We recently caught up with artist Dan Hurlin to hear more about what we can expect at his End of Summer Shingdig performance on Sept. 17.

“It’s completely bizarre and great,” he says.

The play, Demolishing Everything With Amazing Speed, will be performed in the Japanese, Bunraku-style of puppetry — using three puppeteers per puppet in full view of the audience.

“Puppets are a blank slate.

“They invite empathy in the audience and give people a chance to see the beauty of the simple physical gestures they perform in their daily lives.”

Read the New York Times review here. 

Performance in Catskill

The Shindig performances, including a dance by New York-based choreographer Jodi Melnick and artist Steven Reker, will offer a glimpse of the different types of performance Lumberyard will be bringing to Catskill, N.Y.

A Lumberyard Artistic Advisory board member, Dan is keen to start sharing new work with Catskill, N.Y. audiences.

“We’ll be providing artists with time and space to make art that is going to impact the culture of both Catskill, N.Y. and America,” he says.

“It’s a long-term view. Lumberyard will continue sharing what we do.”

The role of artists

Recalling the wisdom of an artist he previously worked with, Dan says LUMBERYARD fills an important role in allowing artists to have the “experience of putting something into the world that wasn’t there before.

“Permission is often the thing keeping people from putting something in the world that wasn’t there before.

“I think for some reason people feel they need permission. They didn’t know they already have it.

“That’s what artists do. It’s a beautiful thing.”