Just south of downtown Duvall, shadow puppets dance on lanterns, their glow cutting through the damp winter air each evening.
The wintery puppet scenes are the work of Amber Smith, a local fiber artist who crafts things inspired by her Scandinavian heritage. Located on the Duvall Foundation of the Arts Lawn, the Yuletide Light Walk showcases characters from Nordic folktales, like Jack Frost, King Winter and the Yule Goat.
The lanterns are solar-powered and come on when it gets dark outside, and the shadow puppets were designed using computer software and laser cut out of basswood.
Next year, Smith hopes to incorporate QR codes in the Yuletide Light Walk so people can read the stories that go with the lantern scenes. She pulls stories from the 1800s and earlier, some of which she said are unfamiliar to most people.
“Even Google won’t pull it up,” she said. “I have a lot of ancient old stories and folk tales to share, but so far, they’re only in picture form and not in written form yet. So, next year, the plan is to bring those to life where people really understand the stories.”
Guests to the Yuletide Light Walk can pick up a pamphlet that explains how shadow puppets work, as well as Smith’s history with puppetry. Smith shares that she works on puppet productions with her two teenagers and was surprised to learn that puppetry can be suitable for any age.
“As a family, we used puppetry to better grasp our own Scandinavian origins,” the pamphlet says. “In addition, we developed direction and purpose in the handcrafts, such as wood carving, fiber arts and paper craft.”
Earlier this year, Smith published her first picture book, “Little Jack Frost,” which is a storybook retelling of a 1877 music piece, with photos of Smith’s puppetry. All proceeds from the book are donated to Heart Repertory Theatre in Woodinville. Smith is working on publishing two more books and is raising funds through her platform Forest Folk School Friends.
“A lot of vintage books and stories — that’s my focus, is old stuff,” she said. “But I’m an early childhood educator with a little bit of background in Waldorf education, so that’s also where I get a little bit of my inspiration from.”
Yuletide Light Walk is sponsored by Duvall Foundation of the Arts and Clear Creek Farm, a nonprofit founded this year where Smith works as the arts program director. Clear Creek has 30 acres southeast of downtown Duvall. Past occupants of the acreage raised cows and horses; Clear Creek raises animals and more. Its community space, which it calls The Hive, has an art studio, classroom and offices. The nonprofit prioritizes art and nature alike, using natural materials as its “art supplies.”
The show will be up through Jan. 3 at 14301 Railroad Way NE. The lawn is situated in Duvall Village — take the second exit at the roundabout, park in the parking lot and follow the sidewalk down the hill. Smith suggests going at twilight for the best viewing experience.
