Linda Leon: Artists in the Window
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Yukon Artists @ Work Cooperative 4129 4 Avenue, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 1H7
Linda Leon, "Artists in the Window, Yukon Artists @ Work," 2021
Linda Leon will be working on a giant puppet as part of the Artists in the Window series at Yukon Artists @ Work June 2-7, 11-2 pm. She plans to complete the moving parts and work on the sculptural aspects of the puppet during her residency.
Attached photos include the white paper maquette, a scale model, that Leon created to work out her plans for the piece. She feels that, especially for a large puppet, it’s important to have the basic structures in place and think about how it moves before anything else.
She’s been thinking about how grizzly bears move, how their heads sway side to side, their pigeon-toed leg movements. “Once all of that is established, all kinds of extra magic can be added later.” Leon finds bears beautiful and intimidating. She hopes that her puppet will have these qualities.
Her grizzly will stand just over 6 feet tall at the hump. She is hoping that smaller puppeteers, perhaps 12-14 year-olds, or smaller adults, will animate it comfortably.
You will be able to see the head and some other parts of the puppet on display in the window Sunday May 31 until June 7th. “I won’t be able to get whole thing in the window, it’s too big!” The puppet will be mostly made of upcycled waterproof cardboard, inspired by Graham Rudge’s hats of the same material.
Leon often uses animal images in her paintings and printmaking that you can see inside the gallery. She loves stories about bears, and find them apt metaphors for many things, including a forceful imperative to respect nature. “I’m also quite afraid of them. Sometimes the things you’re afraid of are the most interesting.”
Leon will work outside if weather permits. If Covid protocols permit, she will invite visitors to help her embellish the bear, or to take it for a turn around the yard at Yukon Artists @ Work Gallery.
Her bear will play a part in Nakai Theatre’s giant puppet workshop events over the summer. Her salmon puppet, embellished with glittering red payettes, (giant sequins), swam through their puppet parades last summer.