Calgary Animated Objects Society

Founded in 2003 by multi-disciplinary artist Xstine Cook, CAOS is dedicated to the arts of mask, puppetry and animated objects, as well as building community through radical acts of creativity.

CAOS's major projects include animated films, Lilly in the Lab Augmented Reality app, Disinformation Warriors, the annual International Festival of Animated Objects, and "Spirit of White Buffalo" - a large-scale animated puppet and arts residency.

CAOS provides artistic opportunities through its activities, and initiates youth and community activities. these include: Young Spirit Voices, an aboriginal youth drama project, the Ramsay "Halloween Scream" and "The Great Ramsay Kinetic Sculpture Race".[http://www.animatedobjects.ca/ Animated Objects]

CAOS is led by founder Xstine Cook, a mask and puppet artist, who ran the Green Fools Theatre for 13 years prior to founding CAOS. Xstine trained at the Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre in Blue Lake, California.{{Cite web |url=http://www.dellarte.com/dellarte.aspx?id=103# |title=Dellarte |access-date=2007-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071209115901/http://dellarte.com/dellarte.aspx?id=103# |archive-date=2007-12-09 |url-status=dead }}

CAOS and the festival propel a very active local mask and puppetry tradition into an international arena, all the while bringing international attention to the city of Calgary. Extensive coverage for the organization can be found in FFWD magazine-Calgary's weekly arts & culture publication: "Calgary is a hotbed of original, unorthodox puppet work" (quote from an article written to cover CAOS's festival).{{Cite web |url=http://www.ffwdweekly.com/Issues/2005/0120/cover.htm# |title=FFWD Weekly |access-date=2007-11-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108095441/http://www.ffwdweekly.com/Issues/2005/0120/cover.htm# |archive-date=2009-01-08 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.ffwdweekly.com/Issues/2007/0118/fest3.htm# |title=FF Weekly |access-date=2007-11-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525125408/http://www.ffwdweekly.com/Issues/2007/0118/fest3.htm# |archive-date=2011-05-25 |url-status=dead }}

CAOS also produces original art works, such as Spirit of White Buffalo. Guided by Cook, this giant kinetic sculptureKinetic sculpture race was built by incarcerated men in Drumheller Institution, in collaboration with local artists, Jeff De Boer, and youth. "Spirit of White Buffalo" appeared at the 2007 Calgary Stampede Parade, and was awarded first place in "Best Western Theme".{{Cite web |url=http://www.canada.com/topics/travel/canada/AB/story.html?id=8839e51e-6bf3-45ca-a3db-e513a8fb48b6# |title=Travel Canada |access-date=2007-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825015658/http://www.canada.com/topics/travel/canada/AB/story.html?id=8839e51e-6bf3-45ca-a3db-e513a8fb48b6# |archive-date=2007-08-25 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.animatedobjects.ca/ifaoNews.php# |title=Animated Objects |access-date=2007-11-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070820093437/http://www.animatedobjects.ca/ifaoNews.php# |archive-date=2007-08-20 |url-status=dead }}

{{cleanup|section|date=March 2020|reason=Getting covered in the media is not inherently encyclopaedic, but the sources should be used as sources if they contain any useful NPOV information.}}

The organization has received coverage from news outlets including but not limited to the CBC, Calgary Herald, CTV and The Gauntlet, and numerous community-level publications.{{cite web|url=http://parade.calgarystampede.com/entrants/Winner_Circle_2007.html|title=Parade|access-date=2007-11-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071106032441/http://parade.calgarystampede.com/entrants/Winner_Circle_2007.html|archive-date=2007-11-06|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web |url=http://arusha.org/news/arushaevents# |title=Arusha |access-date=2007-11-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071022161226/http://arusha.org/news/arushaevents# |archive-date=2007-10-22 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.highperformancerodeo.ca/rodeo_past/2005/caos.html|title=High Performance Rodeo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706182459/http://www.highperformancerodeo.ca/rodeo_past/2005/caos.html# |archive-date=2011-07-06}}

Calgary Animated Objects Society has received national coverage for its activities consistently since 2005. The Globe and Mail credited CAOS with "putting Calgary in the pop-culture vanguard" in recognition of the International Festival of Animated Objects' programming, and the same article also drew attention to how "Calgary...has become one of the most fertile spots in North America for ground-breaking puppetry".

