Monday, August 23, 2010

Marionettes From Another Place











THIS WEEKEND I HAD THE GREAT FORTUNE TO reacquaint myself with an old classmate by the name of Malcolm Jones, a writer for Newsweek and longtime newspaper reporter. The occasion was our 40th high school reunion in Winston-Salem, NC, and it was a great time. Malcolm recently wrote a memoir that I have been reading non-stop since I left, a book entitled Little Boy Blues, a recounting of his life growing up in the Twin City.

I enjoyed a thread throughout his book, his astonishment as a youngster in seeing his first marionette show and subsequent Christmas present(s) of receiving marionettes as gifts. His marionettes became a part of his personal world as an only child, a world sometimes misunderstood by relatives who often asked “is Malcolm still playing with dolls?” So, in honor of getting to know Malcolm again—after a short, 40-year hiatus, I dedicate this post to him. Watch for a future post on this fascinating book about growing up in the South in the 1950s and 60s. His book was dead on in capturing a slice of Southern life one never understands unless you have lived it. His words are bringing back a flood of memories. And oh, btw— Amazon gives it 5 stars.


And now, to the post!

ERIK SANKO is a musician, artist and marionette-maker who lives in New York City. I think his marionettes are creepy and wonderful—like Tim Burton characters. Sanko produces these figures for elaborate shows—certainly an experience that one would be fortunate to see.


Want to learn more? Go to Erik’s website here.

Some press on Erik Sanko’s work:

The Village Voice: “...a repulsively refulgent marionette show featuring the seven deadly sins... [Sanko] and erstwhile Oingo Boingo frontman Danny Elfman offer a delightfully eerie score that tickles and alarms. Irish songster Gavin Friday lends his gravelly tones to the narration. The design team has built costumes and sets with any number of sinister trims and frills. Indeed, for those souls with a taste for the elegantly macabre, attendance is highly advised. To miss it now that would be a sin.”

The New York Times: “Mr. Sanko’s figures are the grim spawn of Edward Gorey and David Lynch, with papier-mache faces more grizzled and world-weary than those of most character actors.‘ Very few puppet theaters take advantage of their creepy factor,’ Mr. Sanko said... The set underscores why The Fortune Teller is an anomaly in the sphere of marionette theater, or any theater: a level of intricacy most commonly seen in fine art.”

32 comments:

Hannah Stephenson said...

Gosh I love this kind of stuff!

While I was in Tokyo this spring I visited the Yokohama Doll Museum. There, I met an amazing dollmaker named Sanae Andoh, and saw her gorgeous and creepy creations...there is little on the web about her in English. Here are a couple examples of her work:
http://twitpic.com/1n4clq
http://twitpic.com/1n4cvr

You'd have loved it!!!

ArtSparker said...

Saw some of these in a gallery in brooklyn some years back, I remember them vividly.

HEATHER KING said...

Beautiful, haunting, unnerving...brings to mind Street of Crocodiles by The Brothers Quay. Your blog is wonderful. Do you know Rosamond Purcell's "Natural Anomalies and Historical Monsters?" And I'm sure I need not mention The Museum of Jurassic Technology in my own L.A. and Lawrence Weschler's reflections thereon: "Mr. Wilson's Cabinet of Wonder"...Thank you for tramping about the universe and bringing back such odd, rare, and precious treasures.

dbaulos said...

so great! reminds me of paul klee's dolls and puppets

merricat said...

Sanko's work is wonderful. I had the great pleasure of seeing his Seven Deadly Sins piece a few years ago.

Jeno said...

At last! I found a good post like this.. Thanks for this informative post! By the way, can you write a post about error 404 seo effects? Thanks again!

Ardian said...

I have read so many articles or reviews about the blogger lovers except this post is truly a fastidious paragraph, keep it up.
Obat Herbal Benjolan Di Payudara Obat Gagal Jantung Kongestif Herbal Obat Herbal Leukimia Obat Herbal Kanker Kolon Cara Alami Menghancurkan Batu Empedu Obat Kanker Tulang Tradisional Obat Herbal Gastroentoritis Cara Mengatasi Degenerasi Makula Gejala Kanker Payudara Cara Mengecilkan Perut Buncit Secara Alami

A Ujang Herbal said...

Thank you so much for the insights

cara menghilangkan amandel secara alami dan cepat obat peluh tradisional obat ereksi kuat dan tahan lama cara mempertahankan ereksi tahan lama ciri ciri penderita usus buntu obat tradisional alami abses payudara

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing this blog list. Some of them look really interesting.

Ovary Nutrition Capsule

Genies said...

I finally found a blog that can make me happy. it is easy to understand, may remain calm. thanks you author.
cara menjaga kesehatan ginjal
obat kandidiasis alami
Cara Mengobati Eksim Atopik

Unknown said...

because some of the articles on this blog, I can get insight about how my job. Thanks writer.
cara mengobati infeksi lambung
penyebab dan cara mengobati disentri
cara cepat mengobati herpes zoster
obat herbal polip pada usus

Unknown said...

I have long sought a blog that the same criteria with this blog, but there are only a few. Contains very fond of blog authors have this. Thank you. cara menyembuhkan radang paru-paru

Unknown said...

very interesting article, I also quite comprehensive pengobatan jantung koroner. This article also helps me in doing my job Suplemen Untuk Menurunkan Kolesterol. Thank you very much.

Admin - Sapnudin Herbal said...

hey guys, I've been to see the contents of this blog. And I concluded that this blog is so good for me to learn. thanks once author. Cara Menyembuhkan Kista Ginjal

Unknown said...

I did not clever to thank, but the writing on which is the information I was looking for already a long time, finally I can be grateful to the author. Cara Mengobati Gagal Ginjal Akut

Admin - Sapnudin Herbal said...

