Biography
A native of Washington, D.C., Schroeder Cherry played with puppets as a kid. In college he tried puppetry to see how he would respond to his childhood interest. He apprenticed to a puppetmaster in Chicago while in college, then joined a troupe before setting out on his own. Dr. Cherry has performed original shows with puppets in museums, libraries, and cultural centers for adults and children across the U.S. Performances include Can You Spell Harlem?, The Land of Primary Color, and Underground Railroad, Not A Subway. In 2017, his puppet Tevin performed at the Smithsonian Institute’s National Air and Space Museum, honoring Tuskegee Airmen. Cherry has a B.F.A. in Fine Arts from the University of Michigan, and a PhD. in Museum Education from Columbia University. He performs with puppets he made as well as authentic West African puppets brought back from his travels to Mali, Senegal, Ghana, and the Ivory Coast. Artist statement
I draw on African puppetry, Bunraku, and European and American storytelling. Like sculpture, the puppet's designation is defined by the maker. An African American puppet is made by an African American. It does not have to be a person, it can be an animal or an object. How did you learn your craft?
Self-taught and studied with puppeteers.
A native of Washington, D.C., Schroeder Cherry played with puppets as a kid. In college he tried puppetry to see how he would respond to his childhood interest. He apprenticed to a puppetmaster in Chicago while in college, then joined a troupe before setting out on his own. Dr. Cherry has performed original shows with puppets in museums, libraries, and cultural centers for adults and children across the U.S. Performances include Can You Spell Harlem?, The Land of Primary Color, and Underground Railroad, Not A Subway. In 2017, his puppet Tevin performed at the Smithsonian Institute’s National Air and Space Museum, honoring Tuskegee Airmen. Cherry has a B.F.A. in Fine Arts from the University of Michigan, and a PhD. in Museum Education from Columbia University. He performs with puppets he made as well as authentic West African puppets brought back from his travels to Mali, Senegal, Ghana, and the Ivory Coast. Artist statement
I draw on African puppetry, Bunraku, and European and American storytelling. Like sculpture, the puppet's designation is defined by the maker. An African American puppet is made by an African American. It does not have to be a person, it can be an animal or an object. How did you learn your craft?
Self-taught and studied with puppeteers.
Name
Schroeder Cherry Location
Baltimore, MD Date of birth
1954 Years active in puppetry
1975-present Types of puppets performed and built
Hand puppets; rod puppets; hand-and-rod puppets Representative productions
Underground Railroad, Not A Subway (1997) Facebook
Schroeder Cherry
Schroeder Cherry Location
Baltimore, MD Date of birth
1954 Years active in puppetry
1975-present Types of puppets performed and built
Hand puppets; rod puppets; hand-and-rod puppets Representative productions
Underground Railroad, Not A Subway (1997) Facebook
Schroeder Cherry