The Boy Who Learned to Be Brave

Story & Art by Eric Dymit

This is Eric’s 3rd year participating in the Crankie Fest. Eric is known for his boisterous performance rich storytelling and effective use of shadow puppetry. This year he used acrylic paints and pencils on tyvek to illustrate, and a combination of cardboard, tyvek, and wire for the puppets. Eric has always loved traditional folk and fairy tales, especially those that deal with humanity's deep and complex relationship with the forest and the other living things that dwell within them, and these inspired his original tale. For much of human history, the fear of the unknown or the unfamiliar has pushed us to extreme measures - Eric hopes that his story helps some friends to recognize that by learning more about what is different or strange, we can come to a better understanding and find that there might not have been any need for fear in the first place.