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Who We Are
Paperhand is an ongoing collaboration with the community we live in.
Please click here for a list of some of the people who make up Paperhand.
Read about Paperhand in the Independent Weekly and the News and Observer
Click here to read about our friend, Kevin Brock, whose memory we honor.
Donovan Zimmerman: I was born and raised in Cincinnati Oh., not much to say but it's a good place to be from. Growing up was blur of junk food, community swimming pools, and getting chased by local yahoos who didn't appreciate our humor. Northside, my little suburb, was a mixed ghetto and made for a mixed childhood. I attended the School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA) from the 4th thru the 12 grades. During that time I majored in art and minored in drama. SCPA offered me a routine of practicing with my creativity, a habit I have not been able to get rid of, which has, of course, caused me to be extremely broke for most of my adult life. Sketchbook in hand and adventure on my mind I continued moving and shaking for the next 8 years. I stopped in NW Connecticut and tried out organic farming and communal living. Both were great for me but neither allowed me the time to create. My travels took me back and forth across this great land several times, as well as India, all of the Canadian provinces, Mexico again, Guatemala, and Honduras. I lived in Williams OR for 2 years where I started making masks, which led to the creation of "Sticks and Stones Theater," my first real attempt to do something like that. It didn't really work out. Then I found the jewel of North Carolina, my future wife and stayed here to this day. I had actually been visiting here to do the Haw River Festival for many years before. The community of incredible people I met through the festival was and is amazing. Many of the festival folks have been essential to our venture in puppetry. I also met my long time friend and collaborator Jan Burger here. We have been working together now for 7 years on Paperhand, which has been huge in more ways than one. I live in Saxapahaw on 15 acres with my wife Lea, our dogs Bella and Lily, and our cat Gertrude.
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Jan Burger is a puppeteer, print maker, and paper cutter. He walks on stilts, works as an activist, leads group games, and is an amateur naturalist and a terrible accordionist. With Donovan Zimmerman he is the co-founder of Paperhand Puppet Intervention. Together they sculpt, paint, sew, design, direct, write, perform, play music and generally do whatever else it takes to make a puppet show; from the initial inklings of an idea while walking in the woods, to the slopping of paper mache goop with numerous volunteers, to performing in sweat soaked masks, and finally schlepping the puppets away. Jan has been an artist most of his life. His official schooling is limited to one year at the Massachusetts College of Art, and a year spent studying outdoors with the Audubon Expedition Institute. He has worked with many other Puppet theaters around the country including: Bread & Puppet Theater, Glover, VT A large part of the puppeteering experience Jan has gained over the years has come from taking part in large scale demonstrations. Dozens of puppeteers from around the country and abroad converge to create hundreds of puppets over a week or more. They are then used in giant pageants in the streets to protest the injustices of corrupt institutions while highlighting the beauty and diversity of people working together. These include: The W.T.O. Seattle, WA (world trade organization)
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It is with huge sadness and disbelief that we remember the passing of Kevin James Brock. A brilliant shining human who is survived by his wife Casey, his family, and a tremendous community of friends.He died in his sleep, undoubtedly a truly happy man, on Sun. Nov. 2, 2008.Kevin was absolutely amazing is so many ways!Kevin was not just an astounding drummer, he communed with rhythm in infinite spaces. His music stirred the emotions of all that heard it unfold.He was masterful at communicating, through music and in his relationships.Kevin's passion was contagious and he deeply inspired all of us.We will miss you... more than that, we will work harder, to burn brighter and be the change that he invisioned.The hole left in the pit and in our hearts will not be easily filled, but we commit to carrying the torch forward into a bright future.May we all have the courage to seek truth, and live love.
