Build a Community Backbone! It's Fun & Easy to Do  

Mar 20th, Backbone Contingentmar 20 enterage
mar 20 vert




Backbone Placard Puppet

Click here for a Slideshow of the Placard Puppet for details on construction.

You will need:
Cardboard - as big and thick as possible; good sources are bike shops, appliance stores, lumber yards and hardware stores.
10-13 Sticks for carrying: 1x2s
Latex paint: 1 -2 gallons white + 1 quart greyish blue for shadow
Waterproof, permanent markers - black and red for shadow
Masking tape (non colored)
1" drywall screws
Bottlecaps or washers (see note below)
Rubber ties for attaching vertebrae (see note below)
Plastic sheeting/drop cloth
Heavy duty staple pliers or industrial size stapler (not a staple gun)
Box cutter knives
Wood glue
Drill

Bottlecaps?
To hold the cardboard and wood together we have found bottlecaps work best as washers.
You will need 65-75 bottlecaps. Ask bars or pizza joints to save them for you. This shouldn't take long and is a fun way to recycle. If you're unable to find bottlecaps or don't have time to start accumulating them, use washers.

Rubber ties?
Rubber ties are bicycle tubes that are cut open so they lie flat then cut in lengths you need. You can get them used and free at bicycle repair shops. Look for thicker and wide tubes. Sometimes when you cut open a tube there will be fluorescent green goo inside. Throw away and get another one. For securing the vertebrae together you will need about 7 inch lengths.


For general information about the spinal column, visit:
http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/biology/humananatomy/skeletal/backbone/backbone.html

First, figure out how big you want to make your puppet. Technically, I believe the human spine is composed of 7 cervical vertebrae, 12 thoracic vertebrae, 5 lumbar vertebrae, the sacrum and the coccyx. We shortened our placard puppet a little and composed it of 5 cervical pieces, 10 thoracic pieces, 5 lumbar pieces and 1 coccyx.
You will attach sticks to every other piece, making sure that sticks are on the first and last pieces. It is a good idea to decide on having an odd number of total vertebrae so the sticks can be placed at every other one, ending with the coccyx.

Using the templates, trace the pieces onto cardboard and cut out with box cutter knives.
Or draw the pieces free hand.
The size of our vertebrae are approximately (you can use these measurements as a guide):
Cervical pieces: 32 inches across/ 36 inches high
Thoracic pieces: 34 inches across/41 inches high
Lumbar pieces: 37 inches across/ 47 inches high
Coccyx: 43 inches across

Along all the edges of each vertebrae, line with masking tape. This provides a much cleaner edge when painted.

Paint both sides of all vertebrae with white paint.

Using the grayish blue paint and following the suggested shadowing line on the template, paint on the shadow. This adds dimension, color and interest. Paint the shadow on both sides.

Line up all the vertebrae in the correct order, making sure all the fins are pointing in the same direction (toward the back). Attach a stick on the first piece and then on every other piece, ending with the coccyx.
To attach the stick:
Glue the stick onto the painted surface and let dry thoroughly.
Using the bottlecap as a washer (flat end on wood), screw three screws along the length of the attached stick using a drill.

With white paint, paint over the part of the stick that is on the vertebra, to camouflage the stick.

Now you are ready to print your message on the vertebrae. The Backbone Campaign printed different things on the two sides, so we had lots of different issues.
Writing out your message in pencil helps with spacing. Find someone with clear handwriting, who is a good speller to write out. This takes awhile. Obviously, plan longer statements to go on the larger vertebrae. Think about what you want to put on the coccyx, your last piece.
Suggestions for slogans on vertebrae:
keep positive and values oriented
Don't be afraid to push the envelope
Be progressive and state what you want; don't frame in the negative
Keep short

With a red marker, add shadow to lettering for more dimension.

The Final Step: Attaching the vertebrae together.
First line up all your pieces, in the order they will go in, making sure there is a stick for every other one and that all the fins are pointing in the same direction (toward the coccyx).
With your cut pieces of rubber ties, attach the vertebrae at the top and bottom of the main part of each (don't staple the fins). You might want to attach like pieces together (all the cervical together) and then at the demonstration finish by attaching the different sections together. This will make it much easier to transport.

Have fun!



Possible Slogans:

Agenda Planks for Puppet

1.Ban D.U. Weapons
2.Reject Empire
3.End War Profiteering
4.Stop Arming Dictators
5.Reject American Exceptionalism
6.US Out of Iraq
7.US Truth Commission
8.Uphold Geneva Conventions/ NO TORTURE
9.Rejoin ABM Treaty
10.Weapons-free Outer Space
11.Voter Bill of Rights
12.Reject Corporate Personhood
13.Fair Trade
14.End Corporate Welfare
15.Democratize Public Airwaves
16.Debt Relief and Micro-credit
17.Support Family Farms
18.Headstart-College for All
19.AIDS Drugs for Africa
20.Civil Unions for All
21.Fairness in Lending
22.Housing for All
23.Repeal Patriot Act
24.Ban Sweat Shops
25.Reparations for Slavery
26.National Dialogue on Racism and Genocide
27.Alternative Index for Growth
28.Strengthen Affirmative Action
29.Universal Health Care
30.Enshrine Reproductive Rights
31.Clean and Public Water
32.Expand Kyoto Treaty
33.Energy Independence
34.Invest in Renewables
35.Protect Ecosystems and Biodiversity
36.Living Wage
37.Protect Social Security
38.Decriminalize Poverty
39.End Drug War
40.End Mandatory Sentencing
41.Protect Immigrant Rights
42.Restore Vet Benefits
43.Progressive Taxation
44.Embrace Diversity