Shadows: Traversing the Imaginationby : Marianette AguirreAdvisor : Lisa Landrum

In the book Eyes of the Skin, Juhani Pallasmaa states that, “Homogeneous bright lights paralyses the imagination in the same way that homogenization of space weakens the experience of being and wipes away the sense of place.”*

The imagination is powerful, creative and spontaneous - it cannot be contained with in a set of boundaries or conditions. Imagination has the ability to transport an individual, from the present and into a completely new state of mind without ever having to move. The imagination can travel through time and

space, not limited by experience and knowledge in order to come alive.

Through the experimentation and investigation of theatre and puppetry I aim to imagine into a world within Winnipeg’s downtown, by travelling through the imagination to transform the site. Shadow puppets and marionette theatres both utilize shadows to captivate their audience and bring them into the story.

The depth of the stage gives the audience a chance to sit at a distance and through their own imagination they are drawn to become part of the story.

Sited within close proximity to Winnipeg’s newly named district the S.H.E.D. (Sports, Hospitality and Entertainment District) looks to revitalize Winnipeg’s downtown by creating large upscale developments of condominiums, hotels and restaurant - without considering Winnipeg’s rich and diverse cultural history. More specifically my site is located between Fort and Garry Street, at the Inglis Building. Recognized as a historical building it was built in 1908 and rented out as cafe, however the building went through a series of renovations. In 1914 a major improvement was made, a its uniquely beautiful “fairy tale” facade

shaped out of terracotta with designs of vegetables, fruit and flowers was installed to accommodate its higher class tenants. .

The facade is captivating; it speaks of complexity and craftsmanship that is rarely seen. The light and shadows within its curves and crevices invites the hand to move along its surface, to become part of the place for the moment. My interests lie in architectures ability to encourage the imagination and promote a sense of place. Through the experimentation and investigation into theatre and puppetry I aim to imagine into a world with Winnipeg’s downtown

that transforms the site through the imagination but once a year during an event it transforms the banal everyday into the magical.

*Pallasmaa, Juhani. The Eyes of the Skin: Architecture and the Senses. Chichester: Wiley-Academy ;, 2005. Print. p. 46

Images taken of marionette puppet experimentations