The Art of Contemporary Puppet Theater
In the Beitzel and Righter Galleries
February 28 - June 13, 2010
Once considered the exclusive province of shamans, puppets have been used for centuries to bring stories to life. The Art of Contemporary Puppet Theater performs such magic, illuminating the power of puppet theater to give form to the internal and otherwise invisible worlds of emotions and ideas. Puppet theater fuses the visual and performing arts, incorporating painting, sculpture, text, music, movement, and technology. The exhibition features sophisticated and often daring work by contemporary puppeteers, painters, film, and media artists, including Eric Bass/Sandglass Theater, Janie Geiser, Liz Goldberg, Chris Green, Dan Hurlin, William Kentridge/Handspring Puppets, Ralph Lee, Mabou Mines, Roman Paska, Brian Selznick, Julie Taymor, and Hanne Tierney, with short films by Genevieve Anderson, Laura Heit, and Scott Shoemaker.
Puppetry Around the World In the Learning Center
February 28 – June 13, 2010
Classic puppet forms, including marionettes, shadow puppets, and hand puppets, are on view in the Learning Center as reference to the contemporary puppet tableaus in the main galleries. Young visitors can see such classics as Bil Baird’s Flannel Mouse and an original Jim Henson Muppet. Families are also invited to create their own puppets and perform in the Learning Center’s puppet theater.
