The papier-mache bumblebee head bobbed back and forth, like it was eyeballing everyone and everything.

Sara Pugh, underneath, negotiated the costuming balancing act with aplomb, and stood up.

"I love it when this thing comes to life," said Sarah Zuckerman, laughing as Pugh -- all 9 feet of her by this point -- snagged on a tree branch above.

Pugh and Zuckerman made the giant bee -- from paper and flour and water, recycled grocery bags, scrap wood, and fabric from a rag bin -- as one of four costumes set to march in Saturday's art parade in Fountain Square under the banner "Indiana Endangered Species Puppets."

The parade is a precursor to the "On Procession" exhibition opening May 2 at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. The exhibit assembles a range of contemporary artworks that use the parade as a theme or apparatus.

Pugh, 29, a former Peace Corps volunteer and now a coordinator with Volunteers of America, and Zuckerman, 27, an elementary art teacher at an IPS magnet school, said they wanted to raise awareness of the species under threat in Indiana. And so, in Zuckerman's basement, they designed and constructed costumes based on the humble bumblebee (whose colonies are in collapse all over the country), the Indiana brown bat, the fire bellied salamander and the barn owl.

"They're all on the endangered list, for different reasons," Pugh said, speaking through the mesh fabric of the bee outfit. "Something like the salamander, we wanted to do not just because it's a whimsical animal, but because when you think of Indiana, you don't think salamanders -- you wouldn't even think there was an issue. But they're really sensitive to environmental changes."

Zuckerman pointed out that they also chose a range of animal types, going with an insect, an amphibian, a mammal and a bird.

"We also chose them because of their aesthetic value," she said. "These are kind of iconic animals. They're very interesting to look at." Particularly the bee, which they've debuted at other public events.

"People almost always ask, 'Why the bee?' " Pugh said. "It's interesting to find out how many people are aware of the bee colony collapse, and how many aren't. So it really does end up raising awareness, because I end up getting into all these conversations."

Bees, hooters, lizards and flying rodents might not be the kinds of creatures you would expect to get recognition, but to Zuckerman and Pugh, they're amazing all the same.

"We hear all about wild cats going extinct, or the panda. But I mean, the fire bellied salamander?" Zuckerman asked. "Whoever is wearing that costume will know a ton of information about the animal, so when the little kids come up, it'll be this big talking representative from the animal kingdom."

On Procession: In the Streets

Where: Fountain Square. The parade will begin in two locations -- near the corner of Virginia Avenue and Fletcher Street, and near the corner of Sanders Street and South Shelby Street -- and will converge on Virginia Avenue near the overpass of interstates 65 and 70.

When: Noon Saturday (rain or shine).

Tickets: Free.

Info: www.imamuseum.org/exhibitions/on...