National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library is mounting an original exhibition, Puppetry! Suspended Imagination, which features a spectacular collection of antique puppets from the Museum of Puppets in Chrudim, Czech Republic. The exhibit opens to the public April 14. A special opening event on Friday evening, April 13, is sold out. An encore puppet theatre performance by the Czechoslovak American Puppet Theatre of New York, NY, will be Saturday, April 14, at 10 a.m. Tickets for this performance are 6.00 for adults, and $4.00 for children 16 and under. Infants 1 year or younger are free. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

This original exhibit captures the magic of the timeless art form of puppetry. From traveling troupes to professional theaters, the history of puppetry is found in the Czech and Slovak lands. From the late 18^th through 19^th centuries, puppetry was the only form of theater that traveled and performed in small villages. Puppetry perpetuated the Czech language and folk traditions, helped give rise to national awareness, and sometimes was even used to mock government authorities. These early traditions gave rise to puppetry as a legitimate professional art form in the Czech and Slovak lands today.

Visitors will be immersed in the spellbinding stories of the most renowned puppet carvers and puppeteers in the world as they meet Kašpárek, the clown puppet that saved the Czech language. On display will be the set of historic puppets found sealed in a church wall in New York City. Featured will be the story of Josef Skupa and his famous puppets "Spejbl and Hurvínek" who transformed puppetry in the 20^th century. Over 100 antique and contemporary marionettes and hand puppets, graphics, and scenery will tell the tale of this long tradition.

Sure to be the hit of the show is a replica Theatre Wagon like those used by traveling puppeteer troupes. Adults and children alike can try their hand at putting on an actual puppet show with marionettes and puppets on this charming stage. The exhibit closes September 29, 2007.

In association with the Puppetry! exhibit, the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library will host an artist-in-residence, master puppet carver Mirek Trejtnar of the Czech Republic. In July, he will hold a special ten-day hands-on workshop to make a carved figural marionette for professional or skilled woodcarvers and/or puppet makers. Professional puppeteers in the U.S. consider Trejtnar the best puppet carver and teacher in the world today. The opportunity for dedicated carvers to improve their skills under the instruction of such experts is essential for the continuation of this unique art form. For more information about the workshop, email Jan Stoffer at jan@ncsml.org or call 319-362-8500.

The renowned Vít Horejš from the Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre will perform "Czech and Slovak Folk Tales" at the opening reception for Puppetry! Suspended Imagination on Friday, April 13 [note: tickets for this performance are sold out]. An encore performance is scheduled for Saturday, April 14 at 10:00 a.m. in WFLA Heritage Hall.

For fifty years, a troupe of antique marionettes was confined to a dusty closet at Jan Hus Church in the heart of New York City's Czechoslovak neighborhood. In 1990, they came back to life, when director Vít Horejs brought these century-old puppets back to the stage. Since then, the CAMT has played to great acclaim for audiences of all ages on tours to Europe, Asia, and 27 states. Several of their puppets will be on loan to the NCSML for the puppetry exhibition. Vít last performed at the NCSML when it opened in 1995.

Tickets for the Friday evening reception and performance are required in advance and may be purchased from the NCSML for $8 for members and $10 for non-members (Sponsored by Don and Irene (Naxera) Hamous and Rockwell Collins). Tickets for the Saturday performance are $6 for adults and $4 for children 16 and under in advance or at the door. 1 year and under free. Children must be accompanied by an adult. (Sponsored by Rockwell Collins).

Friday, April 13: Opening Reception for Puppetry! Suspended Imagination. 6:00 p.m. Note: tickets are sold out. Sponsored by Don and Irene Hamous.

Friday, April 13: Czechoslovak American Marionette Theatre of New York presents "Czech and Slovak Folk Tales." WFLA Heritage Hall. 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $8.00 for museum members or $10.00 for non-members (includes admission to the opening reception). Sponsored by Rockwell Collins, the Linn County Board of Supervisors Witwer Trust, and Don and Irene Hamous.

Saturday, April 14: Czechoslovak American Marionette Theatre of New York presents "Czech and Slovak Folk Tales." WFLA Heritage Hall. 10:00 a.m. $6.00 for adults, and $4.00 for children 16 and under. Infants 1 year or younger are free. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Sponsored by Rockwell Collins and the Linn County Board of Supervisors Witwer Trust.

