Sheila Gaskins

Work samples

Una Judge- The one that got away. (Sheila as Una Judge)

Una Judge- The one that got away.

Una Judge was the enslaved servant to Martha and George Washington. She successfully escaped and never got caught.

As an Artist-in-Residence for MICA's Performing Objects Puppetry class; Sheila tells the Una Judge story as a life-size Puppet.
Black Cherry Puppet Theatre sample rod puppets
Lantern

Performance Objects Puppetry class, Artist-in-Residence, MICA. Lantern Cohort.

Lantern Parade October 2023.
Classroom Teaching

Baltimore City Youth Summer Program Puppet Theatre.

Maryland Institute College of Art. (MICA) 2023

About Sheila

Sheila Gaskins is a Teaching Artist, Activist, Playwright, Stand-Up Comic, Arts. Advocate, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Facilitator, and Healer. She is a proud native of Baltimore, Maryland.

She is the author of her first book of poetry and prose, A Whistling Girl and a Crowing Hen Never Comes to a Very Good End and Other Things My Mama Said.

In 2022, Gaskins was the recipient of a The Grit Fund grant. She was awarded a… more

View Sheila's Resume

Recent Performances

Una Judge- The one that got away.

Una Judge- The one that got away.

Una Judge was the enslaved servant to Martha and George Washington. She successfully escaped and never got caught.

As an Artist-in-Residence for MICA's Performing Objects Puppetry class; Sheila tells the Una Judge story as a life-size Puppet.
Una Judge- The one that got away.

Una Judge- The one that got away.

Una Judge was the enslaved servant to Martha and George Washington. She successfully escaped and never got caught.

As an Artist-in-Residence for MICA's Performing Objects Puppetry class; Sheila tells the Una Judge story as a life-size Puppet.
Una Judge- The one that got away.

Una Judge- The one that got away.

Una Judge was the enslaved servant to Martha and George Washington. She successfully escaped and never got caught.

As an Artist-in-Residence for MICA's Performing Objects Puppetry class; Sheila tells the Una Judge story as a life-size Puppet.
Black Cherry Puppet Theatre sample rod puppets.
Reimagining Commedia del Arte

Center stage. Baltimore MD. Re-Imagining Comedian del Arte

Making Lanterns and the Lantern Parade

Sheila Makes a Lantern for the Lantern Parade 2023

Performance Objects Puppetry class, Artist-in-Residence, MICA. Lantern Cohort.

Lantern Parade October 2023.
Completed Lantern

Performance Objects Puppetry class, Artist-in-Residence, MICA. Lantern Cohort.

Lantern Parade October 2023.
Lantern Parade at Creative Alliance Baltimore

Performance Objects Puppetry class, Artist-in-Residence, MICA. Lantern Cohort.

Lantern Parade October 2023.
Lantern Parade

Performance Objects Puppetry class, Artist-in-Residence, MICA. Lantern Cohort.

Lantern Parade October 2023.

Puppets

Sheila with Puppet

Host/MC Black Cherry Puppet Theatre with one of my puppets, ShyAnne the reptile.
Sheila with Puppet

Gasmask: The Courtship of Sheila's Father. A tribute to my Dad, Howard Gaskins.
Sheila with her Dad (as a puppet)

Gasmask: The Courtship of Sheila's Father. A tribute to my Dad, Howard Gaskins.
Sheila's Dad Puppet

Gasmask: The Courtship of Sheila's Father. A tribute to my Dad, Howard Gaskins.
Puppet Stage
Green Family Reunion mascot- Sherman the Fraud. Kermit the Frogs Step Brother

Green Family Reunion mascot- Sherman the Fraud. Kermit the Frogs Step Brother

Last House Standing - A Play about the Highway to Nowhere

Last house Standing- A Play About the Highway to Nowhere takes place in 1968 in West Baltimore. The story features a 17 year old girl, EV, whose family is forced to leave the only thing they know: their home. The play is based on the true history of Baltimore where 19,000 families were displaced for a 2.5 stretch of highway right smack in the middle of thriving businesses, churches, a colored school for the blind and countless other staples of a solid community.
The play talks about root shock, displacement and how people don't know their neighbors anymore. Will EV and her family stay and fight or pack up and leave?

