We were lucky to catch up with Eric Wright recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Eric thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

There’s been so much that my parents did to support me in my career. They’ve always encouraged me to follow my interests, but beyond that, they genuinely express interest in what I do, and the career I’ve tried to build. They ask questions, they get excited about the projects I’m excited about, they share in my frustrations, and they try to come see as much of my work in person as they can. They don’t push me to achieve only excellence, but they listen to what’s important to me, and help me see my way through inevitable doubts and difficulties. They tell me they love me frequently and honestly.

Eric, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m originally from Lincoln, Nebraska, and I grew up with a wide variety of interests which all played a part in getting me into puppetry. The first thing I ever wanted to be was an inventor, and I’ve been tinkering and sketching in my notebooks for as long as I can remember. Then, I wanted to be a scientist, driven by a curiosity of the natural world and a strong sense of wonder. In middle- and high school I played oboe in the orchestra which developed my appreciation of tempo, rhythm, melody, and collaboration. I became a theater kid around that time as well, both on-stage and backstage, and loved the sense of connection to the audience and community of actors. When Jurassic Park came out, it cemented my love of practical effects, and studying with Dan Hurlin at Sarah Lawrence college opened the world of live puppet theater to me, and introduced me to the community of puppeteers in New York. I never wanted to be just one thing, but pursuing a career in puppetry has allowed me to follow all of my interests at once, supported by an incredibly creative and collaborative community of artists. After starting the Puppet Kitchen in 2008 with two of my friends in puppetry – Emily DeCola and Michael Schupbach, my puppetry career expanded beyond design, fabrication, and performance to include teaching and gathering community. We created a company that brings puppetry to all kinds of productions, including theatrical, on-screen, live events, and more.
After Emily and Michael left the Puppet Kitchen in 2017 to pursue their own careers, I’ve continued to build the Puppet Kitchen as a place to bring great visual artists and performers together with fantastic productions around the world. I love having the opportunity to create memorable characters and inspiring moments in every puppet style.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the most rewarding aspects of being an artist are the opportunities to collaborate with such a wide variety of people. It’s such a joy to work together with people from all backgrounds and skillsets to approach a common goal. I learn so much from the people I encounter in my life, and I love all the different ideas that they bring to the table.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I don’t know if I believe that there is such a thing as a person who’s a “non-creative.” Everyone I come into contact with has exciting and creative ideas, and they’re all expressed differently. Sure, there are people who don’t identify as creative people — maybe those are the people that don’t realize how creative they are, and so they haven’t fostered and encouraged that side of themselves. But I believe it’s human nature to be creative, to solve problems, to dream wild ideas, to be curious about the world around us, and to struggle in how we express them to those around us. To those people who feel like they are somehow different that the people that make a career in the arts, I’d say, “You are creative! We’re more alike than you think”

Contact Info:

• Website: www.puppetkitchen.com
• Instagram: @thepuppetkitchen, @mister_wright
• Facebook: @puppetkitchen
• Linkedin: mister-eric-wright
• Youtube: @puppetkitchen

Image Credits
little shop image courtesy of NY Post