Company Archives

For over 25 years, Mike and Peggy Artelle have been active as puppeteers throughout the community in Ottawa and at special events abroad. We are pleased to present a selection of our company archives below. Enjoy!

Online Exhibit: Mikey's Art and Puppetry Projects

This online exhibit is a chronological summary of my experiences as a puppeteer and artist since the late 1980's. During this time I have created many puppets, photographs and drawings. It seemed a shame to have them all sitting in storage where no one can see them, so I've digitized a selection of my favourite items to present online. I welcome you to browse the exhibit, enjoy!

Comments and Feedback

"Thank you so much for coming out and bringing your shadow puppet wizardry to the Lumiere Festival. We had an incredible turnout this year and it was a great success – thanks in no small part to the joy that building and playing with Shadow Puppets brought to the hordes of children. Really appreciate you being a part of the festival again."

Scott Florence, Artistic Director, Lumiere Festival 2012

"…it's clear why Heroes has received a Commendation for Design in Puppetry Theatre from the Arlyn Awards Society. The puppets are extremely realistic, with each muscle outlined and joints mimicking human walks and expressions. The sets, too, are works of art, and their handling was extremely well done…"

Ottawa Fringe Festival "Fully Fringed" review, June 18, 2010

"My son said that it was the best puppet show he had ever seen. I liked it too, very entertaining, well paced."

Vick Ko, Online Comment, Fully Fringed review, June 18, 2010

 

News Articles

EMC News, Ottawa West, March 15, 2012, page 12

 

CBC Radio Interview, March 16, 2012

We did an interview with CBC Radio to promote the "Perseus and the Gorgon Medusa" shows being presented at selected branches of the Ottawa Public Library during the March break.

 

Centertown Buzz, June 2010, page 10

 

Ottawa Citizen, June 20, 2010, page C12

 

Canadian Theatre Review (Magazine), No 138, Spring 2009, page 36-37, photo page 37

Mike Artelle's tabletop glove puppets were among the various topics discussed in an article about the Puppets Up International Festival. The photo below showing the opening scene from "Heroes Past and Present" was published in B&W with the article. The glove puppets of Athena and Hermes are seen standing inside the temple.

 

National Arts Centre Open House, January 12, 2008

We presented a hands-on puppetry workshop at the National Arts Centre as Artellephant Productions (before changing our name to Artelle Puppets). This is a link to the Friends of the National Arts Centre Orchestra website with some photos from the event. There are several pictures showing kids trying out our puppets:

http://www.siegelproductions.ca/ottawarocks/musicforyourngchildren.htm

 

The Record News EMC / Perth Heritage News, Aug, 2008, p2

 

Metro, Aug 2008

http://www.metronews.ca/ottawa/comment/article/97180--moving-art-comes-alive-in-right-hands

 

Kitchissippi Times, March 2007, page 24

 

Ottawa Xpress, April 2005

http://www.ottawaxpress.ca/film/film.aspx?iIDArticle=5890

 

Kitchissippi Times, April 2005, page 29

 

Due West Magazine, Winter 2002-03, page 46

Awards and Distinctions

In 2008, the production of "Heroes Past and Present" by Mike and Peggy Artelle received a Commendation for Design in Puppetry Theatre from the Arlyn Award Society.

In 2008 Mike and Peggy's puppets were exhibited at the Joseph Schneider Haus Museum and Gallery in Waterloo, ON. Their creations have also been exhibited at the Nepean Museum in Ottawa, at City Hall during a special Ice Storm exhibit, at various branches of the Ottawa Public library, and at several regional and national puppetry festivals.

 

Peggy Artelle with Mayor Bob Chiarelli standing next to the hand-made sculpture Peggy submitted to the Ice Storm Exhibit at City Hall, 2003

Puppetry Article by Mike Artelle published in The Epoch Times, June 2005

http://www.theepochtimes.com/news/5-6-23/29769.html

 

In 2003, Mike completed a 43-minute documentary about Canadian puppeteer John Conway that was screened at the Puppeteers of America Mid-Atlantic Regional Festival in Storrs, Connecticut, and at Festival International des Art de la Marionnette in Jonquière, Quebec.

 

For the Sock N' Buskin Theatre production of Little Shop of Horrors in 1999, Mike shared the honour of receiving the "Winkin' Willie Award" for Best Leading Male Actor. The award was for the role of Audrey II for which Mike provided the manipulation of the various sizes of plant puppets, and actor/singer Mike Johnston provided the voice. More recently in 2009, Mike and Peggy Artelle created puppets and props for Sock N' Buskin Theatre's production of Evil Dead the Musical.

The singing moose made by Mike Artelle for the Sock N' Buskin Theatre production of Evil dead the Musical, 2009.

 

Fun Trivia! Back in 1989, Mike appeared with his puppets on an episode of the popular CJOH television program Homegrown Café during the shows first season.

Mike's character Bruno the Dog at the judge's table on Homegrown Café, 1989.