‘Funhouse’ Explores Mortal Passageways

The grim reality of mortality is a main topic of a new installation at the Santa Monica Museum of Art. But all is not bleak in “Rapture Stations in the Virtual Funhouse.”

“Confrontation with and transcendence of death” are prominent themes of the collaborative, computerized, walk-through installation, said John Goss, who conceived and created the piece with fellow Los Angeles artists Alan Pulner and Richard Zvonar.

Incorporating video, an audio score, lighting effects and eight performers who assume various persona, the artwork looks like an abandoned carnival where characters and themes emerge and recede from the darkened space as visitors wander about, he said.

The piece centers around a fictitious man named “Bob” who is dying of AIDS. Quitting his business and “seeking alternative routes for living and dealing with death,” Bob encounters historical figures such as Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Marilyn Monroe and jazz singer Billie Holiday.

“These various figures interact with each other in their own personal struggles and quests for freedom,” said Goss, who has worked with video, lasers and computers. “In one scene, Billie Holiday is Bob’s nurse, and she is giving her own story of oppression and how she used her music to transcend that.”

The focus on death “just seemed to float to the surface” as the installation took form, Goss explained.

“As the three (collaborators) began to work, it turned out a lot of our interests were centering on death, because of AIDS or other cultural things. Certainly as a gay man, I’d find AIDS to be most important, though this is probably true for almost anyone.”

Like the long-running play “Tamara,” the dramatic progression of “Funhouse” is not linear and its structure may change with each performance. (Performances are scheduled for tonight and July 14, 15, 16 and 21, 22 and 23. Audiences may attend any time between 8 and 11 p.m.)

Scenes will change as actors receive such computer-generated cues as sound or lighting changes. The computer thus acts like a mastermind to determine and trigger each plot twist or turn--along with a carnival barker who will also direct the action, Goss said.

Audiences may contribute to the work as well.

Anyone may call (213) 399-1142 to offer a spoken or musical message that will be recorded and added to the work’s audio score or as performers’ dialogue. Or, a fax machine at (213) 399-4361 will take written dialogue or drawings to be used as visual adornment in the installation.

“We’re trying to get people out of the role of passive viewer,” Goss said.

During regular museum hours, the installation will be open for viewing through July 23, though the actors may not be present, he added. General admission is $8.

SPEAK OUT: Workshops on how to make and disseminate political posters and other graphics will be held at the Social and Public Arts Resource Center (SPARC) in Venice next month.

Two one-day workshops on how to produce, publish and distribute political posters will be held 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 11 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 12. Dan Walsh, founder of Liberation Graphics, which produces political posters in Virginia, will lead the $5 class.

Korean woodblock artist Yun-Bok You will teach woodcut printing technique based on the South Korean Minjoung (people’s) art movement in a 2 1/2-day workshop from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 5 and 6, and from 6 to 10 p.m. Aug. 7. A $25 fee will cover all materials and refreshments. You’s prints will be on view.

To reserve a space in either class, send a 3-by-5-inch card with name, address, day and evening phone numbers along with payment, program choice and date preference to SPARC, 685 Venice Blvd., Venice, Calif. 90291. Space is limited. Make checks payable to SPARC, which is sponsoring the workshops with the Center for the Study of Political Graphics.

GOING, GOING ... Santa Monica’s Robert Berman/B-1 Galleries will hold an art auction at 7 p.m. Thursday to benefit Amnesty International, USA, sponsored by that organization’s Local Group 467 and the galleries. Tickets for the event, which includes a buffet dinner, are $25. Ten paintings by such artists as Leon Golub, Nancy Spero, Erika Rothenberg and Robbie Conal will be put on the block. All auction and admission proceeds will benefit Amnesty International. The auction will be held at 2510 Main St., Santa Monica. Information: (213) 392-9625. Prices will probably range from $1,000 to $10,000, Robert Berman said.