Artists animate the solstice on Martha’s Vineyard

0
The parade of puppets: in front – Jean DelGiudice (partly hidden), Pearl Vercruysse, Phyllis Vecchia and Susan Puciul. — Photo by Lynn Christoffers

The first Solstice Puppet Festival held Saturday, June 23 at the Tisbury Waterworks near Tashmoo overlook on State Road raised money for the Zambezi Project, an effort to assist disabled children in Zambia.

A parade of puppets of all sizes, musicians, clowns, and jugglers made its way from the amphitheater down to the waterworks, where giant puppet Yamanja, an Afro-Brazilian Sea Goddess, arrived by boat to greet Mother Earth, also represented by a giant puppet.

Puppets roamed the property interacting with attendees, and Greek Goddess puppets danced to a hand bell choir. The Spindrift Marionettes, a group of puppeteers that have been performing around the Island for 12 years, performed “The Magic Teakettle,” a Japanese folk tale. Crafts were for sale and refreshments were enjoyed.

For more information about the organization, call 508-693-4059 or email info@aacdpafrica.org