SMMoA gathers an eclectic array of work by 30 impressive artists — from Kara Walker to Louise Bourgeois, Bruce Nauman, and Kiki Smith — in this mixed-media exhibition centered around the art and metaphor of puppetry. Some of the contributors use puppets as subjects of personal narratives, while others are more concerned with the artist's behind-the-scenes role as puppeteer of information and morality. In addition to featuring contemporary and modern works, the museum provides historical context by including more traditional artifacts, as well as early subversive interpretations of the craft.