OSKALOOSA, Iowa — Brant Bollman, the director of Theatre Arts at William Penn University and puppetmaster at Uplifting Puppet Co., is being recognized with a prestigious 2024 Des Moines Art Week Fellowship.
The partnership will see Bollman collaborating with members of the Drake neighborhood in Des Moines to bring to life an enchanting night market event on June 14. This event promises an eclectic mix of vendors, culinary delights, and captivating entertainment, culminating in a mesmerizing lantern puppet parade down Kingsman Boulevard.
“The parade theme is ‘The Magic of the Night,'” Bollman explains. “It’s about tapping into childhood dreams and the mystical essence of the night. We want to evoke that sense of wonder and enchantment.”
Central to the parade will be the unveiling of a magnificent giant puppet crafted by Bollman and his team of students and neighborhood creatives. “We’re creating a giant moon goddess, this big beautiful indigo-colored lady who will float down the streets, puppeteered by eight or nine people,” Bollman elaborated. “It’s a community effort, with drummers, fire spitters, belly dancers, and individuals carrying their own lanterns joining the procession.”
Bollman is well known for crafting and performing giant street puppets known as ‘Uppets’ for parades, marches, and rallies. He is a featured entry each December in the Oskaloosa Holiday Lighted Parade. He emphasizes his role as a creator of magical moments. Alongside his grand creations, Bollman crafts smaller stick puppets, and he writes, teaches, and performs storytelling shows for children and adults with his art.
Crafting large creations requires meticulous planning. Bollman detailed the process: “First thing you need is a large space, and fortunately, we have the support of King Au, a world-famous photographer in Des Moines who has offered us the use of his studio. Then, we sculpt the face, create a thermoplastic mold, and construct the body using unconventional materials like pool noodles.”
The community engagement doesn’t stop at the parade; it extends to a series of pop-up lantern workshops leading up to the event. “We’ll be hosting free lantern-building workshops at various locations in the Drake neighborhood,” Bollman shared. “It’s a way for everyone to get involved, to unleash their creativity and become part of the magic.”
As Bollman and his team prepare to illuminate the streets with their enchanting creations, the magic of their artistry promises to captivate hearts and minds, showing true art knows no boundaries.
Bollman noted, “What we’re creating here is world-class art, bringing communities together and igniting imaginations.”
The 2024 Des Moines Art Week is June 9 -15, and the Magic of the Night parade is June 14. This project is supported by Invest DSM, Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation, Visionary, National Endowment for the Art and the Iowa Arts Council and Axios Des Moines.
