Spurlock Sunday: Playing in the Shadows

• Event Date: Sunday, September 20, 2026
• Time: 1:00 pm–3:00 pm (CDT)
• Location: Campbell Gallery, Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory St., Urbana, IL
• Age: All ages
• Cost: Free

• Hands-on
• Family-Friendly tag

Shadow puppetry is one of many diverse usages of puppetry, with similar traditions all over the world for millennia. Whether it’s the socially significant Wayang puppetry practiced by respected puppeteers in grand Javanese courts, or personalized hand shadow puppets with a flashlight, they have all had important meanings to the people involved. Shadow puppetry seems to be one of those human customs that have endured and diversified across time, geography, and culture.

Think about the stories you have been told, the stories you would like to retell, the characters, themes, and contexts that made the story lively and important to you. How would you depict these stories? What would you like to emphasize to your potential audience?

Join us for a crafting activity where you can experiment with making your own shadow puppets. After building the shadow puppets, flashlights will be available to test your performance and storytelling skills.

About the Series

Spurlock Sundays are free, drop-in programs held on one Sunday of the month from 1:00–3:00 pm. Programs are open to visitors of all ages and developed with youth and family in mind. Spurlock Sunday activities can take a multitude of forms, from crafts, games, performances, topical open-mic sharing, community conversations, and hands-on experiences with cultural artifacts.