This piece was created for a Special Topics class in materials at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. The assignment was to create an automata that had three movements and utilized other skills learned in the class. I hand-sculpted the three character heads and then molded and cast them in urethane plastic before eventually hand-painting them. The costumes are made of a combination of vintage and new materials and are all sewn by hand. The original playboard was made using cardboard and wrapping paper and was updated to wood in 2023 by Lyssa and her brother Scott. The cams and cam followers were also cardboard and were updated as well. Lyssa’s inspiration for the piece was her attendance at many puppetry festivals where Punch and Judy shows were a staple. It was displayed at the 2023 Great Lakes Puppetry Festival at Pokagon State Park in Indiana.
Lyssa Troemel 