Schneider Lecture and Workshop

October 12th, 2023

Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites presents Schneider Lecture Series: Silk Puppetry Lecture & Performance with Workshop by Renowned Puppeteer Robin Walsh 

BETHLEHEM, PA., October 11, 2023 — Experience the magic of silk puppetry with internationally acclaimed craftswoman, artist, and puppeteer, Robin Walsh, at Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites’ celebrated Schneider Lecture. This three-part series includes a lecture and performance for all ages, as well as a hands-on workshop which promises to transport attendees into the enchanting world of silk puppetry.  

For the Schneider Lecture and Performance, guests will join Walsh on Thursday, November 9 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Moravian Academy Christian Education Building for an illuminating informal lecture and discussion on puppeteering techniques, followed by a family-friendly performance that brings her exquisite puppets to life through dance, movement, and light.

The series continues with the Schneider Lecture Workshop on Saturday, November 11 from noon to 3:00 pm at the Luckenbach Mill. Guests will let their creativity shine during a guided puppet-making workshop, developing and fabricating a silk puppet and then learning how to move it. 

Robin Walsh is a distinguished puppeteer whose work spans from dance silks and sock puppets for the Oscars to Hollywood movie monsters. Her artistry has graced stages and screens worldwide from Los Angeles to New York City, Germany, and China. Walsh’s experience includes film (Team America: World Police, Men in Black), television (SpongeBob, Family Guy), and stage performances. She is a recipient of a Jim Henson Foundation Workshop Grant and performed at prestigious events like Henson’s Puppets for Puppetry benefit. Robin’s choice to incorporate silk into her puppetry is a testament to her deep understanding of the art form. Silk’s inherent qualities, such as its fluidity and ability to catch and reflect light, add an extra layer of enchantment to her performances. As the silk puppets move and dance on the stage, the fabric’s natural grace and translucency create a mesmerizing visual spectacle.  

Included with admission to the Schneider Lecture series, guests may also visit the Unspun: Stories of Silk exhibition at both the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts and Moravian Museum on Friday (11/10), Saturday (11/11), and Sunday (11/12). The exhibition details the region’s rise in the industry and looks at silk’s impact on fashion and the global marketplace. Explore rarely exhibited items including silk mittens, hats, and fur-lined coats, all reflecting the spirit of the winter season. Walsh’s crafted silk puppets are on display at the Kemerer Museum.

The Ernest M. Schneider Lecture Fund was established in 1990 in memory of Ernest Schneider, a master craftsman and generous teacher. The fund presents annual speakers whose work exemplifies the finest craftsmanship in the United States and beyond.

SCHNEIDER LECTURE AND PERFORMANCE
Where: Moravian Academy Christian Education Building, 40 West Church Street, Bethlehem
When: Thursday, November 9, 2023 – 6:00p.m. to 8:00p.m.
How much: $25 for members, $35 non-members, $10 children, free for children under 4
Tickets and info: historicbethlehem.org or 610-882-0450

SCHNEIDER WORKSHOP
Where: Luckenbach Mill, 459 Old York Road, Bethlehem
When: Saturday, November 11, 2023 – noon to 3:00p.m.
How much: $30 for members and $40 for non-members
Tickets and info: historicbethlehem.org or 610-882-0450

COMBO TICKET AVAILABLE
Lecture, Performance and Workshop
How much: $40 for members and $60 for non-members
Tickets and info: historicbethlehem.org or 610-882-0450

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