Puppets Are Everywhere, You Just Didn't Know It
Puppetry artist Heidi Rugg pulls back the curtain on an art form you’ve seen your whole life, but probably hardly noticed (Plus, hear stories about her process that didn't make the episode)
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When Heidi Rugg was a college student, trying to figure out what her life would look like after school, she had a moment of clarity under a canopy of autumn leaves: Puppetry was the path forward. It was the one thing that would allow her to pursue all of her creative interests at once—building, storytelling, painting, performance—and make them make sense.
Nearly 30 years later, Heidi is a full-time puppetry artist. She writes, builds, performs, and tours original shows that she’s brought to schools, libraries, and major institutions like the Smithsonian and the Detroit Institute of Arts. She’s also built her life around an ancient and persistent art form, one that many people may not realize they enjoy all the time. Puppets are everywhere. And in this episode, How to Be a Puppetry Artist, Heidi shows us where.
Hear what didn’t make the episode
In episode four, you’ll hear Heidi mention that’s she’s a process junkie. It’s true, she’s always ready for a chat about what she’s creating and how others artists are honing their crafts.
Heidi on being comfortable with ambiguity:
Heidi on the chaos of the show-building process:
Meet Heidi
Heidi Rugg is a puppetry artist, performer, and founder of Barefoot Puppets. For nearly three decades, she’s been writing, building, and performing original puppet shows for audiences across the country, from the Smithsonian Discovery Theater to libraries, classrooms, and hospitals. Her work blends storytelling, textile arts, and stagecraft, often weaving in themes of nature and environmental justice. Based in Richmond, Virginia, Heidi is also an active member of and advocate for the puppetry community around the world.
Get involved in the puppet community
Learn more about Heidi and her work at BarefootPuppets.com
Center for Puppetry Arts (Atlanta)