Last House Standing was performed most recently in November 2016 at Arena Players in Baltimore thanks in part to a grant from Alternative Roots/National Endowment for the Arts. A smaller portion of the play appeared as part of Imagining America's Conference in Baltimore in 2015.

Last House Standing trailer
set shot
1st Reading of Last House Standing - at the Alternate Roots Annual Meeting.
Intro - Manifesto to the highway to nowhere Segment 1
A reading of the play.

Excerpt of Last House Standing. Cast members. Owings Mills, Maryland.
Watermelon..cantaloupe...

The Arrabber harking his wares. excerpt from the play, Last House Standing.
cast photo
ice cream cart
Arraber's horse

Arabber's horse is decorated as part of the tradition of Arrabbing. Arrabbing is the art of merchants selling fruit, vegetables and small items from the horse drawn cart in the City streets of Baltimore door to door.

Hired... Knot!

A piece performed at Tongue Tied, an immersive performance art show as part of the 11th Annual Transmodern Performance Festival. Female African American are feeling apprehensive about the interview process because they feel that their natural hair will prevent them from getting a job.

Hired... Knot!

Performed at the 11th annual Transmodern Performance Festival.
Hired...Knot!

Will this candidate be hired or will her natural hair prevent her from getting the job she so desperately needs.
Hired...Knot!

A candidate took 2 buses and the light rail to come to a job interview in Timonium, Maryland. She is in need of a good paying job with benefits. She has 3 children and a cat. Yet, her natural hair style could be a barrier to meaningful employment.
Hired... Knot!

African American women feel that their natural hairstyle will prevent them from gaining employment. Sheila, a candidate for employment in the health care field is patiently waiting for the interview.

'Surprise! Birthday Party for Trayvon Martin', an original performance art piece

'Surprise! Birthday Party for Trayvon Martin' is an original performance art piece I wrote and directed. 'Surprise!' includes balloons, gifts, food, pictures and birthday invitations. I play a mother waiting for her son to return home while his father was outside, grilling hot dogs and hamburgers for the guests. We served Skittles and Iced Tea to audience members. "I'm so glad you can make this surprise birthday party for my son, Trayvon. He went to the store. He will be right back." (Silence)

This piece generates conversations on senseless gun violence. It is also designed to restore humanity to men like Freddie Gray, Mike Brown, Eric Garner and countless others. We often forget that there is someone waiting at home for their loved ones to return. To be reduced to a thirty second blurb on the internet or a catch-phrase is not the entire story to anyone's life. 'Surprise!' is a gentle reminder of the other part of the story. Discussions on race and other topics follow each performance.

'Surprise!' made its debut as part of the Transmodern Arts Festival in Baltimore. It was also performed at Center Stage (for a Trayvon Martin Moment) as well as the Parks Heights Community Center for the one year anniversary of the shooting. The piece was also performed in December 2014 at the Freedom Songs Healing and Arts Session.

Rooms Fall Apart (a serious play) as shot and compiled by Guy Werner

Many thanks to his efforts to capture this ever-changing experience!
glad you were able to make it.

I am so glad you all were able to come- he is going to be so surprised!
"Surprise!"still shot
Do you know my,son?

You know my son, don't you. He will be right back just went to the store down at the corner.
Birthday Cake

Trevon Moments, an original group of artist ,storytellers, dancers, poets and community organizations that performed in memory of Trevon. Trevon Moments was presented in the Park Heights Community Center on the birthday of Trevon Martin, one year after his murder.
The Surprise Party Room

The birthday room is full of birthday presents for my son. Travon Martin, he will be right back, he went to the store down the street at the corner. Come on in, lets wait together for him...
Surprise! Travon!!

