Betsy Brown; Artist, Storyteller, Puppeteer

Betsy Brown, 83, an artist and storyteller who taught through the use of puppets. Growing up in Depression-era Texas, Brown learned storytelling from her grandfather and, inspired by “Pinocchio,” carved her first marionettes from balsa wood. After moving to Los Angeles and marrying an architect, she studied sculpture and made several terra cotta works for Catholic churches here. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Immaculate Heart College and a master’s degree from Cal State Northridge and taught puppetry in grade schools, at Cal State Northridge and at Los Angeles Valley College. She presented workshops on puppetry at UC and Cal State campuses and produced interactive puppet shows. In 1997 she received the annual Professional Artists in Schools Award. She was recognized by the Los Angeles Public Library and Mayors Tom Bradley and Richard Riordan for her artistic teaching. On March 18 in Los Angeles.