“The Puppet Show”

Ventriloquists need not apply

A A A Comments By Olivia Flores Alvarez Thursday, Feb 5 2009

A hypnotized man making art against his will, a singing penis and dancing marionettes are just a few of the works you’ll see in “The Puppet Show.” Co-curators Ingrid Schaffner and Carin Kuoni have put together a dissimilar and eclectic collection of art that explores the ideas of manipulation, control and self-determination.

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In Live Under Hypnosis, artist Matt Mullican is hypnotized and given the directive to resist taking direction. Then he goes before an audience, art supplies at hand. Standing in front of a large wall covered in white paper, he’s told to create art. Mullican screams and groans and rolls on the floor trying not to put paint on the paper, but in the end he loses the struggle. In Karaoke, Guy Ben-Ner videos the end of his penis, two googly eyes in place. He manipulates the opening with his fingers, so that it seems to be lip-synching “Lipstick on Your Collar.” Dennis Oppenheim’s Theme for a Major Hit includes five marionettes, all in Oppenheim’s image. Every few minutes, a song starts and motors pull the strings. The figures dance in place (like real people, some are better than others). Viewing hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Through April 12. Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, 5216 Montrose. For information, call 713-284-8250 or visit www.camh.org. Free.

Tuesdays-Sundays. Starts: Jan. 17. Continues through April 12, 2009

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