Describing David Liebe Hart isn’t easy. You could call him an actor, comedian, musician, artist or puppeteer or all those in some manner of hyphenation. He’s appeared on Adult Swim and the Cartoon Network as part of Tim & Eric’s Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule and Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!. His albums include Chip The Black Boy and Astronaut. He’ll also regale you with tales of his Christian Scientist faith, contact with aliens and his love of all things railroad.
Whereas many performs would open an interview by discussing their latest project, Liebe takes time to talk about his love of the Missouri Synod of the Lutheran Church and Christ Unity Church, adding, “I see good in every person and every religion.” His faith has in part influenced his current touring show, a comedy piece about two warring races of space people. He won’t say much more about the piece as he’s unwilling to spoil the surprise for those who attend his shows.
Though he works in a variety of art forms, the source material for his music and puppeteering remains largely the same: In part, a reconciliation of science and faith. Tied to that is the experiences he says he’s had with UFOs and alien life. “At first I was afraid,” he says, “but then I remembered that the bible tells me there’s no fear in love.” He adds that his grandmother reported having similar experiences and made a deathbed revelation: That she knew the secrets behind the infamous crash at Roswell and that the Wright Brothers had received “back engineering” advice from extra-terrestrials. His reports that his own contacts with alien life forms involve revelations about Jesus Christ (who, Hart says, most likely possessed healing powers because he was part alien) and other, deep secrets about life on earth.
These experiences and themes emerge in his puppeteering and music and live alongside the biblical themes that permeate all his art. He claims Jim Henson as a former Sunday School teacher who introduced him to puppets. “He taught us about the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes using puppets,” Hart recalls. “He made learning fun.”
His teaching has not been without controversy. Hart says that certain critics within the Christian Science community were opposed to a minority conducting the puppet show. That didn’t then nor has it now deterred him from performing with puppets on television or on the stage. His marriage of puppeteering and gospel can be witnessed on the DVD Junior Christian Teaching Bible Lesson Program Volume 1.
His current run of dates keeps him occupied until the end of August and stops in Wichita this Saturday evening, July 9 at The Elbow Room.
Find more information about David Liebe Hart at his website: http://artbyliebehart.com/