Saturday, April 14 & Thursday, April 19: Gallery Tour of Puppetry! Suspended Imagination. Join a member of the museum staff, and the guest curator from the Museum of Puppets in Chrudim, Czech Republic, as they lead a tour of this special exhibition. 2 p.m. Meet in the Hruska Grand Hall. Free to members or included with paid admission to the gallery. Sponsored by Rockwell Collins and the Linn County Board of Supervisors Witwer Trust.

Saturday, April 21: Puppetry Workshop. Make-and-take a simple marionette. No reservations required. Hruska Grand Hall. 1 – 4 p.m. Donation appreciated. Sponsored by Rockwell Collins and the Linn County Board of Supervisors Witwer Trust.

Saturday, May 19 & Thursday, May 24: Guided tour of Puppetry! Suspended Imagination. 1:00 p.m. Meets in Hruska Grand Hall. Fee. Sponsored by Rockwell Collins and the Linn County Board of Supervisors Witwer Trust.

Saturday, May 19: Puppetry Workshop. This month, we’re making fun and creative stick puppets. No reservations required. Hruska Grand Hall. 1:00 – 4:00. Donation appreciated. Sponsored by Rockwell Collins and the Linn County Board of Supervisors Witwer Trust.

Saturday, June 9, and Thursday, June 28, 2007: Gallery Tour of Puppetry! Suspended Imagination. Join a member of the museum staff as she leads a tour of this special exhibition. 2:00 p.m. Meet in the Hruska Grand Hall. Free to members or with paid admission to the gallery. Sponsored by Rockwell Collins and the Linn County Board of Supervisors Witwer Trust.

Thursday and Friday, June 14 & 15, 2007: It’s Showtime! Tea and Tour. Bring your girlfriends and welcome spring with tasty food, a fun presentation by ventriloquist Denny Naughton and Friends, and a curator tour of the Museum 's newest exhibit, Puppetry! Suspended Imagination. Door prizes and raffle included. WFLA Heritage Hall. 1:00 – 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $14 for museum members and groups of eight (8) or more and $16.00 for non-members. Advance registration is required. Call (319) 362-8500 for more information. Sponsored by Don and Irene Hamous.

Saturday, June 16, 2007: Puppet Playdate. Grandparents and parents, give your special little ones an experience they’ll remember. Activities include tasty treats, a build-your-own puppet workshop, tour of the gallery, and lots of outdoor fun in the Museum Garden. 9:30 – 11:30. Admission TBA. Sponsored by Rockwell Collins and the Linn County Board of Supervisors Witwer Trust.

Saturday, June 16, 2007. Puppet Workshop. The fun and whimsical cone puppet is this month’s make-and-take project. No reservations required. Hruska Grand Hall. 1:00 – 4:00. Donation appreciated. Sponsored by Rockwell Collins and the Linn County Board of Supervisors Witwer Trust.

Saturday, July 21, 2007: Puppetry Workshop. The fun and whimsical cardboard roll puppet is this month’s make-and-take project. No reservations required. Hruska Grand Hall. 1:00 – 4:00. Donation appreciated. Sponsored by Rockwell Collins and the Linn County Board of Supervisors Witwer Trust.

July 23 – Aug. 2, 2007: Puppet Carving Master Class. Advance registration required. Sponsored by Rockwell Collins and the Linn County Board of Supervisors Witwer Trust.

Thursday and Saturday, July 26 and 28, 2007: Gallery Tour of Puppetry! Suspended Imagination. Join a member of the museum staff as she leads a tour of this special exhibition. 2:00 p.m. Meet in the Hruska Grand Hall. Free to members or with paid admission to the gallery. Sponsored by Rockwell Collins and the Linn County Board of Supervisors Witwer Trust.

Saturday and Thursday, Aug. 4 and 23, 2007: Gallery Tour of Puppetry! Suspended Imagination. Join a member of the museum staff as she leads a tour of this special exhibition. 2:00 p.m. Meet in the Hruska Grand Hall. Free to members or with paid admission to the gallery. Sponsored by Rockwell Collins and the Linn County Board of Supervisors Witwer Trust.

Aug. 18, 2007: Puppetry Workshop. We’re working with socks this month, making sock puppets. No reservations required. Hruska Grand Hall. 1:00 – 4:00. Donation appreciated. Sponsored by Rockwell Collins and the Linn County Board of Supervisors Witwer Trust.

Sept. 15, 2007: Puppetry Workshop. We’re making finger puppets this month. No reservations required. Hruska Grand Hall. 1:00 – 4:00. Donation appreciated. Sponsored by Rockwell Collins and the Linn County Board of Supervisors Witwer Trust.

