Meet the Puppetmaker
1944 – I was born and raised in the City of New York surrounded by many worldwide cultures, music, art, foods and fashion. My exposure to entertainment came in the form(s) of sidewalk performers, parades, concerts in the parks and museum exhibits.
1950’s – Entertainment expanded to “television.” Puppets and marionettes got more exposure: Howdy Doody, Kukla, Fran and Ollie, and the more recent, Jim Henson’s Muppets.
Late 70’s – Early 80’s – I began to work on my own abstract design for (collectible) marionettes. Lacking the skill of creating costumes, use of stage lighting and theatre production, my “collectible” pieces were hand sanded, patiently stained, and paste waxed.
In the early 80’s, I was honored by an invitation to display (and sell) my work at the Telegraph Hill Black Artist Festival in San Francisco, California. Around the same time a local newspaper in Oakland, California published an encouraging article highlighting my work, written by then Reporter, Barbara Dunn.
Recently, I’ve been working on improving my design as well as collecting and restoring puppets fromaround the world – Europe, China, Mexico, and USA Flea Markets.
Browse this site to see not only the “Blockhead” and “Blockhead 2.0 Collections”, but visit the museum to see examples, photos and short information nuggets of puppets and marionettes created and used by world famous puppeteers such as Bill Baird. See “The Cakewalk Dance Team” created in 1910 as part of the world famous Mantell Marionettes (aka Mantell Manikins). Also, example(s) of the Chinese Shadow Puppets used by Pauline Benton (1898 – 1974). She toured the USA with her Shadow Puppet Troupe called “The Red Gate Players.”
It is my hope/desire that the museum exhibits and brief historical tidbits will bring some honor and distinction to the artists, puppeteers and the creative therapy derived from the art of puppetry.
Enjoy the museum store, shop for unique gifts, handmade jewelry, hand-painted cards and puppet collectibles. I encourage all parents, teachers, physical and occupational therapists to take notice of the DIY “Blockhead Assembly Packages”.
-Raymond Barry
Meet the Puppets
Pictured below, Mr. Sticks has been a favorite puppet of Raymond Berry since the 1970’s.
Mr. Sticks was featured in an article about Berry by Barbara Dunn in Oakland, CA in 1979. See article
Scroll down to hear the story of more puppets from Berry, himself.
