Monday, February 29, 2016

Paris In Plantsville... And Beyond

This is the first picture I took at Paris In Plantsville.  
Labor Day weekend 2010, just before Elmwood's first screening and exhibit there.


So the news is out there...  Paris In Plantsville is closing down.
It’s true.  Sad but true.  And also happy and true.  Happy for the new beginnings we’ll have as artists.

Having been a part of the gallery, and having the work I’ve been part of be a main attraction there over the past half decade is something that I am, and will always be, immensely proud of.
I walked in with Joe Calvo in 2010 looking for a place to screen some Elmwood shorts, and a month later I was a Resident Artist.  A little over a year later I spent a year as the manager.  And after that took a couple months off (just a little breather), and was back in the fold spending time there, and showing my work all over again. 

Celebrating a great opening at the now defunct Kess Cafe

I tried to stay away but couldn’t!  Haha…  I loved the place too much.
Over the past year I knew this was coming.  It was eventual.  It’s not about the money, which is great.  It’s about the time.  And growth.  The regulars there…  Sean, Eric, Clinton, Jackie, myself, have all spread our wings and grown so much.  Our work has developed, and continues to develop.  And Paris is going out on top because of it.  The building we call Paris In Plantsville may be locking it’s doors May first, but the spirit and collective will live on.

  
 This little funky punk rock gallery has been good to me.  And to Elmwood Productions.  From shooting the first three episodes of ”The Painter” there with Jordan running the camera, to doing re-shoots for “Josh and Todd” and “Animal Behavior” in the midst of other events, and shooting some key scenes for “HEAD” there, getting Ajay to puppeteer with us, and so much more.  Not to mention all the awesome screenings we have had there.  Paris (and Sean) helped Elmwood’s films get this awesome underground following here in Connecticut that will continue to grow no matter where we screen now.  

Elmwood Gang in PiP - Premiere screening weekend for HEAD, March 2015

I could write for hours about all the good times I had there.  And about the things I’m going to miss…  
But I don’t want to bore anyone any further, and I’m sure there will be one more post (at least) before we shut this baby down in May.

Sean, Jordan, and I just before the doors opened for the 
private premiere of "Josh and Todd" in 2011

So thank you.  
Thank you to everyone who supported Paris in Plantsville over the years.
Thank you to everyone who came to see Elmwood’s flicks there.
And thank you Sean.  For always letting me and the crazy puppet crew hijack the place anytime we need to, and for being one of Elmwood’s biggest fans.

We have two shows left…  And an Elmwood screening happening on 4/22!!!  So it ain’t over till it’s over!  Can’t wait to see you at the events!


And one of my favorite pictures from the gallery, from Elmwood's first event in 2010
Photo by Kara Cranford!



Sunday, February 28, 2016

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Orange Cat Puppet Kit

 Folkmanis Puppets is a toy puppet manufacturer that also makes this cute kits, like the one above.
I got this one, cuz it's a puppet, and a cat.  Two things I love, and decided to make it for fun
 It's pretty neat that the packaging turns inside out and is a stage that can be colored!

 The puppet it's self is already put together, like above.  You just add the features
The glue this one came with was pretty much useless.  SO if you get one of these kits I'd recommend using a glue gun...
 Pretty cute if I say so!


 And all colored and done!

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Adam

 Adam
Mouth Puppet

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Monday, February 15, 2016

Saturday, February 13, 2016

David

 David
Mouth Puppet

Saturday, February 6, 2016

Wes


Wes
Mouth Puppet from "The Risley Brothers"

Getting back into posting a puppet each week!  Look for one to pop up each Saturday!   At least from now till summer! 

In the original pilot and test trailer for "The Risley Brothers" we used a puppet I had made of my friend Jordan to play the part of ""Wes"
Once deciding to go further I felt like we should re-make the puppet to be an official Wes, and so I could return the puppet to Jordan's parents (who I borrowed it from)

Here's a look into the making of the official Wes!

 Wes meets Jordan...

Totally unrelated picture...  Gabe was hanging out as I started the puppet.  Ain't he handsome? 

 Here he is almost done.  Hanging out with some other in progress puppets.
And yes, that is Sammy from HEAD!  
But he died in the first film, right?
Muhahahahahahaha!

And here he is done...  With his brother Quigly

Be a friend with Wes on Facebook!

Friday, February 5, 2016

Because it can never get weird enough...


Sweet Dreams

When you wish upon a star... It makes no difference who you are!


And another..  We're at that age...

Maurice White has jumped onto the Mothership...
I love Earth, Wind, and Fire...
The song above is one of my all time favorite songs.  It's message is beautiful, and it gets the booty moving!
My brother really introduced me to their music in the late 1970's, before I was even in school.  I remember seeing performances on various TV shows and whenever they came on the radio he'd demand it louder.  As I got older and really got into music and learned more about funk and soul these guys were getting a lot of play on my tape deck, them eventually CD player.

My brother would mention this animated movie they were part of called "Rock and Rule" that I had very faint memories of.  I didn't really remember them as part of it.  I did remember very well Lou Reed, Debbie Harry, and Iggy Pop though.
The movie kind of became a forgotten gem, except by people of a certain age, and back in the mid-part of the last decade it was finally released to DVD.  I got it the day it came out.  And sure as anything...  EWF had a song in it...
The movie is way more adult than I had remembered when I was 8 years old seeing it...  
And it's awesome.  



Sweet dreams Mr. White.  
And thank you for the art, the music, the joy.

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Nobody told me there'd be days like these...


A real conversation I had...  Very recently:


So Jon, you have followers online.

Yeah, I do, it's pretty cool.

All you really ever talk about is puppets, and art, and music, and stuff like that.

Yeah?

And stuff about you life, kinda.

Yeah?

How come you don't get into politics?  Or more on religion?  
Or important issues?

So puppets, art, and music aren't important?

No, I mean, it's just there are deeper issues.

Yeah, I get that man...  But...

But?

No matter what I say, you'll be right, and I'll be wrong.  
So I'll stick to what I know best.

Awe man, I just wanna know what you think.

Well...  I just want you to think for yourself.



Tuesday, February 2, 2016