Description
Sebastienne Mundheim is an interdisciplinary performance artist who has spent more than 30 years as an interpretative educator. Her work consistently begins with storytelling; a central idea and narrative framework which is then developed in tandem with visual imagery. Her process evolves simultaneously, employing hand-crafted puppets, objects, and lyrical prose as they inform one another to create a story that inhabits both visual and verbal worlds. Her many collaborations with arts organizations and other artists have created responsive and immersive arts-based learning experiences for all ages. For each interpretation, the puppets remain as artifacts of these thoughtful encounters; each a tableau of Mundheim’s career and a showcase of her as a master of her craft.
Many of these objects are being shown together for the first time; stories and characters unifying to create an immersive environment that provokes fresh dynamics and conversations. Through a range of scale and medium, these artifacts can be revered for their aesthetic beauty as well as their functionality as theater tools. Puppetry is an ancient theatrical tradition with numerous cultural versions that span the globe. However, the practice itself is largely delineated to the performance genre, limiting its scope beyond theater. Mundheim’s approach to puppetry shifts this traditional perspective by blurring the boundary between the craftsmanship of the object and its inherent use as a puppet. The characters are the foundation for her performance and possess complex functional ability, but their delicate creation is nothing other than a fine art practice.
Mundheim will activate the exhibition space throughout its duration. The puppets take the spotlight through a series of audio reflections by Mundheim, who examines their individual creations within the context of her career. Additionally, in collaboration with Mundheim’s Philadelphia-based company, White Box Theatre, the exhibition will become a working space. Mundheim and fellow performers will activate the gallery with a series of performances that will serve to reanimate the objects with original movement and stories, further expanding their previous use with that of their current display. As the space hums with activity, the puppets offer a glimpse into a practice that is referential while showcasing an artist at work.
Curated by Chase Dougherty
Carole Bieber & Marc Ham Gallery