Buffalo Fabrication and Build

In collaboration with Silvosky Studios and St. Ann’s Warehouse in Downtown Brooklyn, the team built 40 buffalo. The parts are fabricated from CNC cut plywood, cleaned up and assembled, and hinged together to create these large scale rod puppets. The puppets are featured in Return of the Buffalo in September 2026 .

Return of the Buffalo: Tatanka Owe Akupi is created by Amir Nizar Zuabi and conceived in partnership with the Elders of the Lenape and Lakota Tribes, Creative Director Bryan Doerries (Theater of War Productions Artistic Director), Music Director Adam Shore, Nonesuch Records President David Bither, and Immediate Medium Artistic Director JJ Lind. The Puppetry Design is by Ukwanda Puppets of South Africa, and the Puppetry Director is Craig Leo.