[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Page/document/v5/content/subscribe?user_URL=https://www.theglobeandmail.com%2Fservlet%2Fstory%2FLAC.20050127.PUPPETS27%2FTPStory%2F%3Fquery%3Dchris%2Bturner%2Bpuppet&ord=2147520&brand=theglobeandmail&force_login=true The Globe and Mail]

CAOS's Artistic Director was awarded the "Innovative Business Practices Award" from the Rozsa Foundation for Arts Management in 2007, The City of Calgary Arts Award in 2022, and Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal in 2022.

• [http://animatedobjects.ca/caos/ CAOS website]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEgk4xTXB5k City of Calgary Arts Award]
• [https://yorktonfilm.com/2024-winners-and-nominees Yorkton Film Festival Golden Sheaf Nominees - MONSTR]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140517132622/http://ca.ammsa.com/publications/windspeaker/film-project-inspired-tragic-death-stranger AMMSA]
• [https://calgaryherald.com/story.html?id=8059059 Calgary Herald]
• [http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/canadian_theatre_review/summary/v144/144.boss.html Canadian Theatre Review]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20101017112746/http://www.ffwdweekly.com/article/arts/theatre/animated-oddities-3190/ FFWD 2009 Festival Preview]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20101017112322/http://www.ffwdweekly.com/article/arts/theatre/magical-masks-puppets-and-freaks-3245/ FFWD 2009 Crawdaddy Review]
• [https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/animated+objects+action/1143835/story.html Calgary Herald 2009 Les Voisins Review]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20101016065544/http://communities.canada.com/calgaryherald/blogs/bladerunner/archive/2009/01/29/review-elephant-in-zulu.aspx Calgary Herald 2009 Alice Nelson Review]
• [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3368535/ IMDB Xstine Cook]
• [https://vimeo.com/xstinecook Vimeo Xstine Cook]
• [https://quickdrawanimation.ca/discover/member-spotlights/tank-and-xstine-team-with-hbomax-and-warnermedia-access Quickdraw Animation Society 2023 Tank Standing Buffalo and Xstine Cook]
• [https://calgaryartsdevelopment.com/episode-33/ Living a Creative Life 2022 Xstine Cook]
• [https://shepaintsred.com/tag/xstine-cook-tim-westbury/ She Paints Red 2014 Graceland]
• [https://www.unimawest.com/project/caos/ UNIMA WEST CAOS]
• [https://www.maskandpuppet.com/about/ CAMP Board of Directors Xstine Cook]
• [https://www.gallerieswest.ca/events/face/ Galleries West 2017 Xstine Cook Face Off]

