"Silver Spotted Flambeau" Puppet
Each butterfly has a human face mask.

The Butterflies

Butterflies live and fly all over the world in an amazing array of colors and designs. Through the metaphor of the butterfly, humans can transform themselves into something more beautiful, noble and ecstatic. The diversity of color and design as related to habitat and food suggest to the artist an image of spectacular peace and abundance. Humanity needs these images now to transform itself. Through the Butterfly Project, Fantasy Technicians seeks to create inspired public spectacles that celebrate human potential through the metamorphosis of butterflies.

The puppeteers are costumed as caterpillars. From hidden back pack frames rise thin poles which support the butterfly six to ten feet over the puppeteer's head. The butterflies fly over head with articulated wings which span as wide as 10 feet. For night time events the butterflies as well as the caterpillars are magically lit using new LyTec(tm) electroluminescent wire, which is integrated into the costumes. They perform a choreography which includes circling, clustering and other moving formations and patterns. They can perform in parades and fairs as well as in site specific performances such as fields, gardens or parks.

While presented in a whimsical theatrical style, the puppets represent specific varieties of butterflies and can be presented with nametags. The varieties are chosen based on a criteria of geographic diversity, amusing names or, as in the case of the Monarch, to raise awarenness of endangerment. Among our venues are special events at science museums where the specificity is appreciated. Our interpretations of real species celebrate nature's brilliant artistry.

The Designers

The Butterfly Project is the brainchild of performance artist Gabriel Q. Gabriel specializes in Puppetry and stilt costume concepts that merge puppets with the performers into animated sculptures. His current one man show, "the Garden Variety Show" features plant and animal puppets in a whimsical blooming garden. He plays the garden. The Butterfly Project is an expansion for gabriel into coordinating the efforts of several artists and to direct a company of performers. Gabriel is also known as a maskmaker and has been a part of the maskmaking scene in New Orleans for 20 years, producing Venetian style paper mache masks for theater and collectors as well as for Mardi Gras and Halloween revelers. For more on Gabriel's work check out GabrielQ.com

Matt Bucy is a jack-of-all-trades who, at the moment, finds himself turning a big old bakery building into artist studio spaces. At other moments in his life he has found himself painting (on canvas that is), filmmaking (well, video these days), making music, developing music software and hopes to return to these pursuits when the renovation project is done. He brings his artistic vision and technical experience in electronics, structural engineering and computer software to this project.

John Tidd is a metal sculptor and engineer. As Tidd Tech, Ltd., he developed state of the art ski trail grooming machines which are used and imitated all over the United States. Having recently sold his business, he now devotes his energy and skills to his sculpture and architectural projects, such as his WonderDome for the Burning Man Festival in Nevada. His engineering and metal-working skills literally provide the backbone for the butterflies in the form of beautiful light metal structures.

Contact Info

The Butterflies are available for festivals, parades, and special events. For more information please contact:

Gabriel Q
85 North Main Street Suite 270
White River Junction, Vermont 05001
(802) 356-3254  Fax (802) 295-5732
GabrielQ@sover.net