Everyone knows the story of Pinocchio, the little puppet who wanted to be a real boy. And while growing up, most children will pretend to be fighting their way through the world as Pinocchio.
But not Lakeville resident Timothy Selberg.
Selberg, 43, always wanted to be Gipetto.
“The whole art of ventriloquism fascinated me as a child,” he explained. “Particularly the puppets. I just always wondered how they worked and what made them move. I remember watching Jimmy Nelson on T.V. and being amazed.”
Tim Selberg is a world renowned ventriloquist who has lived in Lakeville for the past 13 years. He studied briefly at the Center for Creative Studies in Detroit on a merit scholarship and has been making puppets for over 30 years.
“I love sculpting the puppets,” said Selberg. “I love faces. I love creating these mechanical people and bringing them to life.”
“I’m also a bit of a control freak – I like to do my own thing and bring my own ideas to life.”
Selberg said he was first formally introduced to ventriloquism by a gentleman who came to his church in Waterford. The young Selberg was so fascinated by the technique, that his mother bought him a plastic puppet and a Jimmy Nelson ventriloquist record. By age 13, the future puppet master had made his first doll from plastic wood.
“My first puppet is in a museum in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky,” said Selberg. “I used the old formula and an exacto-knife to make him. I don’t know what I was thinking – I don’t think I ever even changed the blade on the knife the whole time. It never dawned on me.”
By age 15, Selberg had sold his first puppet and begun doing small performances here and there.
“The carving came naturally to me. I’ve never had any formal training, just read a couple books,” he added. “I just started doing it.”
However, Selberg’s passion for puppetry took second place after he got married and started his family. For several years he worked at different jobs including stereo salesman, ranger at Pine Knobb and designer for Delta Faucet. At the age of 28 though, he decided to create puppets full time.
Today, Selberg’s puppets are the best known in the business. The Lakeville resident has made special dolls for stars such as David Copperfield, Leonard Mull and Harry Anderson. He even had a special request from Paul Winchell to remake the famous Jerry Mahoney “with the Selberg touch.”
“It’s really fun because I get to travel, go to festivals and meet so many people,” he said.
Selberg has made well over 1,000 puppets during his life. His company, Selberg Studios, located in his Lakeville home, offers three levels of puppets – urethane, special edition wood carved and custom-made – ranging in price from $1,000 to around $15,000. Orders for a custom, handmade puppet are accepted on a limited basis and the work can take up to a year to complete.
“I’ve been having a lot of requests from people who want a puppet that looks like them,” said Selberg.
Selberg Studios has five artists who work on the dolls to varying degrees. Selberg explained that he has a couple of individuals who work on the head mechanisms and another who sews clothes; however, he is always looking for more artists.
“I would like to focus more on the designs and actual carving,” he explained. “I’m still doing a lot of the painting and actual assembly myself.”
Selberg added that he has lots of plans for the future. He hopes to begin performing and singing again, would like to get more of his puppets into galleries as artwork, and plans to display at the New York Toy Fair for the first time.
“I’ve also been thinking about mass producing a less expensive puppet that can be sold in stores,” he stated, “but I haven’t had a chance to work out any plans.”
Selberg puppets can be ordered by catalogue or through his website. For more information, or if you are an artist interested in speaking with Selberg about his work, please call 248-969-2227 or go online to www.selbergstudios.com.