I am back to normal! At least that is what I think :).
Unfortunately I have to own up to something. I actually don’t have any images from opening of the exhibition itself. I took a few pics when we finished setting up and a couple just before the guests arrived. This time I couldn’t afford to employ someone to photograph during the event like I did when I had the book launch. I noticed the gallery people were taking photographs though. I will ask if they can give me one to publish on the blog. Otherwise I will take some next Sunday when I will be at the Gallery all day and I am expecting a little crowd.
The image today shows quite nicely how the set up works. The puppets are placed on plinths in the middle of the room and as artworks they are back to their “No Body” status. The heads sit idly on their custom-made stands.
The images on the wall are from the blog and the text accompanying the image is placed below. I focussed on shorter pieces that tell a complete story so the visitors don’t have to read too much if they don’t feel like it. But by reading even just a few snippets they still get the idea of the puppet world. If you have followed the blog for a while you can make out the image where Sunny copied the artwork of ArtistatExit0, and by doing so created our mascot Lil’ Sculpture. Next to it is the image of the puppets doing a dharna on my doorstep. In all the pictures the puppets wear their robes and really come to life.
I have had a lot of very good comments about the presentation of the blog and my vivid imagination. I am not sure if the latter is a good thing, but I’ll take it as a compliment for now.
The image below shows two of my life-savers racing around setting up drinks and nibbles just before the guests arrived. It illustrates the size of the puppet heads. One comment I get quite often is that people assume the heads are bigger. But they are glove puppets after all. Most of them are between 12 and 15 cm high.
I also updated my Characters page today. I had to take mug shots of all the new puppets for the exhibition anyway. But as you might know, I don’t want to get to close to the newbies. I abstained from writing their short description, even though some of them are really pushy and want to tell me their stories :)
dedepuppets 
Congrats on the exhibition! The setup looks amazing. I would have loved to be there. Although to be frank I don’t see a chance that I would be able to visit NZ in the near future (unless I find a good university which offers me a scholarship :P ); I would continue seeing the pics on the blog.
It feels so proud to be enjoying this journey.
Have a good rest and best of luck for the future
:)
Thanks Arindam… you are a part of the journey :) Without your wonderful comments throughout the last year, it would have been difficult to keep going at times. I really mean it. The Dedes will never forget your part in their existence.
D
Hello, welcome back! du müsst ja wie ein Vieh geschuftet haben! Das sieht alles sehr sehr schön aus! Sind auch schöne Räumlichkeiten – alles klar und hell. Weiterhin viel Erfolg und alles Liebe!
It’ s good to be back!
Das Gute war, dass ich den Blog habe. Da sind doch über das Jahr einige Geschichten zusammengekommen. Der schwierigste Teil war wirklich die Bilder gerade zu aufzuhängen :)
Vielen Dank für deine Unterstützung mit all deinen lieben Kommentaren. D
Well done and congratulations! The show looks marvelous with many different aspects to engage. I love that so much of this material is inspired by the blog which is a cyber-exhibition by itself!
Thanks Aritsatexit0. And a big fat Thank You for your tremendous support in the build up.
I find the blog aspect very interesting too. A lot of my friends know about the blog, but don’t read it. Having the stories on the wall they took the time to read and I’ve got a lot of really fantastic response.
The difference I assume is in having to look for something or having it put right in front of you. Now this last sentence wasn’t thought through yet, but I think there is something in it :)
I have experienced a similar thing with my artist friends. Most of them know about the riverblog because I mention it, but few of them have actually bothered to look it up. Some of this is generational with the older friends in particular who do not enjoy engaging technology any more than they need to. These friends, however, might look at a book before turning on a computer.
Have you actually ever made a book out of your stories? I think your blog really lends itself to be compiled into a book.
Early on I made little photo scrapbooks, but the book idea has always been there. I think there is potential for several book ideas coming out of the blog. I have done a bit of research and sought advice about publishers, but nothing has come of it so far. I guess there is always the self-publishing route. For now, I content myself with doing the “research” on the riverbank.