Art and Storytelling Collide with MadJax’s Puppet Club
Puppets and makers are a natural match—both thrive on imagination, hands-on craft, and a spark of playfulness. For Jason Robinson (MadJax’s Maker Space Manager), that spark started in childhood, watching and loving The Muppet Show. Puppetry always fascinated him, but between the busyness of life and the limits of creative energy, it never felt like the right time to dive in. That changed when Jason shared his idea in a MadJax member survey. Instead of letting it slip by, our staff said: let’s make it happen. From that moment, the MadJax Puppet Club was born.
“The Puppet Club is a unique space where creativity and collaboration come to life,” shared Jason. “The club is all about creating an alternative, community-driven form of entertainment and artistic collaboration.”
What started as his spark has grown into a community effort. It’s an open invitation to artists, makers, and storytellers of all kinds to come together and make something bigger than themselves.
A Space for Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration
The Puppet Club is a unique community where creativity takes center stage. In a world full of screens and ads telling us what stories matter, the Puppet Club is carving out a different path. We’re here to tell our own stories. The ones that actually inspire us, make us laugh, and bring us together.
Whether you’re an experienced artist or a complete beginner, there’s a place for you here. Puppetry blends visual art, performance, and narrative into a form of storytelling that’s interactive, accessible, and undeniably engaging. This club brings together:
Painters
Sculptors
Musicians
Costume designers
Writers
Performers
Jokesters
Jugglers
All to collaborate through the versatile medium of puppetry.
“No matter your background or artistic skill, there’s a place for you here. The magic of puppetry lies in its ability to blend visual art, performance, and narrative to tell stories in ways that are interactive, accessible, and undeniably engaging.” — Jason Robinson
No Membership Required—Everyone is Welcome!
The best part? You don’t have to be a MadJax member to participate. The Puppet Club is free and open to everyone. All you need is curiosity, creativity, and an open mind.
Why Puppetry?
Puppetry has been a rich part of human culture for thousands of years. From ancient storytelling rituals to modern-day performances. It’s used in everything from children’s entertainment to avant-garde theatre, film, and even therapy.
Puppetry is unique in its ability to connect art, narrative, and performance in ways that both artists and audiences can experience. It’s a blend of creativity that knows no bounds, and we’re excited to explore it together as a community.
Upcoming Opportunities to See Puppetry in Action
This fall, the Puppet Club will step out into the community with two special events in downtown Muncie:
Thursday, October 2 — ArtsWalk: Watch the streets come alive with giant puppets parading through downtown.
Thursday, October 16 — Muncie Makers Market at MadJax: See the Puppet Club in action at the market, where we’ll showcase our work and invite others to join the fun.
Looking ahead to 2026, we’re exploring the possibility of a series of indoor theatrical performances in MadJax’s large public space - immersive storytelling experiences designed to bring even more people into the creative fold.
You’re invited to help make this happen - join us for an upcoming session or email jason@madjax.org to find out more.
MadJax Maker Force Puppet Club meets every Monday and Wednesday from 4:00 - 5:00 pm. Keep an eye out for upcoming extended Saturday sessions!
Your Story Matters
“Every person has a story to tell,” said Jason. “And in the Puppet Club, your story matters. Whether you’re sharing a personal experience or helping bring someone else’s vision to life. The Puppet Club is a space where creative voices can be heard and celebrated.”
So, come join us! No experience is necessary—just a passion for art, storytelling, and a desire to connect with others in a fun, supportive, and creative environment. We can’t wait to see what stories we’ll create together.
Whether you’re looking to create something new, meet new friends, or just experience something outside of your usual routine, the MadJax Puppet Club is here to help you break the mold and get involved.
See you there!
