Shadow Girls Cult unchARTeDiscussion E002

Shadow Girls Cult: Where Shadow Puppetry Meets Cinematic Dreams

Sit down with us as we chat with Zane and Cass of Shadow Girls Cult, a shadow puppetry duo from Seattle who are crafting immersive visual stories through a fresh, cinematic lens.

When most of us think of shadow puppets, we remember casting shadows of bunny rabbits on our bedroom walls. But Shadow Girls Cult takes this familiar medium into advanced storytelling well beyond casting bunny rabbits, creating intricate performances using multiple projectors, carefully crafted puppets, and masterfully coordinated movements that bring stories to life through analog technology and live performance.

Shadow Girls Cult emerged from a perfect storm of creative interests. Zane's background in sculpture and printmaking merged with Cass's theater and lighting design experience, leading them to discover shadow puppetry as their ideal medium. Starting in 2017, they've grown from performing at local puppet slams to touring nationally with their full-length production while conducting workshops and nurturing local performance communities across the country.

Their current production, "Unraveling," explores themes of personal and societal transformation through a series of surreal vignettes that challenge our understanding of what puppet theater can be. Through their work, they invite audiences to explore complicated characters and worlds that can transform in an instant.

Beyond creating their own work, Zane and Cass are passionate about growing the puppet arts community. They co-produce Seattle's Fussy Cloud Puppet Slam, teach workshops, and actively work to show people that puppetry extends far beyond their preconceptions.

Their advice for fellow artists? Find your community - the people who will support you and grow with you. Follow the fun and joy in your creative process. Create from authentic personal experience. Remember that not everyone will connect with your work - and that's okay.

Want to dive deeper into the world of contemporary shadow puppetry?

- Website: shadowgirlscult.com

- Instagram/Facebook/TikTok: @shadowgirlscult

- Email: [e-mail]

Join their growing "cult" of shadow puppet enthusiasts and discover how this age-old art form is finding new life through innovative artists willing to play in the shadows.

If you have any questions or comments about the podcast, feel free to contact Craig and Tim at [e-mail].

We'd appreciate your support of our podcast by giving us a 5 star rating on the podcasting site you listen to unchARTeDayton.

*Recorded for unchARTeDiscussion, a series of interviews with creative thinkers, entrepreneurs, and artists outside the Dayton area. Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts.*