Facing West Shadows: In Praise Shadows Opening Reception

Join us for the opening reception of Facing West Shadows exhibition, In Praise of Shadows. Preview the installation and meet Facing West Shadows Artistic Director, Lydia Greer, on Saturday, November 1st. Be sure to purchse tickets from their performance the following Saturday on November 8th from 6-8PM.

Facing West Shadows uses shadow puppets, video projections, and live music to create immersive art experiences. We’re excited for the group to transform our second floor gallery into an art installation with shadow puppet performances and videos, along with demonstrations and a workshop. Immerse yourself in this magical all-ages art adventure!

Kathryn Polk's solo show, Navigating Uncertainty also opens on Saturday, November 1st, 2025 from 4-6PM.

When: Saturday, November 1st, 2025 from 4 PM - 6 PM

Price: FREE and open to the public Tickets for the performance on Saturday Nov 8th are $25 and can be purchased here.

Location: Cura Contemporary in the Edes Building | 17395 Monterey Road, Morgan Hill CA, 95037

About the Artists:

Lydia Greer is a widely exhibiting interdisciplinary visual artist, filmmaker, animator, and the artistic director of Facing West Shadows, a Lumia arts collective working with shadow casting/ hybridizing art forms to create magical acts of rebellion as experimental art in the gold rush climate of the San Francisco Bay Area. Expanding into film/animation, theater/opera, puppetry, and sculptural installation, Facing West Shadows creates surprising experiences for the audience by seamlessly combining old and new technologies and art forms. Her work includes sculptural and video installation, hand-made stop motion animation, media sculpture, hand-made experimental animation with puppets, projected shadow and light on paper sculpture, two-dimensional drawings and paper cuts, and built immersive environments.

Caryl Kientz is a director, producer, and educator specializing in cinematic shadow theater. She is the Theatrical Director and co-founder of Facing West Shadows, an experimental shadow theater collective known for blending traditional shadow puppetry with animation, installation, and opera. For nearly two decades, she has worked with the internationally renowned ShadowLight Productions, where she now serves as Managing Director and Artistic Associate. Caryl has taught and directed shadow theater workshops and productions across the U.S. and internationally, with students ranging from K–12 to professional artists. Her collaborative work has been performed at venues including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Harvard University, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival.