PAGE C15

December 2, 1984

HER BACKGROUND is in classroom teaching,
but Lois Walker has taken education one step

further.

With her puppets the
Puppcorns, Walker gives
educational shows for
children in the elementary
schools, teaching lessons
through the characters and
encouraging the children to
use their imaginations.

Originally from Ottawa.
Walker now lives in North
Vancouver, and her popu-
larity is growing locally.
After giving a_ successful
puppet performance at
Cleveland Elementary,
where two of her three sons
attend, other schools on the
North Shore have booked
her act.

For educational purposes,
Walker makes all of her
Puppets from ‘junk’ “
could make glorious,
beautiful puppets,’> she says,
“but | wanted to motivate
kids to stick their fingers in
the glue and make their own

| By BARRETT FISHER |

cess, the children have to
decide which articles wall
achieve the effect they are
looking for, Walker ex-
plains, and she enjoys wat-
ching them solve their
dilemmas.

“Often | get ideas from
the kids. I have workshops
with kids and they do my
research. They always have a
wealth of imagination.”’

In creating her own pup-
pets, Walkers savs she never
plans what a puppet will
look like. ‘‘l let the junk
item dictate what it will be, |
let it lead me [| don’t usually
name the puppets, because
Pm not trying to create
characters, Just puppets, as
tools °

Walker began the Pupp

SECTION

FASHION - FOOD
TRAVEL

promote creativity

Christine Knight, did the
show for free, and tound
that other schools wanted
them to do the show, also
for free. Eventually, Knight
found the pace was too hectic,
and quit. At this” point,
Walker got her husband
Herb to help her out.

When first starting out,
Walker says, she and her
partner Knight knew nothing
about charging for the ser-
vice they performed, and
had the atttude: ‘‘We'll
come for a cup of coffee and
we'll bring the cream.""

But by the time they had
performed at children’s par-
ues for both Pierre Trudeau
and Joe Clark's offices, and
received a half-page color
splash in the Ottawa Citizen
after performing at a gov
ernment house awards might.
demand for the Puppcorns
turned the hobby into a
business

While Walker lived in
Florida for a vear, school

corns when she found herself’ psychologist Dr Sharon Ons

got her involved in telling
stories to the children with a

puppets from old tissue getting involved with the
boxes, milk cartons, coat nursery school her sons al
hangers, paper towel rolls tended back bast, carpooling moral Since that. time.
and popsicle sticks You and helping out’ The school Walker and Otus have work
don’t need a lot of money, wanted to pul on a puppet ed on a book Tammy's

just a lot of imagination show, and Walker felt with Smile, coming out oun
“it's a wondertul way to her Masters in) Theatre, and lanuary. which deals with

teach a number of things.” her teaching background on the ditficulties children tace

she continues, Ulike problem drama. theatre and com when thei parents divorce

solving By using them ipap munications. she could sure (ther ventures Walker has

nations, children learn te oly pul oa  pupper straw _

Solve them own problems topethet See page C2

In othe puppet making pre Ste ated oa triociud .

PUPPE TEER. | storyteller.
writer, singer und performer
Low Walker bolds up one of
her many puppets ain her
Puppeorn collection Phas
particular puppet oiwooone of
the characters inc her harper

BACK —

BY POPULAR DEMAND
... AFTER 10 YEARS

puppet proup. whereas the
majgorty of her puppets are

b : : . nameless band puppets used |
: SS pmene to educate
NEWS photo Stuart Davis
Surprise! PTE NAPO RAL COE tolls thre flow cot th
7 ! AL Ny C a

s

buat anid Ts cud were thy thie Yyoau tall:

ere celebrating

Christmas 1 AM IS BAL
with a SALE woe rr
captres Dec ta bove BAY ,
Nenna or ‘ . ; : bot ‘ , rot sonal ; ;
~ Ccllophane “is _ rotgra taehada ;
From Nov. 26th ,
i

) &

netpe sor CAmeTAS 7

mays OFC 3

elie chs a! haae s carer anene ma
et "

Ua .
ef ‘
Lhe ae tad A ne OL

to Dec. 8th

CEETCOGETE
or. selected items

You can lose tt

2 ee a pvr)
7. -
oe
v _ per ' to . \ Cnutsum ¢ UC Odaa nes Vang. Coe ate a boo. 4 po ty \ ts
‘yadbice Collyer! 738-4322 9227-6 1c. Mon Sal

tHe oeevarllorss

2rd YOO

eee eee wee ee eee ee aS SS OS OO OO Oe eee