorts on a given theme, and the festival kicks off with a FREE opening celebration, presented by Great Small Works at Pier 1 in Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Who is that 'nice woman'...? |
A Nazi scrutinizes Captain Hogancamp... |
See more miniatures here... |
The Nashville Parthenon - a re-creation itself - is recreated here in miniature... |
Maple floor boards, fully functional footlights, & hand-crafted baroque panels |
Behind the scenes... |
A festival performance, in-process... |
A performance over, the 'man behind the curtain' reveals himself... |
Grand Combat in the Secret Mine No.2 (Hodgson & Co., 1822) |
Troy in Troytown |
Liminal Space opened this week... |
"...the grim ending to Baba Yaga is performed, as we watch a wicked, money-hungry stepmother and her two obnoxious daughters being turned to ash by the flames from a skull's eyes." |
The cyclotrope is a cycle of 18 images that is spun at a certan speed so that the frame rate of the camera filming it gives the illusion of animation.
The poster's striking image is a brilliant focus on the foundation of toy theatre: PAPER! |
Tomtom Boy: A boy trains to master a magic tom-tom drum that makes everyone dance |
The Doe Girl: A doting young man sees his beloved turned into a doe by a jealous sorcerer; she will stay that way unless he can find the touch that will change her back |
Click to see Video... |
iClone is a 3D animation software. Up until now that sort of 3D software was expensive and slow. It took days or even weeks to build up the frames needed for a final animation. It had to place each and every pixel on the screen and work out how to bounce each and every ray of light off the scene. But iClone does all that instantly, because it uses a videogame engine and the user's PC gaming graphics-card to do all the heavy-lifting required to make a 3D animation. It's affordable too, and very usable - a lot of its content is drag-and-drop. My Alice Theater can be animated quite easily. There's a free version of iClone, iClone Ex, if people want to try it out.
Still from "Alice" toy theatre animation, created with iClone |
"The Wedding Supper", somehow I want to call it the "Last Supper"! How many celebrities can YOU identify? [Click to enlarge] |
Dear Trish
Thanks so much for getting in touch about my exhibition, apologies it has taken until now but I was consumed with the final few days of preparation and then had to take a few days off!
Please find attached two images of each theatre should you wish to use these on your site.
Thanks also for the lovely blog post, you seem to have the hang of the purpose behind the work - building upon the seed of an idea first proposed by TV comedian Harry Hill, actually the alter-ego of artist Matthew Hall. I picked up the baton of the earlier challenge so to speak, and decided to interpret Cruikshank's mammoth painting by selecting key vignettes from within the larger whole. I wanted to retain the sense of caricature and retreating fields of depth, which is why I turned to the form of toy theatres, and I glad I did because I've loved every moment of this project - even though it was hard work at times!
Best regards,
Bren
David Bailey |
Laura Barnard |
Charlotte Gould and Hannah Gibson |
Simon Misra |
Gemma Parker |
John Powell-Jones |