Wise Fool seeks community input
Organization wants statewide thoughts on migration, culture
In preparation for performing at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in July, artists from Wise Fool New Mexico are asking for the community’s input on migration and identity.
According to Carol Schrader, Wise Fool’s managing director, New Mexicans can soon find a link on the organization’s website that will direct them to a submission form. The form will ask for a short word or phrase that they feel represents their contemporary or indigenous connections to the state in relation to the “migration and cultural identity” theme.
Schrader said artists will place contributed words on one of Wise Fool’s trademark giant puppets, made on site at the annual festival in Washington, D.C., with the help of festivalgoers.
“All of Wise Fool’s work is giving voice to our community in physical or visual form ... as we’re given this opportunity, which is so far away from New Mexico, we wanted to make sure we had a way to invite the community to travel with us,” said Schrader.
The Smithsonian Folklife Festival, taking place July 3-10 on the National Mall, has two themes this year: “Circus Arts,” which will include various circusthemed acts and groups like Wise Fool from around the country; and “On the Move,” which is meant to represent migration in relation to local culture. With the use of their puppets and statewide input, Schrader said Wise Fool is in the perfect position to tie the two themes together for their first appearance at the festival.
“The ability to perform on the mall in D.C. has symbolic importance,” she said. “It feels especially powerful to be a part of that.”
Schrader said the community submissions via wisefoolnewmexico.org should be made before the troupe heads to D.C. in early July.