Thursday and Saturday, Sept. 27 and 29, 2007: Gallery Tour of Puppetry! Suspended Imagination. Join a member of the museum staff as she leads a tour of this special exhibition. 2:00 p.m. Meet in the Hruska Grand Hall. Free to members or with paid admission to the gallery. Sponsored by Rockwell Collins and the Linn County Board of Supervisors Witwer Trust.

Larger version of this image	Logo for Puppetry! Suspended Imagination.
300dpi version of this image	Vít Horejš, Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre.
300dpi version of Kašpárek 300dpi version of Modern Kašpárek	Kašpárek – This Kašpárek is from the set of the early puppeteer, Tomáš Dubský . It was carved by woodcarver Slajer in 1917. Kasparek is among the most famous of puppet characters. He has been known by many different names throughout the ages, but his personality has crossed boarders. Mischievous at times, he often was used by puppeteers in the 19^th century to poke fun at the Austro-Hungarian Empire. On loan from the Museum of Puppets in Chrudim, Czech Republic. Modern Kašpárek – Modern puppet making has evolved into a contemporary art form, seen here in this modern adaptation of Kašpárek. The head was created by Emily Wilson and composite body by Michelle Beshaw for The History of Queen Esther, of King Ahasverus & of the Haughty Haman, The Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre at Port Washington, 2001. On loan from Vít Horejš, The Czechoslovak American Marionette Theatre
300dpi version of this image	Spejbl – This replica from the Theater Spejbla and Hurvínka (Divadlo Spejbla a Hurvínka) was created in 1976 and replaced original marionettes which had burned in a fire in 1975. The creation of the wood carver Karel Nosek was based on the 1920 drawings by famous puppeteer Professor Josef Skupa. Spejbl was created to provide a comic element to the puppet shows. Skupa created the first modern puppet theater in 1930. Skupa worked for many years from his Plzen theater before moving it to Prague. On loan from the Museum of Puppets in Chrudim, Czech Republic.
300dpi version of this image	Hurvínek - This replica from the Theater Spejbla and Hurvínka (Divadlo Spejbla a Hurvínka) was created in 1976 and replaced original marionettes which had burned in a fire in 1975. In 1926 the original Hurvínek was created to partner with Spejbl, becoming one of the most famous puppet duos of all time. On loan from the Museum of Puppets in Chrudim, Czech Republic.
300dpi version of this image	Horse (Kun)- a marionette from the set of Tomáš Dubský, woodcarver J. Soukup, 1917. Tomáš Dubský was born into the craft of puppeteering. He was descended from the famous Kopecký’s and Dubský’s puppeteering families. At age 10 he began performing with his father. It was said that he would give up to 240 performances in a year. On loan from the Museum of Puppets in Chrudim, Czech Republic.
300dpi version of this image	Old Man Know-all (Ded Vševed), – from the Central Puppet Theater Prague from the play A Tale of Floater-Boy (Plavácek) 1981. Puppet created by Ivan Antoš, 1981. This state run theater of the communist era was created to influence other puppeteers to the ways of communism. On loan from the Museum of Puppets in Chrudim, Czech Republic.
300dpi version of this image	King – from the play "A Tale from the Suitcase" (Pohádka z kufru). It was staged in The East Bohemian Puppet Theatre Dragon in Hradec Kralove (VCLD Drak Hradec Králové) in 1964. The marionette was created by František Vítek, 1964. On loan from the Museum of Puppets in Chrudim, Czech Republic.
300dpi version of this image	Cinderella’s Step-Sister – From the play "Cinderella" (O Popelce) . It was staged in The East Bohemian Puppet Theatre Dragon in Hradec Kralove (VCLD Drak Hradec Králové) in 1982. Puppet created by František Vítek, 1982. On loan from the Museum of Puppets in Chrudim, Czech Republic.
300dpi version of this image	Wizard – So-called Sokol puppets used in amateur puppet performances were very popular in the early 20^th century. Czech immigrants brought their love of puppetry with them when they immigrated to the United States. For many this was closely associated with the active Sokol groups within the Czech communities. On loan from Sokol Greater Cleveland.
300dpi version of this image	Monk – Puppet shows were performed at Jan Hus Presbyterian Church in the early part of the 20^th century. It is believed that the former pastor Vincent Písek, a Czech immigrant himself, began the tradition and may have even brought the puppets to the United States himself. After the second world war they fell into disuse and were subsequently locked away in an attic until they were uncovered by Vít Horejš, founder of The Czechoslovak Marionette Theatre. On loan from Jan Hus Presbyterian Church.