PIP Artists
...see bottom of the page for how to join us!
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Tova Ackerman
Tova Ackerman is a teacher of English as a Second Language (TESL) and Special Education. She holds a doctorate in TESL from New York University and has taught in New York City schools, Brooklyn College, Lesley College and Jiao Tong University in Shanghai.
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Danielle Ash
Danielle Ash has her MFA in Experimental Animation from the California Institute of the Arts and her BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She has been on staff for a variety of animation and film projects in NY and CA, with her work shown at many festivals and exhibitions. She won an Emmy for Outstanding Educational Program (Animation) in 2001.
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Angelo DeCesare
Angelo is a comic book artist and author. He is author of the wonderful Flip series. Angelo also writes Archie comics. If you look for him during the school year, you'll most likely find him in a classroom, showing students how to have fun through writing and drawing. His first book, "Anthony the Perfect Monster" has sold over 10,000 copies and his comic series "Flip'sFantastic Journals" has proved very successful in helping reluctant readers and writers.
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Rima Fand
Rima is a teaching artist, literacy, music and theater specialist, working with grades K-12. She has performed with many diverse ensembles including the indo-rock band Church of Betty, the Bindlestiff Family Circus band, and a Balkan women's choir. Rima is a theater and dance composer, and has created original music in collaboration with many companies in and around NYC, including the Nimbus Theatre Ensemble, Wax Factory, The Collapsable Giraffe, Harakti Multimedia, Octaviacup Dance Theater, and Red Dive. She earned a Master's degree in composition from the Manhattan School of Music in 1996.
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Christopher Lueck
Christopher is a graduate of The Dell Arte International School of Physical Theatre in Blue Lake, CA and has also earned a BFA in Acting from Brooklyn College (Cum Laude). Most recently he has studied clown with the New York GOOFS. Christopher is an actor and clown, performing in many venues including the Brooklyn Public Library, dirty little theatres, and the Grand Ole Opry. When not on stage Christopher teaches puppetry in the New York Public Schools with Puppetry in Practice.
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Laurie O'Brien
Laurie O’Brien has her MFA in Puppetry Arts from CalArts (Valencia) and has been teaching animation and film to for middle, high and college students since 2006. Most recently she is working on an animation curriculum for elementary school children with PIP, using a STEM model that integrates it with puppetry, science, math and technology. She currently works in NYC public schools through PIP.
Drew Petersen
Drew Petersen earned a BA in Communications/Theatre from Ursinus College and an MA in Educational Theatre from NYU. He has worked as a teaching artist for Brooklyn Arts Exchange, Flatbush Development Corp, Theatre Horizon (PA), People’s Light and Theatre Co. and Curio Theatre Co, (PA) and at several sites in the United Kingdom. He was the recipient of the Wayne F. Millard Prize from Ursinus College for Excellence in Theatre and has been a teaching artist for PIP since 2008.
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Xun Ye
Xun came to PIP from Hang Zhou Province in China where he was a flour dough sculptor. This ancient art form was handed down to him from his grandfather, a famous flour figurine artist. Mr. Ye's sculptures of famous mythological characters of Chinese history and legends include an award-winning depiction of "Southern Sun Han City" with a total of 1,500 figurines.
Opportunities
Teaching Artists and Performers We are always seeking highly skilled part time teaching artists and performers to join our artist roster to work in our NYC school programs. Experience teaching, performing, and puppetbuilding required. All forms of puppetry welcome. Experience creating and teaching multimedia puppetry work also desired, but not required. Collaborative spirit and the wish to join a team of creative artists welcome. Hourly rate commensurate with experience. Interns and Volunteers PIP is seeking an intern for our puppet museum. Responsibilities include advertising, conducting parent and child workshops, as well as keeping the museum open to the public one day a week. Additionally we welcome volunteers to assist in puppet building and classroom materials prep, mailings, flyering, as well as for photographing and documenting events. Email cover letter and resume with two references to Puppetry in Practice Director Tova Ackerman: tovaa@aol.com
