Facing West Shadows: In Praise of Shadows

Facing West Shadows uses shadow puppets, video projections, and live music to create immersive art experiences. We’re excited for the group to transform our second floor gallery into an art installation with shadow puppet performances and videos, along with demonstrations and a workshop. Immerse yourself in this magical all-ages art adventure!

On Saturday, November 8th, experience two live puppet performances followed by the artists demonstrating their puppets and sharing their process.

When: Saturday, November 8th, 2025 from 6 PM to 8:00 PM

Ages: 6+

Price: $25 for adults and FREE for children! Fill out the form after checkout to reserve your free kids tickets. Limit 2 children's tickets per general admission order.

Location: Cura Contemporary in the Edes Building | 17395 Monterey Road, Morgan Hill CA, 95037

Doors open at 6:00 and programming begins at 6:30:

6:30 - 7:00 ACT I: Facing West Shadows: The Endless End

7:00 - 7:15 Intermission

7:15 - 7:45 ACT II: Facing West Shadows: Lysistrata

7:45 - 8:00 Puppet demonstration and Q&A with the artists

ACT I: Facing West Shadows: The Endless End is a cinematic, sculptural installation and live expanded cinema performance that illuminates the perpetuation of extinction and survival. Through film, shadow puppetry, stop motion animation, and rich soundscapes, this immersive work addresses the endurance and demise of specific North American species and the interconnectedness of ecosystems. Using found historical footage, shadow puppetry, and early photographic studies, this work marks the passage of time and explores humanity’s complex role as prey, predator, caretaker, and destroyer.

ACT II: Facing West Shadows: Lysistrata is a multi-channel visual and audio installation created with projected hand-made animation, puppets, and cast shadows. It takes its title from an Ancient Greek Theatre Tragi-Comedy by Aristophanes, which tells a tale of a group of women who end the ongoing decades-long Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta to create peace between endlessly warring factions.

Host or Publisher Cura Contemporary Gallery