Enchanted Matter: Puppetry, animation and magic

“Enchanted Matter: Puppetry, animation and magic” invites audiences into a world where imagination brings the inanimate to life.

“Enchanted Matter: Puppetry, animation and magic” invites audiences into a world where imagination brings the inanimate to life. This exhibition celebrates the power of puppetry and video art together; art forms that not only bridge sculpture, theatre, and storytelling, but are also imbued with spells and intention. 

The artworks featured in this exhibition blur the boundaries between stillness and motion, material and spirit. They conjure movement within stillness, give breath to the lifeless, and awaken the mythical beings within these objects. Each artwork pulses with the intent of its maker, reflected in the characters, scenery and videos featured throughout the exhibition. For each of these artists, the process is just as important as the final creation. Hidden sigils of empowerment, appreciation for the small things that surround them, and a reconnection with inner playfulness and whimsy, all inform what moves these artists to create.

“Enchanted Matter: Puppetry, animation and magic” welcomes you to explore the work of Abbey Leach (current student), Kathy Austin and Stephanie Quilliams, and to witness the magic that fills the gallery.