Junktown Duende
Junktown Duende specializes in two things— upcycling and community—they source local “trash” materials, and work closely with communities, in a collaborative process, to transform the neighborhood’s garbage into beautiful art, puppets, costumes, shows, and murals which gift the community’s own stories back to them. The collective was founded in 2016 by artists Adam Ende (Seattle, WA), Pablo Varona (San Juan, Puerto Rico), Daniela Fabrizi (Mexico City), and the late great Daniel Polnau (Minneapolis, MN). While they’re based in different countries, they come together for these unique collaborative community projects around the world. For 4 straight years, they’ve worked with the Loisaida community (NYC) to create the Loisaida Parade and Pageant, demonstrating their artistic and cultural skills, making a deep connection and developing intrinsic ties with the diverse creative community of the Lower East Side / Loisaida. When not working together, Adam, Pablo and Daniela continuously work independently on art, community and cultural projects.
In this micro-residency The Clemente commissioned the collective to create an LES and puppetry inspired play with community collaborators to be premiered as part of the International Puppet Fringe Festival 2021. Junktown will also provide free of cost community art workshops; development of a 3D mural for the Kabayitos theater vestibule; and closing of their residency with a Cabaret evening and film premiere with NYC-based collaborators.
A whimsical puppet romp through the colorful history of the Lower East Side, focusing on the multi-ethnic and immigrant communities that have thrived in, and shaped the neighborhood. We highlight the struggles with development, police brutality, and gentrification, and the fight for housing rights and community public spaces. We introduce an array of iconic luminaries, artists, activists, poets and gardeners, who all left their mark on the Lower east Side.
Artist BIOS
Daniela Fabrizi is a costume designer and textile artist. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, and half Argentinian, her work is inspired by Latin American textiles traditions. Daniela holds a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies: Film Aesthetics and French from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras. From 2016 to 2019 she served as the Textile and Costume Director for Loisaida’s Community Parade and Pageant (NYC). She is the creator of “Feria Calle” & “Tejedorxs de Magias” and co-founder of Garbagia Project, all community art projects based on sustainability and the repurposing of diverse materials. Based in Mexico, she collaborates internationally with different artists and disciplines, such as film, publicity, theater, performance and the music industry; all while working on her independent nomad handmade brand, Le Chat Costumier.
Follow on Instagram: @lechatcostumier
Adam Ende, the founder, and janitor of Jawbone Puppet Theater, makes iconoclastic puppet shows out of his puppet studio on Vashon Island, WA. He teaches mask & puppet making, and likes to make things happen that create more unexpected magic and wonder in people’s lives. Adam has directed parades, pageants, puppet shows and community based theater in Taiwan, Thailand, Puerto Rico, and all over the US. In his years as a lead artist at the Loisaida parade and pageant, he created the beloved collection of Loisaida Cabezudos commissioned by Libertad Guerra honoring the immigrant heroes, artists, poets, activists and gardeners who shaped the neighborhood.
Follow on Instagram: @jawbonepuppettheater
Pablo Varona Borges is a street artist and a juggler that gives life to functional inventions, like Puppets. He enjoys sharing his immeasurable value that the reuse, recycling and/or “forgotten” objects do when it comes to the transformation of urban contexts, or even people's lives. His interests revolve around making these issues relevant and accessible to the general audience. Lead artist of Loisaida Community Parade, NY 2016-19 and co-creator of Circo de la Plaza Parade, Puerto Rico 2017-19.
Follow on Instagram: @pablillojose
