HOUSTON — The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, ACLU of Texas Artist-in-Residence Kill Joy, and Kitchen Table Puppets & Press will present the premiere of “Recipes of Resistance” during a two-week tour across Texas beginning April 5. The larger-than-life spectacle uses 12-foot puppets to advocate for immigrants’ rights amid escalating anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies.
“This community-written and community-performed giant puppet show highlights the struggle and resilience of immigrant communities in Texas,” said Kill Joy (she/her/ella/siya), artist-in-residence with the ACLU of Texas. “Puppets have the power to bring people of all ages together beyond languages and borders.”
DOWNLOAD PUPPET PHOTOS HERE
“Recipes of Resistance” follows five friends through time as they navigate changing experiences of the Texas borderlands: past, present, and future. Through allegory and movement, the friends confront forces of destruction before reclaiming their connection to their neighbors and the earth.
The statewide tour will stop in El Paso, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio. Performances will culminate in a communal meal and night market, featuring local artists, small businesses, and advocacy organizations. Organizers will also distribute Know Your Rights materials to inform audiences of their constitutional rights when engaging with law enforcement and immigration officials.
“Texas should be a safe place to live and work, regardless of where we were born or the languages we speak,” said Sarah Cruz (she/her/ella), policy and advocacy strategist on border and immigrants’ rights with the ACLU of Texas. “Yet, President Trump and Governor Abbott are locking up neighbors and ripping apart American families based on suspicions about our immigration status. No one should have to live in fear of going to the doctor or the grocery store. By coming together through the arts, we will learn about our rights and reclaim our freedom to move in Texas.”
The tour will also bring awareness to the stories of Texas families torn apart by anti-immigrant policies, including the 11-year-old girl who died by suicide after reportedly being bullied about her family’s immigration status and the 10-year-old girl receiving treatment for brain cancer who was deported with her parents and siblings.
“The arts enhance our work in the courts, at the State Capitol, and in the streets to defend the rights of all Texans, no exceptions,” said Oni K. Blair (she/her/ella), executive director of the ACLU of Texas. “I’m proud of the way our artists-in-residence reach beyond language, culture, geography, and even time to remind us of our shared humanity — and the power we have to protect it.”
The statewide tour will kick off April 5 in El Paso and will conclude April 15 in San Antonio. Venue details to follow. If you're a reporter who'd like to attend the tour stop in your city, please reply to RSVP.
- El Paso: Saturday, April 5
- Houston: Tuesday, April 8
- Austin: Thursday, April 10
- San Antonio: Tuesday, April 15
Download photos of the puppets here: https://aclutx.dash.app/sharing/type/collection/kgjys-puppet-imagery-for-press
View the photographer's name by clicking on a photo. Please courtesy the "creator" of the photos you use.
