He begins by staging a tableau of performers posed by their pile of presents.
Several Polaroids show dancers and performers posing next to columns and on pedestals.
His 2007 portrait series "The Hyena & Other Men" showcased Nigerian street performers posing alongside their bloodied prey.
What made the event special was the fact that at various points en route Ms. Carlson had performers posed in tableaux vivants based on archival photographs.
This week it announced that it had acquired Watteau's "Italian Comedians," a painting of five traveling performers posed in costume on the fairgrounds just outside Paris, from about 1720.
Her skin is rough and imperfect to the point of exaggeration, an effect inspired by those street performers who pose as classical sculptures for money.
And on Thursday, the mayor's office announced that a task force is being created to crack down on the last element of Times Square life that has even a hint of disrepute: the bare-breasted women and costumed performers who pose for photos with passersby in exchange for tips.
"I'm not sure, but I think they're going for an arty feel," said Irma Suarez, a 21-year-old student at New York University, pointing to a catwalk where two nude performers were posing as Adam and Eve, lounging on a couch and eating fruit.
After their 45 minute showcase, the performers contentedly posed for photos with doting tourists.
The performers linger to pose for pictures and vanish as silently as they came.
