Project History 

History and Accomplishments:

  • Winter/Spring 2017 – Project conceived and founded by Ana Díaz Barriga Lopez and Jess Kaufman

  • Summer 2017 – First prototype puppet built (Governor’s Island “Sanctuary City” residency with The Public Works Dept. in NYC)

  • Fall 2017 – Co-led a binational festival in Nogales AZ/SON; built and performed with 5 giant puppets with local youth, artists, and community partners

  • Fall 2018 – 1st Puppets and Pen Pals developmental pilot in Nogales AZ/SON

  • Fall 2019 – 2nd Puppets and Pen Pals developmental pilot in Nogales AZ/SON

  • [Fall 2020 – Planned launch of Puppets and Pen Pals – Pandemic pause]

  • [Winter 2020 – Planned partnership with Bread and Puppet Theatre – Pandemic pause]

  • August 2024 – Project re-launch workshop at The Guggenheim Museum in NYC!

Conferences and Festivals:

  • 2019 Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space: taught week-long workshop to artists from 9 countries

  • 2019 Creative Interruptions London Festival (2019)

  • 2018 NYU Steinhardt Forum on Educational Theatre