The Puppet Master: Covenant College art student specializes in giant puppets

Senior art major Will Lutz in front of his unfinished
senior project

It isn’t what you’d think of as a real art show.  Alongside the regular paintings, photos, sculptures, and other trophies of four years’ hard work at Covenant College’s Senior Art Exhibit on April 20, there will be a giant, romping rhino puppet.  And a dubstep party.

Senior art major Will Lutz, the puppet master, said “I think it was always in the back of my mind that I would make puppets for my [final project].”

A group of Covenant students
(from left: Hannah Irwin, Adrienne Belz,
Timothy Daugaard, and Austin Doctor)
help Lutz in the second phase of his project: sewing.

Before graduation, all Covenant seniors complete a Senior Integration Project or Paper (SIP).  For Lutz, a summer internship and a childhood hobby came together to create the idea for his SIP.

“I used to make puppets for my yard at Halloween.  My next-door neighbor was a crazy pumpkin carver and people would come from all over to see.  I guess I just wanted our yard to have something cool, too.”

The summer after his junior year Lutz landed an internship with the Harrison Center for the Arts, a community-based organization in Indianapolis, Ind.  According to its website, the Center seeks to be “a model for community arts, education, and urban revitalization programs across America.” 

Joanna Taft, executive director of the Center, said that Lutz came to her with the idea of giant animal puppets to advertize the Center’s art productions.  Lutz set up his completed puppets in downtown Indianapolis. 

The project in process: unfinished rhino head

“People would see the puppets and be like ‘What is this giant cat here for?’” said Lutz. “Then they learned about the art show.”

When Lutz presented the idea for his 15-foot-long rhinoceros puppet project to Professor of Art Kayb Carpenter, she approved, saying the rhino was “a very sculptural concept.”

Lutz estimates that he spent 16 hours per week on the rhino. The payoff: Jamazon, a dub-step party specifically planned for the rhino’s debut. Jamazon will be held on April 20, in conjunction with the senior art exhibit.

Will Lutz Interview by hvanbiber






Puppet Stages, posted with vodpod

Learn More:

-The Harrison Center for the Arts
-Harrison Center Photostream
-Covenant College Art Program