Avanti, Da Vinci! - Center for Puppetry Arts

Off-site Exhibits
Along with the exhibits on-site at the Center, puppets from the museum collection are on display in several
locations throughout the city.
Atlantix, Underground Atlanta
Underground Atlanta, a historic retail and entertainment center downtown, is also home to AtlanTix, a half-price
ticket booth run by the Atlanta Coalition of Performing Arts. Visitors to Underground and the booth can view
several of the Center’s puppets, including Don Quixote, his sword and horse, and a Gent from the Opening
Ceremonies of the 1996 Olympics.
WSB-TV, Atlanta
On September 29, 1948, WSB-TV went on the air. Among the programs viewers watched that night was a
children’s television show, Woody Willow & Friends, with marionettes manipulated by Don and Ruth Gilpin. In
1983, the Gilpins donated puppets and memorabilia from the show to the Center’s permanent collection. Today,
some of those puppets, including a dapper Fox, are on display at the station.
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Atlanta
Weary travelers entering or exiting the airport can view several cases of puppets from the Center’s permanent
collection, representing several countries including Indonesia, China, Germany and Turkey.
Library
The Center’s Research Library is full of resources on the art of puppetry, including books and videos from
around the world – many of which are not carried at regular libraries. Although some patrons just browse or
watch a video for fun, the majority of patrons use the library for specific research.
For instance, one high school student did research for a homework project on Chinese shadow puppets, while
another studied Japanese Bunraku. Professors used the library to work on lesson plans. Aspiring puppeteers
used the library to learn more about the craft.
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Young patrons in the
Museum Gift Shop