I've never visited this blog a few months earlier, but I did not find what I was looking for. However, now this blog has provided what I was looking for. Obat Paru Paru Basah

Unknown said...

The five of us are very grateful for the existence of this paper we can accomplish the task a little longer to reach climax.
cara menyembuhkan penyakit liver

Unknown said...

in a few days I saw a few new articles, and I am grateful for every article weighs all. thanks author. cara mengobati biduran

Unknown said...

I did not clever to thank, but the writing on which is the information I was looking for already a long time. cara mengobati pembesaran hati

Unknown said...

And thanks to this article I could find the inspiration to get out of this complaint. Thank you for the information author.
cara menyembuhkan penyakit rematik
obat herbal polip pada usus
obat ampuh untuk radang persendian

Unknown said...

Info untuk menyembuhkan sakit maag dengan obat maag tradisional, obat maag alami juga, obat maag herbal.

Permana said...

Pengertian Leptospirosis Yang Harus Anda Ketahui | Mengenal Tentang Penyakit Difteri | Kenali Apa Itu Disentri? | Sekilas Tentang Penyakit Malaria | Kenali Virus Zika Lebih Dalam | Apa Itu Demam Berdarah Dengue (DBD) | Pantangan Makanan Untuk Penderita Demam Berdarah | Penjelasan Tentang Insomnia | Penjelasan Mengenai Chikungunya | Pengertian Dari Penyakit Impetigo | Obat Parotitis Atau Gondongan Terbaik | Obat Meniere Alami Tanpa Efek Samping | Obat Kista Ganglion Paling Mujarab Dan Aman | Obat Alami Psoriasis Paling Aman Dan Ampuh | Obat Paling Ampuh Untuk Mengobati Vitiligo | Obat Tradisional Rubella 100% Herbal Alami | Obat Penyakit Laringitis Paling Ampuh

Permana said...

Komplikasi Terhadap Penyakit Leptospirosis | Resep Ramuan Herbal Untuk Difteri | 3 Ramuan Herbal Untuk Mengobati Disentri | 2 Tanaman Yang Dapat Dijadikan Ramuan Untuk Malaria | Bahaya Virus Zika Pada Ibu Hamil | 5 Cara Jitu Mencegah Demam Berdarah | 4 Ramuan Untuk Mengobati Demam Berdarah | 8 Buah-Buahan Untuk Mengatasi Insomnia | 9 Tips Untuk Mencegah Chikungunya | 5 Tips Mengobati Impetigo Secara Menyeluruh | Cara Mengobati Parotitis Hingga Tuntas | Pengobatan Paling Ampuh Untuk Meniere | Obat Kista Ganglion Alami Herbal | Obat Psoriasis Berkualitas Tinggi | Obat Vitiligo Yang Alami Dan Ampuh | Obat Rubella Herbal Paling Ampuh | Obat Untuk Penyakit Laringitis Tradisional

Unknown said...

An article that is quite nice and interesting to observe.
design and writing style is quite good, I really like your work.
Thank you for sharing, keep posting and hopefully more successful
visit | Inilah Penyebab Jantung Bocor Pada Orang Dewasa

Unknown said...

Thank you for sharing articles were nice and interesting ..
I hope his new post is increasing and could be a very good reference.
Hopefully more successful
visit | Pengobatan Alami Tuntaskan Sembelit Dengan Cepat

Unknown said...

Steady very article.
writing and design is quite nice, interesting,
I hope the contents of this article can be useful.
Thank you, keep posting
visit | Obat Herbal Tuntaskan Asam Urat Pada Kaki

Unknown said...

Not in vain, I visited your website.
very good article, interesting and presents a positive thing.
hopefully continue to grow increasingly more recent information
Thank you
visit | Pengobatan Alami Tumor Rahim Tanpa Operasi

Unknown said...

The article is quite nice and interesting to observe.
I hope you always present the information or the latest articles and other best,
and hopefully can be a pretty good reference
visit | Mengenal Jenis-Jenis Leukemia Dan Gejalanya

Aan Jamhari said...

Several times I to this blog, and a lot of knowledge that I get. I am very grateful to the authors. keep the spirit of the author.
Cara Meluruhkan Batu Ginjal Secara Alami
Obat Radang Tenggorokan Pada Anak
Pengobatan Alami Terbaik Untuk Sirosis Hati
Obat Pereda Rasa Sakit Otot dan Sendi
Ragam Makanan Untuk Melancar Peredaran Darah

Unknown said...

thank for share
Obat Hernia

Unknown said...

There are certainly a lot of details like that to take into consideration. That is a great point to bring up. I offer the thoughts above as general inspiration but clearly there are questions like the one you bring up where the most important thing will be working in honest good faith. I don?t know if best practices have emerged around things like that, but I am sure that your job is clearly identified as a fair game. Both boys and girls feel the impact of just a moment’s pleasure, for the rest of their lives.
cara menyembuhkan infeksi ginjal
cara mengobati pembengkakan limpa
cara mengobati gagal ginjal selain cuci darah

Unknown said...

Visits were very helpful.
I really like your article, is very nice and interesting. So, I wait posting your article news
visit | Cara Mengobati Penyumbatan Tuba Falopi Secara Alami
Pengobatan Tradisional Herpes Simpleks Tipe 1
Pengobatan Tradisional Testis Bengkak Tanpa Operasi
Pengobatan Tradisional Osteomielitis Paling Ampuh
Cara Mengobati Infeksi Saluran Kemih
Cara Mengobati Testis Bengkak Sebelah
Obat Herbal Kanker Uretra
Obat Radang Panggul Herbal
Pengobatan Ginjal Bocor Herbal Tanpa Cuci Darah

You might also like:

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...