40 Giant Buffalo Puppets Roam NYC Streets!

Forty colossal buffalo puppets, each standing 6 feet tall and measuring 9 to 10 feet long, are being brought to life for a major public art event. These magnificent creations, built in New York from steel, plywood, and burlap by South Africa's Ukwanda Puppets, will soon parade through the streets of Lower Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn.

The spectacle, titled "Return of the Buffalo: Tatanka Owe Akupi," is a free, open-to-everyone arts experience. Designed to impress with their scale and movement, the puppets are operated by three puppeteers each, requiring coordination for actions like galloping or regrouping.

This ambitious project, conceived by Amir Nizar Zuabi and supported by figures like Susan Feldman and Karen Brooks Hopkins, aims to capture the majestic essence of a buffalo herd. It also carries deep historical resonance, referencing the near-extinction of millions of North American buffalo due to westward expansion and its impact on Native peoples.

Beyond aesthetics, the event prompts contemplation on themes of reckoning, repair, and healing. It uses the stampeding herd to explore concepts of negotiating space and ownership. The creation process itself emphasizes respect for Indigenous cultures, involving elders from the Lenape and Lakota tribes.

Local volunteers are integral to the production, undergoing training to operate the 80-plus-pound puppets and make them 'breathe' and move as a unified herd. This collaborative approach ensures a profound experience for both the participants and the onlookers, offering a rare chance to be part of such a significant artistic statement.