Speculum Puppets at Womongathering
Background
This past weekend was my third year at www.womongathering.com, a women's spirituality retreat that I highly recommend to any woman who is looking to bring goddesses and/or a community of women into their life. At Womongathering there is a space called the Red Tent Temple, a sanctuary which hearkens back to the menstrual tents of yore where women took time during their menses to be together and share stories, laughter, tears, and crafts. For more info on the modern day Red Tent movement, check out Alisa Starkweather's site: alisastarkweather.com/index.php or read the book The Red Tent by Anita Diamant for the source inspiration.
Two years I ago, I sat in a cozy Red Tent Temple at Womongathering, drinking tea, flipping through a book, when I saw a basket full of plastic specula. A speculum is the instrument an OBGYN inserts into a women's vagina to create space to do a pap smear and to visually inspect the area. It looks like this:
I picked one up and start playing with it, making it talk and thought - "Wow, this would make a great bird puppet! " The following year I shared this idea with one of the women who created the Red Tent Temple and she sent me home with at least 20 plastic specula for my crafting puposes.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago when I'm at a puppet low and ready to walk away from it all (yes, even puppets can feel overwhelming.) I realize I still have these specula under my bed, a promise I have to keep to myself and my gifter. I drop her a line and ask if I can offer the Speculum Puppets as a craft in the Red Tent Temple. She says yes and I pep talk myself into wrapping this idea up.
Building the Theater and Puppets
I was lucky enough to have my friend's house in quiet suburban NJ all to myself for a weekend, and luckier still to have a Michael's craft shop and a Joanne's Fabrics down the street. I used most of the weekend to build 4 puppets and to brainstorm how to construct a theater that is light weight, folds flat, has multiple curtains, an ornate proscenium and at least slightly suggests a vagina. I spent hours in each craft shop choosing just the right fabrics, finding better wood choices, and hunting down sparkly things for decorations. Most importantly though, I got excited, excited to finally work on one of my ideas and share it with others. Here were my results:
Theater with moon phases and framed picture of Sheela na Gig (the sculpted Sheela na Gig burned in the oven...)
Fiesty Mermaid:
Magpie:
Spiral Snake:
Super V!
At Womongathering
To spare you all a psychiatric diatribe, let's just say that this weekend was a huge lesson in life affirmation, stepping up, ending fear, and GRATITUDE. The craft was a hit with young and old, for those who knew what the specula were and those who didn't. I am happy that many were entertained, but I'm more in amazement by how women were healed and discussions started. I was told of one woman who made a puppet to heal her younger self's traumatic experience, of girls whose puppet antics led to a solid discussion on safe sex and their bodies. I watched young girls scrunch their faces in grossed out trepidation of the speculum only to laugh later as they made their puppet sing and dance. It was beautiful. Here are some of their amazing creations:
I love this furry bandit.
This one has pink puff balls for a tongue!
This young woman spent a lot of time on this bearded dragon and it shows.
This is Fertilda. Yes Fertilda the Speculum puppet. I love her.
A very joyous Spec!
Puppets and Moon Time Theater in the Red Tent Temple space.
The Speculum Puppet Movement
I am re-invigorated as a puppet maker and so thankful to have had such a rewarding weekend. I watched what was originally just a silly idea become a craft that gave power and broke down communication barriers. I am inspired to take it further.
I will say it here, I am starting the Speculum Puppet Movement.
I don't know exactly what shape it will take or how it will manifest, what catchy name will attach or if anyone will be interested. But I'm going to put it out there.
There is a power to these little plastic puppets and I'm honored to have them in my life.
This past weekend was my third year at www.womongathering.com, a women's spirituality retreat that I highly recommend to any woman who is looking to bring goddesses and/or a community of women into their life. At Womongathering there is a space called the Red Tent Temple, a sanctuary which hearkens back to the menstrual tents of yore where women took time during their menses to be together and share stories, laughter, tears, and crafts. For more info on the modern day Red Tent movement, check out Alisa Starkweather's site: alisastarkweather.com/index.php or read the book The Red Tent by Anita Diamant for the source inspiration.
Two years I ago, I sat in a cozy Red Tent Temple at Womongathering, drinking tea, flipping through a book, when I saw a basket full of plastic specula. A speculum is the instrument an OBGYN inserts into a women's vagina to create space to do a pap smear and to visually inspect the area. It looks like this:
I picked one up and start playing with it, making it talk and thought - "Wow, this would make a great bird puppet! " The following year I shared this idea with one of the women who created the Red Tent Temple and she sent me home with at least 20 plastic specula for my crafting puposes.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago when I'm at a puppet low and ready to walk away from it all (yes, even puppets can feel overwhelming.) I realize I still have these specula under my bed, a promise I have to keep to myself and my gifter. I drop her a line and ask if I can offer the Speculum Puppets as a craft in the Red Tent Temple. She says yes and I pep talk myself into wrapping this idea up.
Building the Theater and Puppets
I was lucky enough to have my friend's house in quiet suburban NJ all to myself for a weekend, and luckier still to have a Michael's craft shop and a Joanne's Fabrics down the street. I used most of the weekend to build 4 puppets and to brainstorm how to construct a theater that is light weight, folds flat, has multiple curtains, an ornate proscenium and at least slightly suggests a vagina. I spent hours in each craft shop choosing just the right fabrics, finding better wood choices, and hunting down sparkly things for decorations. Most importantly though, I got excited, excited to finally work on one of my ideas and share it with others. Here were my results:
Theater with moon phases and framed picture of Sheela na Gig (the sculpted Sheela na Gig burned in the oven...)
Fiesty Mermaid:
Magpie:
Spiral Snake:
Super V!
At Womongathering
To spare you all a psychiatric diatribe, let's just say that this weekend was a huge lesson in life affirmation, stepping up, ending fear, and GRATITUDE. The craft was a hit with young and old, for those who knew what the specula were and those who didn't. I am happy that many were entertained, but I'm more in amazement by how women were healed and discussions started. I was told of one woman who made a puppet to heal her younger self's traumatic experience, of girls whose puppet antics led to a solid discussion on safe sex and their bodies. I watched young girls scrunch their faces in grossed out trepidation of the speculum only to laugh later as they made their puppet sing and dance. It was beautiful. Here are some of their amazing creations:
I love this furry bandit.
This one has pink puff balls for a tongue!
This young woman spent a lot of time on this bearded dragon and it shows.
This is Fertilda. Yes Fertilda the Speculum puppet. I love her.
A very joyous Spec!
Puppets and Moon Time Theater in the Red Tent Temple space.
The Speculum Puppet Movement
I am re-invigorated as a puppet maker and so thankful to have had such a rewarding weekend. I watched what was originally just a silly idea become a craft that gave power and broke down communication barriers. I am inspired to take it further.
I will say it here, I am starting the Speculum Puppet Movement.
I don't know exactly what shape it will take or how it will manifest, what catchy name will attach or if anyone will be interested. But I'm going to put it out there.
There is a power to these little plastic puppets and I'm honored to have them in my life.