Orange County NC Website
Winner of puppetry's highest honor,the UNIMA Citation of Excellence, <br /> and recipient of three Jim Henson Foundation grants, Hobey Ford is <br /> known for excellence in puppetry performance and craft. <br /> Hobey's intricate shadow puppetry work and creation of the <br /> original rod puppets,the"Foamies", have earned him a place <br /> on stages across the world. Hobey's performances incorporate <br /> a variety of puppetry styles including Bunraku, rod, marionettes, <br /> "Foamies",and shadow puppetry. Hobey adapts folk tales from <br /> various cultures for many of his performances,always adding a <br /> special"Golden Rod"twist. He uses his own voice to create characters <br /> and sound effects,tell stories,and sing. <br /> Hobey utilizes his artistic study at The State University of New York <br /> at Purchase and the University of North Carolina at Asheville to design <br /> and construct all of his Golden Rod Puppets and the beautiful sets that <br /> surround them. Hobey also draws on his early experiences growing up <br /> in coastal Connecticut or living in a Nevada Native American community <br /> in writing the scripts for some of his performances such as <br /> "Whale Walker"and"Turtle Island Tales". <br /> Hobey is considered both an innovator in puppetry craft and a master <br /> storyteller. He has created both the"Foamies"and the clever hand <br /> puppet known as"Peepers". The"Foamies"are large animal puppets <br /> carved from blocks of foam. After studying each animal's characteristic <br /> I movements, Hobey designs various control mechanisms to make the <br /> puppets themselves move in a life-like manner. The"Foamies"are <br /> F_ presented using both stage and house performance space. <br /> ,. Hobey Ford's Golden Rod Puppets maintains busy schedule performing <br /> and teaching in schools, performing arts centers, museums, libraries, <br /> and festivals. Hobey presents shadow puppet workshops for students <br /> and teachers. His teacher workshops include"Telling Folktales with <br /> Shadow Puppetry"and"From Larvae to Butterfly: Metamorphosis <br /> Through Puppetry". He lives in the North Carolina mountains with his <br /> wife, musician Sue Ford and their three daughters,all talented as well. <br /> ' SVie&veN uew <br /> _ THE KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS <br /> SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL <br /> t <br /> M li <br /> i� THE JIM HENSON INTERNATIONAL PUPPETRY FESTIVAL <br /> TAMPA BAY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER <br /> DETROIT INSTITUTE FOR THE ARTS <br /> CALGARY INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL <br /> PEACE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS <br /> NORTH CAROLINA MUSEUM OF ART <br /> ' BARDAVON 1869 OPERA HOUSE <br /> VENTURA COUNTY SCHOOLS,VENTURA CA <br /> OKLAHOMA CITY LIBRARIES <br /> PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S FETSIVAL <br /> CONTEMPORY AMERICAN THEATER FESTIVAL <br /> PICCOLO SPOLETO <br /> SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE � '4 <br /> THEATREWORKS USA <br /> AESTHETIC EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE, � t <br /> BROOKLYN CHILDREN'S MUSEUM <br /> THE CHAUTAUQUA INSTITUTE iu <br /> FIRST NIGHT CHARLOTTESVILLE VA <br /> NEW HAVEN CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL <br /> OJAI STORYTELLING FESTIVAL - <br /> Loyd Artists P.O. Box 3048 Asheville NC 28802 www.loydartists.com <br /> 02001 A79_97dl1 (f271Q2 CZQ'2_1007 f-j.. 1000\ 0=n Anno <br />