Brighton Heights resident Tom Sarver, a nationally recognized artist, created a Virtual Puppetry Residency that connects creative people from around the globe. Their work can been Saturday at the International Puppet Festival, an online show featuring 32 artists.

There will be children’s, all-ages and adult shows (may contain adult humor, sexual content, violence or issues inappropriate for children) at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Viewing is free and available through the project’s Facebook page or via Zoom.

“Puppetry is relatable to so many people,” said Sarver, a puppeteer for decades. “It connects people with their childhood. It can deal with serious and important issues, and it can break down different messages. Puppets can teach lessons.”

Not being able to physically travel to schools and other events for puppet performances, Sarver founded the artist residency project through Pittsburgh Center for Arts and Media and supported by the arts in education partnership of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.

His summer residency was so popular that he put on a second one and decided on the international event. It is the culmination of the second season of the residency. The residents will be showing off the works that they created during the residency. There was a similar public event at the culmination of the first season of the project. Sarver plans to have a third season in the spring.

“Puppetry is not a perfect art, and you adapt as you go,” said Sarver, who works with his wife, Kristen Sarver. “You will get to see what is happening all over the world through these shows.”

Mary Brenholts, director of artists in schools & communities for Pittsburgh Center for Arts and Media, is impressed with the effort.

“He is an inspiration because he has found a way to still be creative and connect with people,” she said. “Tom believes in collaboration and is truly a Pittsburgh treasure.”

The virtual puppetry registry is a six-week program for puppeteers of all levels to improve their craft. Sarver initiated the program in May after the pandemic canceled in-person puppetry events and education.

The features weekly critiques, guest speakers and a final showing of works. The virtual even will feature a mix of live and pre-recorded shows and interviews with performers.

Lois Parker of Cheltenham, United Kingdom, plans to perform, despite the time difference.

She has a puppet that is a mouth, made with bent wire and will talk about having her mouth washed out by soap, her first kiss, and hypnosis.

“The piece I am performing is about my mouth and how I’ve become aware of it since I see it all the time on Zoom,” she said. “I’m totally honored to be able to perform with the amazing group of people from all over the world.”

She said puppet stories range from silliness to moving works about the death of friends. There will be performances to help children learn how to handle differences.

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And there will be connections between people from all over the world who love puppets, said Peter Court, who lives in Durban, South Africa.

He works with teachers and students in underprivileged, underfunded and overpopulated areas.

“I work in all forms of puppetry, but almost always with recycled materials,” he said. “I have decided to work with tabletop puppets. Covid-19 has taken away so many opportunities for performers and artists, but it has also forced many of us born before technology to get with the program and learn. Suddenly there was an opportunity to meet and work with like-minded people from all over the world.”

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