Giant Puppets and Big Dreams: Exploring Paperhand Puppet Intervention's Artistic Activism
6Paperhand Puppet Intervention, founded by Donovan Zimmerman and Jan Burger, is more than just a theater company—it's a creative intervention into the complexities of everyday life. Rejecting the status quo of governmental and corporate structures that often cause harm, Zimmerman and Burger use puppetry as a tool for social change and artistic expression. Zimmerman articulates the organization's ethos by stating, "We wanted to intervene on the business of everyday life, the government and the corporate, you know, sort of matrix, If you will, is like not something that we just want to accept because it causes so much harm."
Their productions are elaborate pageants crafted from recycled materials, ranging from garbage to reused items, showcasing a diverse array of characters from animals and monsters to goddesses and gods. These giant puppets come to life each summer, captivating audiences with their unique charm and artistry. Alongside their summer shows, Paperhand Puppet Intervention actively participates in various events and demonstrations, using their creations as tools for activism. Burger explains, "We do annual parades every year, like the first night parade in Raleigh. We go to Ocracoke, we go to the Eno River Festival, we go to the Shakori Hill's festival, and many, many others every year."
Their activism extends beyond the realm of puppetry, with Zimmerman's involvement in causes such as Black Lives Matter, particularly significant given Graham, NC's history as the KKK's alleged birthplace. Through their work, Paperhand Puppet Intervention seeks to foster connections—between people and the Earth—by building resilient networks of care and mutual support. As Zimmerman emphasizes, "The mission is to foster and nurture connection between each other as humans, between ourselves and the Earth, basically, to put our all of our energy into building resilient networks of connection."
For Burger and Zimmerman, being artists entails a responsibility to address pressing issues and advocate for change. Through their performances, they aim to provoke thought and evoke emotions, challenging audiences to consider the world around them in new ways. Burger articulates this sentiment, stating, "I feel like as artists, it's it's really our responsibility to speak out and to bring the ideas of care for the earth, of taking care of each other." Puppets serve as powerful vehicles for communication, enabling Paperhand Puppet Intervention to convey messages of care, empathy, and mutual understanding.
In a world often marked by violence and division, Paperhand Puppet Intervention offers a vision of hope and possibility. By nurturing creativity and imagination, they envision a future centered on care and collaboration—a stark contrast to the prevailing culture of harm and exploitation that they perceive. As Zimmerman aptly summarizes, "By using creativity to build these networks, we're sort of creating and imagining the future that we could have together. That is the opposite of violence. It's the opposite of abuse, it's the opposite of harm. It's it's creating care and it's nurturing culture that centers care and mutual arising." Through their innovative blend of art and activism, Paperhand Puppet Intervention continues to inspire audiences and communities, inviting them to envision and work towards a more compassionate and connected world.
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