Of Wings and Feet: The World of PAPERHAND and Jeghetto’s Moving Sculptures

Public Opening Saturday, March 22, 2025 | 5:00 – 7:00 PM

GreenHill’s spring exhibition celebrates the art of puppetry. Meet the makers and discover large and small-scale puppets by PAPERHAND, the Saxapahaw, NC-based collective co-directed by Donovan Zimmerman and Jan Burger now in their 25th year as well as works by Tarish Pipkins of Jeghetto’s puppets. Free and open to the public.

Public Programming:

Cardboard Robot Parade at UNCG | Saturday, April 5, 2025 | 12:00 - 3:00 PM

Join GreenHill and UNCG for a celebration of puppetry and cardboard on UNCG's campus. Create your cardboard robot costume at family night in ArtQuest Wednesday, February 19th and March 12th with UNCG students and participate in a community parade on UNCG's campus. To learn more, go to: https://www.cardboardrobotparade.com

PAPERHAND Earth Day Intervention in Downtown GSO | Saturday, April 19, 2025 | 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Join members of PAPERHAND, renowned for their unwavering commitment to social and environmental justice,for a participatory parade in support and celebration of Earth Day. Meet-up at the South Lawn in LeBauer Park at 1:00 PM. All ages welcome. Free and open to the public. Click here for the park map.

Artist Talk with Donovan Zimmerman | Wednesday, May 14 | 5:30 – 6:30 PM

Join us in the gallery for an artist talk with Donovan Zimmerman of PAPERHAND, the renowned North Carolina puppetry company known for their larger-than-life creations. Hear about their creative process, the inspiration behind their work, and their dedication to bringing art to the community. Free and open to the public.

Jeghetto's Workshop: Family-Friendly Puppet Show | Saturday, June 7 | 2:00 –3:00 PM

Join us at GreenHill for an interactive puppet show experience with Tarish Pipkins of Jeghetto Puppets. The master puppeteer will demonstrate his unique process of manipulating his “moving sculptures” to the rhythm of hip-hop instrumentals. Conversation with artist will follow at 3:30 PM. Free and open to the public.

First Friday Musical Performances in the Gallery | 6:00 - 9:00 PM

April 4 | Minor Swing Band

May 2 | TBD

June 6 | Romeo's Crush

About The Artists:

In 1998, Paperhand Puppet Intervention’s directors Donovan Zimmerman and Jan Burger met and began a collaboration of epic proportions. Since then, 25 years ago, they have been using papier-mâché, cardboard, bamboo, your old house paints, cloth, and other assorted junk to create incredible giant puppets, masks, shadow plays and spectacle performances for all ages.

They continue to tell stories, beat drums, sew cloth, get sweaty, push boundaries and carry heavy things to help make the world a better place. Paperhand’s parades, pageants, and award winning performances aim to be an inspiration, a call to action, and a celebration for everyone to enjoy.

"Paperhand Puppet Project’s mission is to create art that inspires connection. By practicing, performing and teaching the art of puppetry, we strive to nurture the best in humanity, build creative culture, and help celebrate and protect the natural world.

Our vision is inspired by our love for the earth and its creatures (including humans). We will synthesize many art forms including, but never limited to, sculpting, painting, dance, music, improvisation, costume design, set design and theater. We are committed to creating multi-scaled and multi-disciplinary puppet performances that support this vision.

We will use this puppetry, performance and creativity to undermine and eradicate greed, hate and fear and promote justice, equality and peace. We will work uncompromisingly to these ends."

Learn more at: https://www.paperhandpuppet.org/our-mission

Jeghetto’s Moving Sculptures: The Puppets of Tarish Pipkins

In accompaniment with Of Wings and Feet, GreenHill presents a special showcase of work by renowned puppeteer and artist Tarish Pipkins, aka Jeghetto. A self-taught master builder, Jeghetto creates abstract, moving sculptures from found and recycled materials. His visionary puppetry has earned recognition from the Jim Henson Foundation and collaborations with artists like Missy Elliott, Pharrell Williams, and PAPERHAND Puppet Project. This additional exhibition features several of his dynamic works, offering a glimpse into his unique craftsmanship and storytelling.

Mission Statement

Jeghetto’s puppet exhibition is a celebration of imagination, craftsmanship, and storytelling. Through his handcrafted puppets, made from repurposed materials, Jeghetto brings to life narratives that bridge hip-hop, Afrofuturism, and social consciousness. This gallery showcase transforms puppetry into a fine art form, inviting audiences to engage with intricate designs, kinetic sculptures, and the deeper messages within each creation. By merging performance and visual art, Jeghetto’s work challenges perceptions of what puppetry can be, inspiring creativity and dialogue in every viewer.