Press Links

• [https://issuu.com/redpointmedia/docs/spur-summer-2023_digital_file SPUR Magazine 2023 Unity Through Arts]
• [https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/new-film-by-calgary-s-tank-standing-buffalo-streams-on-hbo-1.6328603 CTV 2023 MONSTR on HBO]
• [https://calgarycitizen.com/p/monstr-hbo-max Calgary Citizen 2023 MONSTR]
• [https://newsroom.calgary.ca/exceptional-achievements-honoured--at-2022-calgary-awards-presentation/ City of Calgary 2022 Calgary Award Recipient Xstine Cook]
• [https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/tank-standing-buffalo-cartoon-1.6787438 CBC 2023 Calgary-based animator premieres MONSTR on HBO Max]
• [https://www.mylethbridgenow.com/29831/featured/animation-project-makes-learning-blackfoot-accessible-online/ My Lethbridge Now 2023 Animation project makes learning Blackfoot accessible online]
• [https://nativenewsonline.net/arts-entertainment/rklss-offers-message-of-redemption-and-sheds-light-on-canada-s-prison-system Native News Online 2022 RKLSS]
• [https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/blackfoot-language-animation-festival-1.6782021/ CBC 2023 Teacher's dream of Blackfoot language 'Sesame Street' inspires art exhibit]
• [https://lethbridgenewsnow.com/2023/03/13/blackfoot-language-project-to-be-screened-at-calgarys-festival-of-animated-objects/ Lethbridge News Now 2023 Blackfoot language project to be screened at Calgary’s Festival of Animated Objects]
• [https://theconversation.com/a-puppet-slam-hosted-by-clowns-is-the-most-joyful-meeting-on-zoom-142228 The Conversation 2021 Slamalicious Puppet Slam]
• [https://www.cbc.ca/radio/unreserved/unreserved-s-virtual-red-carpet-celebrating-indigenous-filmmakers-at-tiff-1.5729474/tank-standing-buffalo-explores-incarceration-isolation-in-tiff-animated-short-1.5729673 CBC 2020 RKLSS goes to TIFF]
• [https://www.avenuecalgary.com/things-to-do/puppetry-calgary/ Avenue 2019 Golden Age of Puppetry in Calgary]
• [https://calgaryherald.com/life/swerve/puppet-masters-festival-of-animated-objects-a-labour-of-love-for-co-artistic-directors/ Swerve 2017 Puppet Masters: Festival of Animated Objects a labour of love for co-artistic directors]
• [https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-festival-animated-objects-1.4028622/ CBC 2017 Interview with Xstine Cook and Peter Balkwill]
• [https://www.nantonnews.com/entertainment/local-arts/drive-in-film-festival-takes-place-next-weekend/ Nanton News 2021 Drive In Film Festival]
• [https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2657961662 CBC interview with Xstine Cook]
• [https://calgaryherald.com/life/swerve/five-facts-about-dolly-wiggler-cabaret/ The Calgary Herald 2016 Five facts about Dolly Wiggler Cabaret]
• [https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/theatre/veteran-clown-mooky-cornish-headlines-dolly-wiggler-cabaret/ The Calgary Herald 2016 Mooky Cornish headlines Dolly Wiggler Cabaret]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140517132622/http://ca.ammsa.com/publications/windspeaker/film-project-inspired-tragic-death-stranger AMMSA 2010]
• [https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/50/article/399623 Canadian Theatre Review 2010 Xstine Cook and Sprit of White Buffalo]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20101017112746/http://www.ffwdweekly.com/article/arts/theatre/animated-oddities-3190/ FFWD 2009 Festival Preview]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20101017112322/http://www.ffwdweekly.com/article/arts/theatre/magical-masks-puppets-and-freaks-3245/ FFWD 2009 Crawdaddy Review]
• [https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/animated+objects+action/1143835/story.html Calgary Herald 2009 Les Voisins Review]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20101016065544/http://communities.canada.com/calgaryherald/blogs/bladerunner/archive/2009/01/29/review-elephant-in-zulu.aspx Calgary Herald 2009 Alice Nelson Review]
• [https://this.org/tag/xtine-cook/ This Magazine 2012 Spirit of the Bluebird Xstine Cook & Jesse Gouchey]
• [https://www.stride.ab.ca/animating-the-spirit-xstine-cook/ Stride Gallery 2015 Xstine Cook]
• [https://www.warner-access.com/programs/hbo-max-x-wbd-access-animated-shorts-program HBO MAX 2022 Creating Access]
• [https://calgaryherald.com/entertainment/local-arts/local-kids-animation-featured-at-ciff Calgary Herald 2015 Local kids animation featured at CIFF]

{{Authority control}}

Category:Theatre companies in Alberta

Category:Theatre in Calgary

Category:Puppet festivals

Category:Organizations based in Calgary

Category:Organizations established in 2003

Category:Art festivals in Canada

Category:2003 establishments in Alberta

Category:Puppetry in Canada