SCAD artist turns recycled materials into giant puppets to revitalize a historic French village

How do you save a historically important place without turning it into a museum? For Paula Wallace, the President and Founder of the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/scad" target="_blank">Savannah College of Art and Design</a> (SCAD), the answer is simple: with celebration. To that end, SCAD breathed new life into a flawlessly restored medieval French village with art and music in a grand puppet parade designed by artist and SCAD alumnus Sam Lasseter. Made from <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/recycled-cardboard" target="_blank">recycled cardboard</a>, the giant papier-mâché puppets and the celebrations are an inspiring example of how historic preservation need not be a dull experience.

Artist Sam Lasseter posing for a picture with SCAD President and Founder Paula Wallace.

Created over six months, the project comprises large-scale puppets and costumes following the theme “Le rêve de nuit dété (Midsummer Night’s Dream): Flora and Fauna of a Lacoste Summer.”

Sam built 35 puppets of varying sizes primarily from kraft paper and recycled cardboard reclaimed from village waste.

The puppets were completed in collaboration with Martha Enzmann and Karen Butch.

Envisioned as a tribute to Lacoste and the community, the giant papier-mâché puppets include characters specific to the region, from the infamous Marquis de Sade, who stayed in Lacoste in the 18th century, to the Quarry Worker that represents the workers that mined Lacoste’s famous stone quarries.

“All of them are based off Lacoste’s culture and stories,” Sam told Inhabitat. “I wanted to do something to give back to the village. It sounds like being a local there can be hard when a portion of the population—the SCAD study abroad students—changes every two months. This parade was made for them, to honor their stories, culture, and Lacoste’s history.”

SCAD alumna Trish Andersen was also commissioned to create ornate garlands, flower crowns, and large-scale decorations to complement the parade.

The local community, visitors, SCAD students, and staff were invited to join the procession as it marched down the Rue Basse, the village’s main cobblestone road, led by a French second line-style jazz band.

The Grande Parade took place at SCAD Lacoste on July 2, 2016. The puppets will travel to and be put on show at SCAD’s other three campuses, starting with Atlanta in September and ending with Hong Kong in Spring 2016.

SCAD Lacoste Puppet Parade by Sam Lasseter

SCAD Lacoste Puppet Parade by Sam Lasseter

SCAD Lacoste Puppet Parade by Sam Lasseter

SCAD Lacoste Puppet Parade by Sam Lasseter

SCAD Lacoste Puppet Parade by Sam Lasseter

SCAD Lacoste Puppet Parade by Sam Lasseter

SCAD Lacoste Puppet Parade by Sam Lasseter

SCAD Lacoste Puppet Parade by Sam Lasseter

SCAD Lacoste Puppet Parade by Sam Lasseter