An exhibit at the CMA, "Strings Attached: The Living Tradition of Czech Puppets," will be opening at the Columbus Museum of Art this Friday, and will run through August 4. It is a collaboration of the CMA with the OSU Department of Theatre, and the Art Institute of Prague, and co-curated by Nina Maliková and the DSEELC's own Joe Brandesky. 

The exhibit "traces puppet theatre from the mid-19th century to the present in what's now the Czech Republic," writes Kevin Nance in the weekend edition of The Wall Street Journal (2-3 March, C14). "There are 140 puppets and marionettes, ranging from hand-manipulated miniatures to life-size figures, along with production sets, masks and costumes.

"'Uniquely, the Czechs used puppets not only for entertainment but also to preserve and extend their national culture and culture in times when they were oppressed by occupying powers,' says Joe Brandesky, an Ohio State University professor and expert on Czech and Russian Theatre. 'And during the first republic of 1918 to 1938, puppetry also reflected the artistic movements of the day, including symbolism, expressionism, surrealism, and cubism.'

"Puppetry remains popular in the Czech Republic. Its international impact can be seen in the legacy of puppeteer-animators such as Jan Švankmajer, whose stop-motion animated films influenced Tim Burton and others."

Student interested in learning more about Czech puppetry and Czech theatre should consider taking Professor Brandesky's Autumn 2013 course on Czech Theater (Slavic 2345, Wed Fri 2:20-3:40, Baker Systems 0198).