Victory Rally Toy Theater Video Contest By Hennepin County Library

Press release from the Hennepin County Library:

October 2, 2020

This fall, we are hosting a Victory Rally Toy Theater video contest in partnership with All My Relations Arts.

Art kits, designed by Graci Horne, will be available for pick up at the Franklin Library from 3-5 p.m. on October 12.

Videos will be accepted through November 13 and reviewed by a 3 panel jury of community artists. Prize winners will be notified by November 18 and announced on November 19. Videos will be shared online November 23-25.

More info about the challenge from artist Graci Horne:

"Aspiring puppeteers will learn how to make a tiny toy theater and paper style puppets. Ever wonder how to make your very own theater production? This activity will teach you basic puppet making skills and story telling.

The theme of this play is based on the ongoing movement working to end the use of racist mascots. For as long as sports teams have existed in the United States, so has the tradition of racist and derogatory imagery of Native American people. Native activists, artists, and many Native communities from all of the nation have worked tirelessly to bring this tradition to an end.

Each Victory Rally art kit provides illustrations of youth who symbolically carry the torch to put an end to racism. The drawings are stylized in ledger art style with having no face. Some tribes use this design concept to honor the spirit of an individual by not including face details.

These drawings also depict the triumphant name change of the professional football team the Washington Redskins during the summer of 2020. This would not have happened without the hard work from the Native communities and allies who wrote letters of support. Let’s celebrate this win by creating a play the shows the long overdue name change and the future without racist imagery.

Guidelines: Create a storyline that shows a feeling of “victory”over racism. How might that look, sound, or feel? Note: this is not a chance to ‘’play Native,” unless you are Native. This is your chance to show how allies can help create change by caring and supporting a movement to end racism. Feel encouraged to create your own characters i.e. a monster mascot, yourself, or magical talking protest signs."

Goals:

• Develop puppet making and puppeteering skills.
• Utilize storytelling and imagination.
• Appreciate puppet plays as a vehicle for human expression.

This press release was produced by the Hennepin County Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.