Residencies in schools and community organizations offer an opportunity to develop long term projects, such as making a play or presenting an exhibit. Francesca researches a location to identify the unique resources and available materials. She determines significant social and environmental factors, and she chooses a theme to reflect those concerns. As an art teacher, she provides the basic materials and tools, and she teaches the participants to identify their own materials. She shows the basic techniques and encourages their process. She uses a group installation or an interactive event so they can share their artwork with each other and with the community.
At Tuolomne Family Camp, Francesca was Artist-in-Residence to teach a 4-day puppet-making intensive with parents and children. She provided tools and basic materials, and participants built their figures with natural materials found on the wooded site near Yosemite Park. Nightly campfires included group story-telling and improvisation with the newly constructed puppets. The final celebration...
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For a Gallery Residency, the artist has a designated amount of time to install an exhibit and invite participation from the surrounding community. She teaches art-making workshops and holds group improvisations with puppets and masks. At Skyline College, she had one month to prepare a solo exhibit “Scenes from the Puppet World.” She taught...
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As Artist-in-Residence at the St.Vincent de Paul Society in Oakland, Francesca’s project was to teach the staff how to make art from recycled materials. She was given a studio for three months to prepare for an exhibit at the S.V.d.P Community Center. She taught regular classes in sculpture and puppetry. Staff members were encouraged...
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From 1978 to 1980, Francesca developed a multicultural Arts program at San Francisco Montessori School under the grant from California Arts Council.
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From 1980 to 1982, Francesca developed a multicultural Arts program at Washington School with grants from the California Arts Council and the Packard Foundation. She made art installations and events with students on the Environmental Yard.
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2004, Francesca worked with Emerson School’s students and parents during their summer program to build an art garden with puppets.
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As Artist-in-Schools, with a grant from the California Arts Council, Francesca taught play-making in the classroom at the San Francisco Montessori School. Teachers (K-8) chose the subjects for the plays in coordination with studies in history and science. At Washington School and Longfellow School in Berkeley, with grants from the California Arts Council, she...
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Artist Francesca Borgatta creates art and puppets out of recycled materials. This site showcases her work and allows the public to contact Francesca to setup classes, workshops, and events.
Please feel free to contact Francesca by email at francesca@puppetfigures.com
