TURTLE ISLAND

From the Creation Story of the Haudenosaunee
A new outdoor theater by Plasticiens Volants and Seneca artist G. Peter Jemison
 
Choreography by William Crouse Sr (Seneca Nation, Hawk Clan)

With performances by Skywoman Iroquois Dance Theater

Produced by Sonia Kozlova Clark of Unicycle Productions and Plasticiens Volants

Following its 2025 New York and Massachusetts premiere, the show returns with a new summer tour spanning Indianapolis to the Haudenosaunee territories of New York State:

Tour dates include:

June 27–28, 2026: Eiteljorg Indian Market & Festival at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art — 6 live performances

July 4, 2026, 4 p.m.: Seneca Nation of Indians (Allegany), 90 Ohi’yo’ Way, Salamanca, NY, presented by Friends of Ganondagan

July 5, 2026: Turtle Island Festival & America’s Potluck at the Chenango County Fairgrounds,168 East Main Street, Norwich, NY, presented by the Chenango County Historical Society — 2 live performances

July 8, 2026, 2 p.m.: Ganondagan State Historic Site, presented by Friends of Ganondagan

July 11, 2026, 2 p.m.: Akwesasne Mohawk Nation, Generations Park, 559 NY-37, Hogansburg, NY, presented by Friends of Ganondagan

 
Please reach out to us if you would like Turtle Island to present at your venue: sonia@unicycleproductions.com

About The Project

This interactive open-air family-friendly production brings to life the foundational Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Creation Story through a vibrant fusion of aerial puppetry, dance, and community engagement.

Developed with Indigenous artistic leadership at its core, Turtle Island honors ancestral narratives while addressing contemporary themes of balance, environmental stewardship, and collective responsibility. It invites audiences to witness the birth of the world atop the turtle’s back—a story that resonates across cultures as a symbol of resilience and interconnectedness.

While other humans in the world focused on great monuments of stone, the Haudenosaunee began with our human nature”.

There are those who believe that you have to show your might by being able to go to war and by destroying your enemy, and that your enemy is lesser than you,” Jemison explained in an interview with WAMC. “This whole notion of one being superior over the other — this is playing out in our world today. Within this story, we say these forces have existed from the beginning. People choose the path they believe represents the right way. And so there is this constant struggle for us to protect our mother, the Earth, because we know that faces yet unborn will come and need a place to live. We depend on all these living things — the harvest, the changing seasons — all revealing the beauty of the world before us. On the positive side, we have to protect that and hand it forward to the generations coming in the future.” G. Peter Jemison, Seneca Nation

This magnificent project is the symbol of a better humanity, of a tolerant and generous humanity... what many of us wish with all our heart,” Marc Étieve, Artistic Director of Plasticiens Volants, France

The project is funded by: Département du Tarn, Région Occitanie (France), Villa Albertine, the French Institute for Culture and Education in the United States, Institut Français Thomas Donahower, Plasticiens Volants and Unicycle Productions.

Partners & Support: ​"Friends of Ganondagan" in Victor, NY; Eitlejorg Museum of American Indians and Western Arts, Chenango County Historical Society; and in 2025:  Urban Stages (NYC), TurnPark Art Space in West Stockbridge MA; Hudson River Park in New York City; Prospect Park Alliance in Brooklyn, NY.

Known for their unique art of inflatable sculpture and collaborations with artists like Osgemeos and Michel Dissaké, Plasticiens Volants are thrilled to collaborate with one of the most influential Seneca artists G. Peter Jemison on a new production: Turtle Island, bringing to life the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Creation Story through inflatable aerial sculptures, choreography by Skywoman Iroquois Dance Theater, and community engagement this October in NYC.

Current Tour and Progress:

The project completed a creative residency and US tour in October 2025, including a creative residency and first public performances at Ganondagan Historic Site in Victor New York, followed by public performances at Turnpark Art Space in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, Prospect Park in Brooklyn, New York, and Hudson River Park in Manhattan, New York.

News Articles:

WAMC News

BTPM

About the Creators

G. Peter Jemison (Seneca, Heron Clan; b. 1945)
A seminal figure in Native American arts, Jemison’s work is represented in major collections including MoMA, the Whitney Museum, the British Museum, and the Denver Art Museum. His paintings, videos, and mixed media embody Orenda, the Haudenosaunee belief in the spiritual force that animates all life.

​As a curator, administrator, and cultural leader, Jemison has shaped Indigenous representation in contemporary art for decades. This collaboration extends his vision into the realm of public space, where his work can reach new, large-scale audiences.

William Crouse Sr. is a member of the Seneca Nation of Indians, Hawk clan. He is a faithkeeper, singer, and speaker of the Coldspring Longhouse. As group leader, singer, lecturer, and dancer of the Allegany River Indian Dancers, Bill has traveled all over the U.S. and Canada. He has performed in Rome, Italy, and Würzburg, Germany. Bill is the founder of the Skywoman Iroquois Dance Theater.

​Plasticiens Volants & Air Fabric
For over 50 years, Plasticiens Volants has transformed skies into canvases for poetic storytelling with giant inflatable sculptures. Their productions, and notable collaborations with artists like Osgemeos and Michel Dissaké, have been presented at major international events including the Olympic Games, World Cup, and leading festivals on six continents.

​With Air-Fabric, their fabrication studio dedicated to monumental inflatable design, the company now collaborates directly with artists, curators, and institutions to craft flying, fixed, or carried sculptures that elevate an artist’s work into new dimensions—museum plazas, public parks, or even entire cityscapes.

​Through this unique savoir-faire, Plasticiens Volants and Air-Fabric offer museums and galleries innovative ways to extend the visibility of their artists beyond traditional walls, creating spectacular and accessible encounters with contemporary art. Their unique storytelling approach creates living stages without walls—ideal for civic celebrations and cultural encounters.

Format and Presentation

Designed for outdoor public spaces—parks, waterfronts, urban plazas—the performance is scalable and ideal for festivals, community days, and family-oriented events. The show can be paired with storytelling, performances, or workshops led by local Indigenous artists, offering a platform for meaningful cultural exchange and local engagement.

Support Free Performances:

Please Support the tour of all FREE performances. Your support will be fully tax-deductible and will go directly to the Friends of Ganondagan organization to support the Seneca dancers:


Write to Tour producer: Sonia@unicycleproductions.com

Designed for outdoor public spaces—parks, waterfronts, urban plazas—the performance is scalable and ideal for festivals, community days, and family-oriented events. The show can be paired with storytelling, performances, or workshops led by local Indigenous artists, offering a platform for meaningful cultural exchange and local engagement.

Turtle Island NY 2025

Looking for a custom-made inflatable to own? See the options here and contact us for details: https://air-fabric.com/entreprise-air-fabric

About Plasticiens Volants

Plasticiens Volants, founded in 1976, revolutionized street theater with their use of giant inflatable puppets and aerial storytelling. Their visually stunning performances, often featuring fantastical creatures soaring above the crowd, have made street theater a more immersive, communal experience.

Through works like La Ballade des Anges and their involvement in large events like the Olympics and international festivals, Plasticiens Volants brought visual grandeur to street performances, proving that ephemeral art in public spaces could achieve the same awe and technical sophistication as traditional theater.

Plasticiens Volants had three successful US tours with Rochester Fringe Festival and Artpark with their three productions in 2017, 2019 and 2022. Sonia Clark produced all three tours and we would be happy to support any of your technical and touring questions about this new show, as well as facilitate your relationship with the artistic team. 

More Currently Touring Plasticiens Volants Shows

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