"That was good but that was just a practice run. Now let's say it again cause I know he will be here soon"- mother still waiting for her son to return.
Do you know him, my son?

Captured photo of the performance featured in the local online publication What Weekly.
Birthday presents and gifts.

Surprise! was presented at a Community Center in Park Heights complete with balloons, pictures,gifts and a dune buggy helmet to keep my boy safe when he rides his 4 wheeler on the sand dunes.
Flyer Trevon Moments

Complete details about the community performances of Trevon Moments. One year later after the tragic death of the slain teen.

My Mother the Clown

Written, directed and produced by by Nia Hampton
Starring Nekia Hampton and Sheila Gaskins

It's 'Bring Your Mother to School Day'. The dilemma is that Nekia's mom is a clown.

My Mother the Clown

AVP, Baglady, stand-up comic,street performer and my other passions!

I luv Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Jackie "Moms" Mabley and all funny woman that paved the way for me to perform. I created the Bag lady, Anniemae in college when our school would visit the sick and shut in at hospitals and senior citizens homes. The bag lady would make them all smile and forget their own troubles. Effie from, the hunger games was a character for a fundraiser where the theme was the future. I do stand-up comedy in clubs, colleges and churches all over the country. I also volunteer in the women's prison, MCIW for well over 10 years. The program Alternative to Violence(AVP) uses games, role playing and exercises to give the inmates another way to communicate their feelings, other than violence. AVP is an International Organization created by the Friends Society and Prisoners from New York City. It has been around for well over 40 years. I enjoy going into the prisons to give light and education to others, it is very rewarding. I want to create AVP out in the communities of Baltimore City, it well be a great way to dismantle violence and bring the city together.
I also created two one woman shows- A whistling girl and crowing hen never comes to a very good end...Harriette Tubman 2020, the story of abolitionist Harriette Tubman coming back to free some people who think they are free but aint.

comic relief.

I was a radio personality on the online radio show, What"s hot with your girl Cheryl. WPBR I of course, was the funny lady for the show.
HROC and AVP

Alternative to Violence (AVP) volunteers engaged in a community workshop on healing our communities.
Remembering Ruby Glover

I was performing that pivot night that iconic Singer Ruby Glover passed away. We shared the stage together. Lea Gilmore had a fundraiser for her organization to send kids to Scotland to perform. I was the mistress of ceremonies for that wonderful event. Joyce Scott, Margret Locklear, Lea Gilmore and me, Sheila Gaskins back stage.
flyer -stand-up comedy show

This is a flyer advertising my birthday comedy show at Chappies. ( What difference does it make to know how old I am!) January 2014.
I see you...

Effy seeing into the future at the fundraiser for Maryland Art Place.
Effy- my version

This is my rendition of Effy from the blockbuster movie, The Hunger Games. We were invited as character performers to a fundraiser for Maryland Art Place.
baglady- Anniemae

This bag lady does comedy for churches, senior citizens and who ever wants her around. This character was created 25 years ago in college to entertain the sick and shut in in hospitals.
Stand-up comedy performance

I am performing stand-up comedy at my birthday party. (please don't ask me how old I am!) with my little brother in the background, Howard G.(kiss my bumper commercials) I taught him everything he knows about comedy.
Connecticut - Gospel comedy show

The bag lady went to Connecticut to perform at a comedy show for a church. All the people are to my far, far right. Out of the line of sight from my camera.
AVP - AVP International

Alternative to Violence Project (AVP) is an organization that gets volunteers to go into prisons, jails, etc. to interact with prisoners. AVP teaches everyone to use their higher power, listen and respect one another. This is the annual AVP meeting in Miami, Florida.

Theatre Action Group (TAG) to play is the thing...

