A uniquely Bowen experience and collection of shadow puppet short films have landed at the museum and archives.
In a series of workshops over the past six months, residents and students have honed the craft of shadow puppetry under the tutelage of visual artists, filmmakers and creators, Liz Nankin and Daniella Sorrentino. The result is a series of short films that dives into historical events and everyday stories––everything from the wonderful to the eerie.
A curated selection of photos provided by Cathy Bayly from the museum and archives collection give new life to archival photos as they are visual backgrounds to hand-made shadow puppets telling tales of Bowen fables and lore by participants eight to 100 years old.
Bowen and the world can access online and through the Museum and Archives, the story of “Cowboy Jack and the Wild Horse Round Up” incorporating the actual historic Dorman merry-go-round with the Wild Mustangs of Bowen; “The Amazing Adventures of the Bowen Island Post Mistresses”, the story of the two women from 1890 to the 1970s who dedicated their lives to exceptional postal service and keeping Bowen residents connected; “The Mostly True Story of the Bowen Island Fire Truck,” sharing the tradition of Bowen courage and skills in the act of rescue; “Black-Out: A Bowen Ghost Story,” a story exploring the unexplained call from a being beyond…; “The Mermaid of Onion Island,” a quirky tale that takes place during a Bowen fishing derby; plus a series of originally written stories created by Island Pacific School students themselves.
Come and celebrate these fabulous celebrations of island culture at the first public showing––a free community screening on March 7 at 7 p.m. at the library annex.
This project owes thanks to the dedication and fruits of the imaginations of Bowen residents, Island Pacific School students; the partnership Bowen Fables and the Bowen Island Museum and Archives; funding through a Bowen Island Municipal Arts Grant; and, generous art supply donation by Opus Arts Supplies and community members at large.
