Her two-week residency runs through Nov. 19. She will return in February to lead a workshop on shadow puppetry and present a new production. The workshop will cover paper mechanisms and design used to create movement in puppets. Students will make their own while learning about materials, storytelling and performance techniques. Belt said no experience is required.

Belt’s practice spans drawing, ceramics, paper cutting, block printing and puppetry. She blends traditional craftsmanship with storytelling, often drawing inspiration from fairy-tales, folklore, myths and biblical accounts. Her sketchbook is a constant companion.

“A good conversation, the color of the sky, the taste of my breakfast–when I take the time to intentionally notice these small and wonderful things, I realize there’s inspiration all around,” Belt said.

Her motivation is rooted in service. “What drives me the most is a pursuit of beauty and how that can serve the people around me. I want to take part in nurturing people’s imaginations, including my own,” she said.

Faith Belt holds a linocut print and its carved block, part of a series inspired by her shadow puppet shows at The Grand Center for Arts & Culture.

Belt favors an analog approach. “Technology can be good, of course, but the tradeoff for dependence on technology is whatever skill you would have been able to grow that the technology replaced,” she said. She views inefficiency as part of the process, an opportunity for discovery and reflection.

She described her work as deliberate and exploratory. “Part of it is I feel like it’s something I’m good at, and I can’t help it. But the other part is it’s a way to serve other people. I think art, when it’s done really well, can nurture people’s imaginations or tend to them,” Belt said.

Belt acknowledged the challenges of creating. “Creating a whole shadow puppet show from nothing into something is really hard. Even if you run into issues, you have to figure it out. There’s no excuses,” she said.

Her interest in shadow puppetry began during her undergraduate studies at the University of Tennessee. With limited resources, she staged a sock-puppet performance of Macbeth and later a shadow piece set to Clair de Lune. “It was astonishing that such simple and humble materials could become so mesmerizing,” she said.

Her first large-scale production, “Jonah: A Shadow Puppet Play,” remains a highlight. “About halfway through the show I realized that everyone–puppeteers and audience–was completely mesmerized. Even though I knew all the mechanics, I remember feeling like a spectator myself, a witness to the veil becoming thin,” Belt said.

A scene from Faith Belt’s shadow puppet play, based on the story of Jonah. (submitted photo)

She credited the residency with providing time and resources. “Having dedicated time and space, along with the material stipend they provide, means I can focus on carving and printing for as long as I need to–sometimes eight to 10 hours a day–without other distractions pulling me away,” she said.

Belt said The Grand is central to the community. “The Grand is a treasure to New Ulm. They are the beating heart of the local artist community and they bring in awesome artists to teach their workshops and to show at their gallery space. It is a great privilege to be here and to work in such an awesome space and to interact with the spectacular team at The Grand. They truly care about supporting artists–especially printmakers,” she said.

Originally from Johnson City, Tennessee, Belt now lives and works in New Ulm. In addition to developing shadow puppet shows and teaching art, she illustrates children’s books and manages projects for Art Service, which provides artwork for ELS and WELS ministries. She works at Sweet Haven Studio, located beneath Sweet Haven Tonics in downtown New Ulm. Her work is available at faithbeltstudios.com and on Instagram at @faithobelt.art.

Faith Belt performs a shadow puppet play using an overhead projector and hand-cut figures (Submitted photo)

The Grand Kabaret, located at 210 N. Minnesota St., serves as a hub for community arts and culture in New Ulm. Faith Belt’s residency includes a performance and printmaking workshop at the venue. Photo by Amy Zents