Page 95 - Art Attack Gr 9 LB SKU1007

Create in 3D- Making a ventriloquist puppet to show the arts in 3D making
public comment

You have been employed to design a ventriloquist puppet that will used in a theatre production. You
have four lessons to complete this task. Your puppet must be a character that reflects a global event
that has taken place in the last four years. Complete the following stages towards the final product:
x You will need to do some research about global current events. Choose an event that you are
interested in and that you feel strongly about- it needs to be significant to you. Collect some
articles, comments and images of this global event and paste them on the next page with your
comments and opinions.
x Research some examples of contemporary ventriloquists and comedians that use puppets to
make a social comment about global current events. There are some inspiring videos on
YouTube.
x You will need to develop the character of your puppet. You can choose to make the puppet as a
person, animal, imaginary creature or an object. Whichever one you choose, the form and
character must relate to the event, so think deeply about this decision.
x Develop the character you have chosen. Complete a character sketch- their age, personality
traits, background, likes and dislikes, their culture, language, accent, interests and relationship.
All these characteristics need to be communicated through the visual appearance of the puppet
as well as how it talks. You are going to do a one-minute performance with your puppet at the
end of this task. Collect reference images that you can work from to give you ideas and help you
get the form of the character right.
x Make some preliminary drawings of what your puppet will look like. Each drawing should be more
detailed and more finalised. You need to figure out how you will the design the mouth so that it
can move. Complete these on the next page.
x Decide on the materials that you will use- these need to include recyclable materials so that you
can lower your carbon footprint.
x Decide on the construction techniques that you will use to create your ventriloquist puppet. You
may include a variety of appropriate techniques including pasting, cutting, modelling, wrapping,
tying, stitching, joining, scoring and papier-mâché. You may choose to paint the puppet once you
have constructed it. You could also add colour in other interesting ways.
x While you are working consider your classmates- create a safe environment and have respect for
others. Think of ways to make the classroom a safe working environment and write them down:
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x Produce a small full colour drawing of your character showing its facial characteristics, build and
its costume on the next page. Remember to critically analyze how the characteristics of your
character sketch, as well as the global event itself are communicated visually to the audience.
The audience needs to identify and understand the character by what it looks like.
x Plan the manufacturing process carefully ensuring that you have got all the tools, materials and
supplies that you need. Plan how you will implement each stage of the construction process over
the next three lessons.
x Make your puppet according to your plan. Remember that things may not work out exactly how
you planned or maybe you may make some mistakes... don’t give up! At times, our mistakes
allow us to choose a new direction or try something that you would not have had the guts to do.
Sometimes the mistake becomes the best part!

Artifact Publications and Training 2015 89