Wise Fool evolved out of an effort to heighten the visual impact of the Hiroshima Day Action at Lawrence Livermore Laboratories in July 1989. The organization was officially birthed in the Spring of 1990 and gained federal recognition as non-profit organization in July 1993. In 1999 several Wise Fool members moved to Santa Fe New Mexico where they formed their own non-profit, Wise Fool New Mexico. Wise Fool continued on a small scale after the company split, offering workshops, bringing puppets to actions and events and producing the annual PuppetLOVE! Festival. Currently Wise Fool artists have moved on to other vital arts and community projects and rejoin occaisionally to host puppet events. Wise Fool Community Arts continues as a fiscal umbrella for several community projects.

Below is the description and mission of the now (mostly) retired company:

Wise Fool Puppet Intervention is a theatre project dedicated to community, celebration and change. In the traditions of public art and processional theatre, we combine giant puppetry, mask, stiltdancing, wild costumes, eclectic sculpture, music, movement, fire and song to create highly participatory, issue-oriented, outdoor theatre that is accessible to all. We develop and produce full length theatre works, visually support a wide range of community and cultural organizations and offer free and low cost workshops in puppetry arts, stiltwalking and processional theatre. It is our intention to use art as a vehicle for community building and education, to promote cultural diversity and to gain media exposure for vital issues by creating striking imagery that cannot be ignored. Wise Fool's work is the distillation of many voices and concerns. We continually seek to create opportunities for people to experience playfulness, magic and hope.

Full length original outdoor theatre works and site specific celebrations

Visual support for social change and community organizations

Annual processions

Free and low-cost public workshops

Residencies at festivals, theatres and cultural centers

Training programs for activists

Workshops and puppetry arts presentations for schools

Stiltwalking empowerment programs for youth and adults

Consultations and installations

Ceremonial occasions including weddings and feasts.