Meet Some Fools

The START Project is a collaboration between community members and University of Michigan faculty, staff, and students. Here are just a few of the people who make FestiFools happen.

Fools’ Court members

The FestiFools steering committee (dubbed the “Fools’ Court”) meets throughout the year and obsesses over how to make FestiFools as awesome as possible. We raise money, secure the necessary permits, publicize the event, build partnerships with local organizations, recruit puppet builders, bring pizza and coffee to the studio — in short, we keep the hive buzzing!

Mark Tucker and Shoshana Hurand in the studio.

Mark Tucker (Creative Director)
Shary Brown
Shoshana Hurand
Rich Klarman, TestGuru: Private Law Tutoring
Linda Lombardini, LindaLom.com
Ryan Munson
Frank Pahl, FrankPahl.net
Tim Petersen, Arboretum Ventures
Tamara Real, Arts Alliance
Cathy Roglitz
Jeri Rosenberg
Colleen Sherman
Margie Teall, Ann Arbor City Council
Nick Tobier, U-M School of Art & Design
Theresa Reid, Arts on Earth
Christopher Taylor, Ann Arbor City Council
Edward Vielmetti, vielmetti.typepad.com
Dave Waterhouse

Ruth Marsh (Administrative Assistant)

We also appreciate the contributions of our Foolish alumni: Lisa Bee (Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea), Jesse Bernstein (A2 Chamber of Commerce), Lisa Herbert Borgsdorf, Nate Chmielewski, Geetha Iyer, Nikki Herman, Mary Rea, Jay Sandweiss, Sultan Sharrief, Amy St. Amour, and Sara Sterkenberg.

Some other contributing artists

John Merigian (pictured with several of his figurative scultures) is just one of the guys.

Professor Nick Tobier & Pig (background & foreground, respectively).

Master puppet artists, Alex Kahn and Sophia Michahelles, are artists-in-residence at U-M yet again this year. Just as they did in 2008 and 2009, they’re working directly with students and community volunteers to help produce the FestiFools extravanganza. We hope they’ll continue to share their talent and encouragement with us for many years to come. Thanks guys! Learn more about them and their work at the Superior Concept Monsters website.
John Merigian is a lecturer at the U-M School of Art & Design. The 150 students taking his “Art Design Perspectives II: Society” course in the Winter 2010 term will be Fooling around and bringing a, um, society of characters from North Campus to join in the fun. Merigian is primarily a sculptor, and has exibited pieces nationally. He affectionately refers to his tall figurative work as “big guys.”
Myra Klarman is the Official Photographer for FestiFools. She documents the puppet-making process and also the event itself. Her images really capture the energy and vibe of what we Fools are all about, and we’re extremely grateful for her efforts. Check out her blog entries on FestiFools 2007 and FestiFools 2008 and FestiFools 2009.
Nick Tobier is an Associate Professor at the U-M School of Art & Design. A loyal Fool from the start, he just happens to be on sabbatical for the Winter 2010 term. In the past (and, we hope, in the future) his students have built FestiFools puppets as part of their coursework. Since these pieces have been designed and built at the Art School rather than at the FestiFools studio, there’s tremendous anticipation and excitement on the day of the event: All the puppets converge on the same physical space for the very first time. Wow!

U-M undergrad researchers

FestiFools is extremely fortunate to have the involvement of U-M students in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). Their projects have included the initiation and creation of our street art resources page. Joining Alyssa Marcucci this year are fellow UROP students Lisa Frasco and Aislinn Frantz.