“We Were in a Parade!”

Who would imagine that so much fun and pride could spring from a pile of forgotten cardboard and scraps of fabric? With a little help from puppeteers sponsored by a generous grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission, Kadesha Cook began to catch the vision for what kind of puppet she could create for the big parade down her neighborhood’s street during Glass Street LIVE.

Although she let us know this was her 3rd parade experience, a puppet parade marching down Glass Street was thoroughly new and exciting for Kadesha, age 11, who has spent all of her childhood here in East Chattanooga. She attends school at Hardy Elementary, and found the puppet-building activity to be a strong motivator to finish her other chores and homework, allowing her time to spend adding details to her cardboard queen.

“I already knew how to do paper maché from the art classes we used to do over at the Glass House building, before it was ArchWay,” Kadesha relates, “but I hadn’t painted before, so that was a chance to get better, and adding the painted accessories ended up being my favorite part.” For a video of Kadesha showing off her puppet in progress, click HERE.

“From the start, Kadesha had the determination to make her puppet into royalty,” recalls Colleen LaLiberte, one of the artists leading the workshops. And Kadesha’s mother, Kendra Cook also remembered the emphasis Kadesha placed on getting the crown right, with golden paint and jewels. Kendra also expressed deep appreciation for what the program offered her daughter.

“I thought the whole thing was awesome. It really gave Kadesha a purpose, and she was totally into it. The puppets were something for her to focus on aside from the usual distractions. Kadesha was proud of what she was making, and told me all about it every day. I felt good too, knowing Kadesha was in a safe environment, getting healthy interaction with other kids who were all slightly older.”

During the weeks leading up to our block party, Glass Street LIVE, a range of local community members gathered on Monday and Thursday evenings from 5:30-7:40 at 2510 North Chamberlain inside Mark Making to team up with Michael McCamish and Colleen LaLiberte constructing puppets from recycled cardboard and other discarded materials. Their artistry is in affiliation with the Shaking Ray Levi Society, and funded by Tennessee Arts Commission. These giant scale puppets were animated by local residents as part of the parade with Wayne White during the block party event Sept. 24.

Everyone who got to show off their work during the big parade expressed the sweeping sense of joy and excitement, which was enhanced by the pride of carrying the results of one’s own artwork down the street while everybody watched. As for Kadesha, she was proud and excited, but also very focused.

“I was nervous about dropping my puppet, because it was heavy!” she recalls with wide eyes. “But I was really glad I could carry my own puppet, and be in the parade. I would do that again, and maybe some other kids who didn’t know what we were making before could come try it this time, after they saw how fun it was.”