My theatre company (TAG) Theatre Action Group uses games, art, puppets, props,
costumes, paint, music, dance and songs to interactive with audiences. Organizations, groups, colleges, schools and churches invite TAG to work with them to create an atmosphere where participants are able to conversate on different topics freely and creatively. The idea is to have a dialogue on complex topics such as race, racism, privilege, diversity and inclusion. The audience will create scenes that have a beg, middle and end. TAG is based on Theatre of the Oppressed by Augusto Boal and Pedagogy Paulo Freire, the spect-actor is able to create a scene that wasn't solved in real life. The participants are creating an ACTO - a 1-5 minute scene that utilizes musical instruments, large costumes, props and signs to tell a quick, simple and poignant story, based on Luis Valdez' Teatro Campesino.

What do you see?

Tag, actress Natalya wearing her racists lens in a TAG scene. If it was only that easy.
Theater Action Group: Full Interview Part 1 (Continuum of Impact Series)
Race and Privilege Arts Dialogue
Hello. Mom

Two audience members create a scene about a wayward teen and her mother that is never there for her. Eubie Blake Center. Baltimore, Maryland.
Cresol Improvs

The artist collective, Cresol commissioned me to teach theatre games and improvisation skills to their company members.
Tea time

Two audience members are creating an original scene about crime, the Royal Family and tea.
Puppet time- Role play

Using puppets to talk about the discrimination that is evident in hiring and internship practices of some art institutions. Based on incorrect spelling on an application or resume or one's ethnic name could prevent them for gaining access to opportunities at these institutions.
Preparing for dialogue on race and the arts.

Tag was commissioned to hold space and a conversation on Race, Privilege and Disparities in the Arts in Baltimore. In this workshop participants are discussing the racial divide in the Arts. They will create a scene to address the issue or show the issue to be discussed later.
Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute - Stevenson University
Theater Action Group: Full Interview Part 2 (Continuum of Impact Series)

A whole new world- finger puppets and puppetry.

I discovered finger puppetry as a drama teacher in an K-8th grade school. As a result the entire school became the land of the finger puppets. We covered all the walls with finger puppets. This instillation was included in my original National Geographic magazine. this project brought so much out of the students. It did not matter if the child had special needs or was gifted and talented each puppet mastered a sense of creativity and urgency for self expression. I want to take this project to any and everyone i.e. prisons, jails, senior citizen homes, schools, colleges, homeless shelters, hospitals, all of the above. Everybody needs to make finger puppets!

2nd grade finger puppets

The 2nd Graders were able to tell stories with their finger puppets. The more material I acquired the more sophisticated the art became. Great use of color,space and design.
Finger puppets- Level Next.

The first graders wanted to use the entire white paper to tell stories or create elaborate signs or back drops. Each picture is making a statement.
Finger puppet right wing

Each class had their own unique style of finger puppets. Kindergarteners started to use the paper plates as canvas.
up. up up and away

Finger puppets invade entire Baltimore city school.
Skate boarding.

This 1st grade student made his finger puppet skate in mid-air.
Sheriff in town.

The kids where able to take the finger puppet theme and go crazy with imagination. This is a Sheriff about to arrest the bad guys.
My finger puppet is protesting.

A first grade student made her finger puppet protest - The Mass Transit Administration.)(MTA) "My finger puppet is protesting!"
The land of finger puppets.

I recreated a National Geographic Magazine and placed my finger puppets in the pages with other new species. Then the students K- 2nd understood that their finger puppets were part of a new species.
No two are alike.

Not matter who made the puppetry the results where the same. Special need or gifted and talented the students were able to create.
Brown Paper Bag Puppet Invasion

Under the stairway where you would least expect to see puppets. Grades 3rd-5th puppets. mixed media. I asked a student that was giving me trouble in the past, why was he so focused and behaving better now. He said, "I never thought I would be making anything like this in my life!"-His puppet was a Raven's Football player.