THE GARDEN PROTECTOR
BareBones Puppets Halloween Extravaganza, 2024
This eleven person puppet, Garden Protecter Spider, was built by many hands directed by Gabriel for the 2024 BareBones Puppet Extravaganza. Jax served as a Teaching Artist during BareBones Puppet's 2024 Halloween season. This role included directing community members in puppet building, grief processing, and celebration of life and resistance in the face of the ever-looming violence of the state. Their role spanned three months and resulted in the creation of this
The fabric pieces were attached lovingly with hand stitching across the whole piece. This puppet asks us to question our ideas of safety, scarcity, and the world we can make when we shed fear. In the style of DIY puppetry this piece is formed from the discarded scraps of our daily life. This large puppet consists of Coaxial cable, split bamboo, cornstarch mache, fabric, cardboard, staples, and thread. Thank you to the overflowing recycling bins + the magic makers.
The banner attached to this project was sparked by a phrase shared with Jax, from a dear friend in Lebanon, when connecting over the atrocities being committed by Israel and sponsored by the United States in Palestine, Lebanon, Yemen, and countless other lives and lands. The top of the eye is a phrase in Lebanese Arabic, while the English translation 'The Hearts are in Synch' makes up the bottom of the eye. This banner has been displayed at many events including T4T4T Minneapolis, BareBones, MCAD, and Anti-State Violence Demonstrations.
Over Summer 2025, Garden Protection was installed in MCAD's main gallery as a part of their Break Room show highlighting staff created artwork.
You can watch the BareBones 2024 production 'When Calamity Strikes' on BareBones YouTube channel. The Garden Protection Scene will be from timestamp 42:22 - 48:00.
learn more about BareBones Puppets
The fabric pieces were attached lovingly with hand stitching across the whole piece. This puppet asks us to question our ideas of safety, scarcity, and the world we can make when we shed fear. In the style of DIY puppetry this piece is formed from the discarded scraps of our daily life. This large puppet consists of Coaxial cable, split bamboo, cornstarch mache, fabric, cardboard, staples, and thread. Thank you to the overflowing recycling bins + the magic makers.
The banner attached to this project was sparked by a phrase shared with Jax, from a dear friend in Lebanon, when connecting over the atrocities being committed by Israel and sponsored by the United States in Palestine, Lebanon, Yemen, and countless other lives and lands. The top of the eye is a phrase in Lebanese Arabic, while the English translation 'The Hearts are in Synch' makes up the bottom of the eye. This banner has been displayed at many events including T4T4T Minneapolis, BareBones, MCAD, and Anti-State Violence Demonstrations.
Over Summer 2025, Garden Protection was installed in MCAD's main gallery as a part of their Break Room show highlighting staff created artwork.
You can watch the BareBones 2024 production 'When Calamity Strikes' on BareBones YouTube channel. The Garden Protection Scene will be from timestamp 42:22 - 48:00.
learn more about BareBones Puppets