Sha Sha Higby The Glass Jungle

International artist Sha Sha Higby is known for her evocative and haunting one-woman performances using the exquisite and ephemeral body sculpture she meticulously creates. Wood, leaves, paper, silk, lacquer, ceramics and gold leaf form her fantastical costumes inspired by Noh theatre, Butoh and shadow puppetry. In The Glass Jungle, Higby incorporates dance, puppetry and music with her elaborate costumes and masks to evoke the desert atmosphere of glass as well as the different seasons of the year. The story was inspired by a trip to Burma where Higby saw a Buddha with a glass eye.

The production combines Higby’s White Ash on Water costume (2004) and her new Glass Jungle costume, a skeletal design created from fine metal, bamboo and felt. As Higby’s character transforms from one costume to the next, a masked head will float down from the ceiling.

Higby began making dolls and pursued the art of puppetry and sculpture at a young age. She once sewed a dress with 25 petticoats of different colors so she could lift each skirt and transform herself into a different character. In 1971, she traveled to Japan to study the art of Noh mask making and theater. She later received a Fulbright-Hayes Scholarship to study dance, shadow puppet making and performance art in Indonesia. She also received an Indo-American Fellowship to study the textile arts of India and a Travel Grants Fund from Arts International to study in Bhutan. Recently, Higby studied lacquer arts in Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan. She has performed her unique body of work throughout the world.

Performances

Friday, December 28, 2007
Saturday, December 29, 2007
5:30-7:00pm

Ticket Prices

Adults: $15.00
Seniors/Students: $12.00
Members: $10.00
Seating is limited. To purchase tickets please contact a Visitor Services Representative at 253.284.4719.

(Performances appropriate for ages 8 and up.)

Community Workshop

Sunday, December 30
12-5pm
Higby will conclude her session at the Museum with an Imaginary Mask Community Workshop. Museum visitors are invited to join Higby to construct a simple paper mask sculpture with exaggerated facial features that will ”grow“ in any direction. This workshop is suitable for visitors age 14 and above. Cost is included with Museum admission.