CKUA Radio, Feb 27, 2025
The new Artist in Residence at Calgary’s Sparrow Artspace is WP Puppet Theatre, who will be showcasing their award-winning program, View from the Inside. Wendy Passmore-Godfrey and Barb English will join CKUA’s Kate Stevens for a conversation.
WP Puppet Theatre’s View from the Inside
March 1-31, Open Thurs-Sat 11am-6pm
Presented in partnership with the Festival of Animated Objects as part of the Learning Component (March 10 – 23, 2025) https://www.puppetfestival.ca/
WP Puppet Theatre is thrilled to be an Artist in Residence at Sparrow Artspace through March 2025. We will feature our award-winning program VIEW from the INSIDE* designed to welcome people of all ages to explore their creativity in a supportive community.
Our residency will include an exhibit of the amazing portrait puppets created by past participants as well as screening videos of their profound artist reflections. We’ll host a number of hands-on workshops for adults, youth and children to create their own self portrait puppet-mask which becomes “a nuanced artifact with an amazing legacy”
Over 500 people from diverse communities have participated in VIEW since its inception in 2016. The program promotes positive mental health and wellness by providing opportunities for emotional expression and social interaction, improving motivation, reducing feelings of isolation. Participants say the workshops:
Foster Resiliency
Build community
Encourage self-reflection
Create a legacy
Provide a voice
Bring fun and creativity
More info on the program https://www.wppuppet.com/programming
“The symbolism of the puppet-mask provides a safe container for participants to deeply explore dimensions of themselves that they may otherwise not feel comfortable processing and/or sharing”
*ATB Healing through the Arts
“Exploring creativity and self-expression through puppetry.
Powerful, impactful, and uniquely resonating.”
THE ARTISTS
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Annie Ahmad holds a Master’s degree in Creative Arts Therapies from Concordia University. She is a Registered Member of the Canadian Art Therapy Association and a Professional Member of the Canadian Counseling and Psychotherapy Association. Annie has over 13 years of experience working as an Art Therapist with a variety of populations in diverse community settings. Annie works in private practice with the Blackbird Healing Arts Collective, facilitates art therapy groups with various organizations, as well as is an Associate Faculty member of the St. Stephen’s College at the University of Alberta.
Annie Ahmad MA, RCAT, CT
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Suzanne Clease is a professional art therapist with a Master’s degree in psychotherapy. She is a francophone who taught for twenty years in Calgary French immersion schools. Currently Suzanne facilitates art therapy programs for WP Puppet Theatre working in schools and in the community with students and seniors. Her community experiences have included Roots of Empathy, Calgary Children’s Hospital, Calgary Alzheimer’s Society, Creative Aging Calgary Society, Canadian Mental Health Association and Healing Arts Program in Cancer Care at Alberta Health Services. Suzanne is also involved in delivering grief support workshops and retreats.
Suzanne Clease, MPS-AT, PCAT, B.Ed.
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Barb English has a Bachelor's Degree in Education from the University of Calgary and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from UBC. Barb worked for the Calgary Board of Education for 13 years supporting students with complex social/emotional learning needs, before retiring to pursue her own creative practice. Barb is passionate about the power of art to promote positive mental health and wellness. She joined WP Puppet Theatre in Fall 2019 as a workshop facilitator and Manager of the VIEW from the Inside program, and has taught felting to children with Art Felt Studio.
Barb English, B.Ed., B.A.
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Wendy is the Artistic Director/Founder of WP Puppet Theatre. She received the Puppeteers of America Marjorie Batchelder McPharlin Award for Education and in 2018 the ATB Healing through the Arts Award for the VIEW from Inside program to support mental health. She curates Puppet Power – a unique biennial, international conference exploring Applied Puppetry to address the social issues of our time. Wendy has also written, designed, built and performed over twenty productions, touring in Canada and overseas as well as facilitating hundreds of hours of learning experiences, including residencies. In her emerging visual art practice, she works with multi-media, sculpture and mixed-media visual arts.