Puppets in Prague- Automata Part 1

Module 2-Jumping Mechanism

Starting in September, I joined Puppets In Prague for their year-long workshops on creating automata- table top mechanical toys and figures, animated through the use of simple cranks, wheels and cams. Back in the summer of 2020, I was part of their first on-line marionette carving workshop and have stayed in touch, watching Mirek & Leah grow this amazing international community of artists and makers. I’m now 4 months into a 9 month long series of workshops exploring simple engineering and woodworking.

As I officially launch my Winter 2026 sabbatical, these workshops have provided me with the “gift of a deadline” as I work on developing my own short table top puppet-theatre pieces over the next year.

I’m not sure how much of this work will make it into my show, but it is proving to be an important step in developing object performance, getting over any fear of power tools that aren’t sewing machines, and practicing a growth mindset- it’s a good practice to remember what it’s like to not be an expert at something! Plus, it has been very centering to get off of a screen and make things with my hands.

There are some amazing artists zooming in from all over the world developing and sharing their skills as we all interpret Mirek’s expertise into our own moving objects.

The first module was on simple mechanisms and I made a bird on a clothespin.

I quickly learned that very small changes to the length of wire or hole placement impacted the range of motion.

My next project was the climbing figure. Though the proportions are not realistic or character in particular, I practiced getting the drilled angled channel correct so the cord slides easily and the figure climbs.

Walking Ribbon Figure

Last week, I went back and completed the crank movement walking figure. Though all of Mirek’s work is informed by traditional Czech wood carving, I have found ways to include fabric and paper into my own projects, including this one, which is made from a

tongue depressor, ribbon and buttons.

The second module was about making jumping figures in a box. I got stuck on what to actually animate, and also spent a lot of time getting the actual box to function. While Mirek makes his own cams and wheels, I found a woodworking craft shop to provide basic shapes I can use as a base. I also realized I was rightfully nervous about how I wasn’t bracing my pieces, and finally picked up speed, accuracy and confidence by clamping pieces to my workbench. The spinning effect is the result of the cam (with the added friction of a little hot glue) causing the wheel to rotate. The jumping effect is the result of the cam placed off center on the axis.

Up next is a wave machine. I created a practice box to test how the waves are aligned with the cams. I am now working on a finished landscape- somewhere in deep space, to share with the group next week. Stay tuned!

Waves Test