Take Me to the Water! February 2-6, 2009 at Saint Mary's University

In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre (HOBT) will spend a second week here in Winona, working with students and community members to learn about and celebrate our water commons. HOBT artists, Sandy Spieler and Malia Burkhart, will offer two master classes at Saint Mary's University (SMU) as part of the "Introduction to Acting" and "Advanced Acting" courses.

As part of this residency, the public is also invited to a daily mask-making activity from 3:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, Feb. 2-5, at Lake Park Lodge. Sandy and Malia will lead participants in activities that aim to celebrate our water commons through the collective creation of papier-mâché masks, bowls, and a large water dragon. Participants are welcome to come and create their own bowl (could be achieved in one or two sessions), their own mask (could be achieved over one or more sessions), or to join the larger collective project of constructing and decorating the water dragon.

The artistic creations will be used on Friday for the performance/celebration of an ancient English ritual known as well-dressing or, in this case, water-fountain-dressing. The Culminating Celebration will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, at Saint Mary’s University. The celebration will involve student-designed installations around water fountains, a procession of the created masks and dragon, and "performances" that are to be centered around drinking fountains in the Toner Student Center and Hoffman, Lasalle, and Saint Mary’s Halls.

Residency Leaders Sandy Spieler, Lead Artist, HOBT/WSU Residency Malia Burkhart, Staff Artist, HOBT/WSU Residency Prof. Joseph Tadie, SMU HOBT Residency Coordinator Prof. Gary Diomandes, SMU Theatre Arts Prof. Judy Myers, SMU Theatre Arts City of Winona Park and Recreation Department Staff