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FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE Edward Dr apkin's Creative Sculpture and Puppets B Y M I C H A E L C H AT F I E L D M agic happens in a tiny, airy, light-filled building in the light-filled building in the light-filled building in the backyard of the Carmel backyard of the Carmel home Edward Drapkin shares with his home Edward Drapkin shares with his wife Natasha. That's where he transforms wife Natasha. That's where he transforms lumps of ordinary clay, wood and fabric lumps of ordinary clay, wood and fabric into whimsical, life-infused sculptures and into whimsical, life-infused sculptures and puppets. He's a diminutive, charming man, puppets. He's a diminutive, charming man, with eyes that fairly sparkle with a love of with eyes that fairly sparkle with a love of mischief and fun. Drapkin has the soul of a mischief and fun. Drapkin has the soul of a storyteller and the tales he relates tell of a storyteller and the tales he relates tell of a storyteller and the tales he relates tell of a remarkable life that began on the opposite remarkable life that began on the opposite side of the globe, in a markedly different side of the globe, in a markedly different cultural and political climate than the one cultural and political climate than the one he enjoys today. he enjoys today. To paraphrase the Grateful Dead song To paraphrase the Grateful Dead song "Truckin,'" it was a long, strange trip that "Truckin,'" it was a long, strange trip that brought Drapkin to Carmel. His early brought Drapkin to Carmel. His early years were spent under the hammer of years were spent under the hammer of the Soviet Union in Leningrad (now St. the Soviet Union in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) where he graduated from the Leningrad Theater, Music and Petersburg) where he graduated from the Leningrad Theater, Music and Cinematography Institute. Cinematography Institute. "I failed at being a dramatic actor," Drapkin says. "An instructor asked "I failed at being a dramatic actor," Drapkin says. "An instructor asked me why I looked so sad, then told me that upstairs there was a depart- me why I looked so sad, then told me that upstairs there was a depart- ment of puppet theater that had some openings." ment of puppet theater that had some openings." He entered that program and after six months knew he'd found his call- He entered that program and after six months knew he'd found his call- He entered that program and after six months knew he'd found his call- ing. "In that world, I found a combination of fantasy, art, drama—every- ing. "In that world, I found a combination of fantasy, art, drama—every- thing was in there," he says. thing was in there," he says. He learned not only how to design and create puppets but how to He learned not only how to design and create puppets but how to bring them to life through the ancient ar t of hand puppetry. For the next bring them to life through the ancient ar t of hand puppetry. For the next bring them to life through the ancient ar t of hand puppetry. For the next 16 years, he worked in professional theater, film and television as an actor, 16 years, he worked in professional theater, film and television as an actor, 16 years, he worked in professional theater, film and television as an actor, assistant director, ar tistic director and ar tist. Along the way, he earned a assistant director, ar tistic director and ar tist. Along the way, he earned a Master of Fine Ar ts degree as well and his work was recognized by the Master of Fine Ar ts degree as well and his work was recognized by the Union Internationale de la Marionette (UNIMA). That organization, Union Internationale de la Marionette (UNIMA). That organization, founded in 1929, is dedicated to fur thering and nur turing the ar t of pup- founded in 1929, is dedicated to fur thering and nur turing the ar t of pup- peteering worldwide. His work won sev- peteering worldwide. His work won sev- eral awards at the 1975 UNIMA Festival eral awards at the 1975 UNIMA Festival in Bulgaria. in Bulgaria. As it did for many creative people As it did for many creative people before and after him, Drapkin yearned for before and after him, Drapkin yearned for before and after him, Drapkin yearned for the freedoms of the West and in 1977, the freedoms of the West and in 1977, applied for a visa to Israel as a first step to applied for a visa to Israel as a first step to applied for a visa to Israel as a first step to finding his way to the United States. finding his way to the United States. finding his way to the United States. "My brother was a software engineer "My brother was a software engineer "My brother was a software engineer and had been living in the US for a couple and had been living in the US for a couple of years at that point." he says. "First in of years at that point." he says. "First in Milwaukee, then in the Bay Area of Milwaukee, then in the Bay Area of California." When the veteran, honored California." When the veteran, honored Russian puppeteer arrived in California, he Russian puppeteer arrived in California, he naturally looked for work in his field and naturally looked for work in his field and naturally looked for work in his field and found it. Sort of. found it. Sort of. "I took a job in a puppet factory for $3 "I took a job in a puppet factory for $3 an hour," he says. an hour," he says. Military service was compulsory during Military service was compulsory during the Soviet era, and Drapkin did his time as the Soviet era, and Drapkin did his time as an electronics technician at a radar installation. That service gave him an electronics technician at a radar installation. That service gave him experience with electronics and he was able to use that knowledge to experience with electronics and he was able to use that knowledge to obtain positions with Silicon Valley startup Lexel Laser, then Stanford obtain positions with Silicon Valley startup Lexel Laser, then Stanford University's SLAC (Stanford Linear Accelerator Center), contributing to University's SLAC (Stanford Linear Accelerator Center), contributing to the computerization and automation of the Klystron, the device that pro- the computerization and automation of the Klystron, the device that pro- duced the electron beam used in the accelerator. duced the electron beam used in the accelerator. Around this time, Drapkin's creative muse came back into play, and he Around this time, Drapkin's creative muse came back into play, and he began experimenting with clay sculptures. These are transferred to bronze began experimenting with clay sculptures. These are transferred to bronze using a technique known as the lost wax process. After the artist retired using a technique known as the lost wax process. After the artist retired using a technique known as the lost wax process. After the artist retired and he and his wife relocated to Carmel, he has been able to devote and he and his wife relocated to Carmel, he has been able to devote more time to his sculpting. The magical results of his labors are depicted more time to his sculpting. The magical results of his labors are depicted on these pages. on these pages. Some of Edward Drapkins's works are on display at the Carmel Valley Art Some of Edward Drapkins's works are on display at the Carmel Valley Art Association in the Center Street Marketplace in Carmel Valley Village. Learn Association in the Center Street Marketplace in Carmel Valley Village. Learn more at www.edwardssculpture.com. more at www.edwardssculpture.com. 160 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 8 160 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 8