Other upcoming talks at Morbid Anatomy include
"Hierarchies of the Dead: Bodysnatching in Old New York" with
Bess Lovejoy, author of
Rest in Pieces: The Curious Fates of Famous Corpses (Tuesday, Feb 18);
"Selfies At Funerals: Postmortem Photography and Cultural Taboos" with Halli Gomberg (Thursday, Feb 20) and
"Death in a Nutshell: Frances Glessner Lee and the Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death" with special guest Bruce Goldfarb, executive assistant to the Chief Medical Examiner of Maryland (Thursday, Feb 27).
We also have a field trip on Saturday,
March 29 to Baltimore with tour guide--and rogue
taxidermist--
Robert Marbury, whose Baltimore credentials include a star turn as "Angelic Boyfriend" in
John Waters' Cry-Baby. Stops along the way will include
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Baltimore, where assistant to the examiner
Bruce Golfarb will lead us on a special tour
The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death,
a collection of obsessively detailed miniature dioramic death scenes,
hand-crafted in the 1940s and
Scarpetta House,
a full-sized furnished room donated in which death scenes are staged to train forensic
investigators. We will also visit the
Great Blacks in Wax Museum and
the grave of Edgar Allan Poe, where we will engage in
a traditional Cognac toast.
Full
details follow on all events and workshops follow; hope very much to
see you at one or more of these terrific events! You can also always find a full list of events
on our Facebook page by clicking
here.
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Morbid Curiosity: A Morbid Anatomy Singles Night
Hosted by Daisy Tainton with DJ Blake Schwarzenbach, former frontman of Jawbreaker and Jets to Brazil
Date: Monday, February 10
Time: 8:00
Admission: $15 (includes one free adult beverage)
Tickets can be purchased
here.
Location: Observatory (543 Union Street at Nevin, Brooklyn; enter via Proteus Gowanus Gallery)
Single?
Different? Want to meet some like-minded New Yorkers? Do your
perspective paramours often tell you you're weird, or ask you why you
are so interested in those creepy things? If you answered yes to any or
all of these questions, we hope you'll join us this Valentine's Day week
for Morbid Curiosity: A Morbid Anatomy Singles Night!
More info
here.
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Women
Who Bite: Chastity Belts, Castration Anxiety and Feminism: Illustrated
lecture with Art Historian and Master Jeweler Karen Bachmann
Date: Tuesday, February 11
Time: 8:00
Admission: $8
Location: Observatory (543 Union Street at Nevin, Brooklyn; enter via Proteus Gowanus Gallery)
Humankind's
earliest cultures were matriarchal in nature. The advent of agrarian
civilization witnessed women’s power gradually devalued by a growing
patriarchy. Both Western and Eastern cultures have folklore and art
history attesting to the leitmotif of the strong, fierce, and
aggressively sexual woman rising against oppressive male authority. Tonight’s
lecture--just in time for Valentine's Day!--will explore the myths,
fables, and visual representations of the ferocious, toothed woman. Such
imagery includes: chastity belts (and their development), male
castration anxiety, vengeful goddesses, the femme fatale, Amazon
warriors, and "vagina dentata." These subjects will be explored in all
their frightening, savage, erotic and often humorous incarnations.
More info
here.
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The ‘After’ Life: Death in Ancient Egypt: Illustrated lecture with Ava Forte Vitali, Metropolitan Museum of Art
Date: Thursday, February 13
Time: 8:00 PM
Admission: $8
Part of the
Death and The Occult in the Ancient World Series
Location: Observatory (543 Union Street at Nevin, Brooklyn; enter via Proteus Gowanus Gallery)
When
one considers Death and the Occult in the Ancient World, often the
first culture that comes to mind is that of the Ancient Egyptians. Known
for their elaborate tombs, complicated religious texts, and captivating
mummies, the Ancient Egyptian fascination with death has captivated
public interest for centuries. This inaugural lecture in our new monthly
series will introduce the mortuary beliefs, traditions, and archaeology
of the Ancient Egyptians and examine whether or not they were as
morbidly focused as they have traditionally been portrayed to be.
More info
here.
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Privately
Published: A Descent Into Early 20th Century Mail Order Erotica: A
Special Valentine's Day Event: An illustrated lecture by Colin Dickey,
author of Cranioklepty and Afterlives of the Saints with drinks and music by Friese Undine
Date: Friday, February 14
Time: 8:00
Admission: $12
Location: Observatory (543 Union Street at Nevin, Brooklyn; enter via Proteus Gowanus Gallery)
Tonight,
join writer Colin Dickey for a peek into the world of early 20th
century mail-order erotica. In order to evade post office censors, smut
peddlers like Panurge Press and Falstaff Press were obligated to dress
up their offerings with a veneer of scientific dross, resulting in works
that were too smutty to be of any real scientific or sociological
value, and yet too riddled with academic nonsense to be properly erotic.
A curiously forgotten and nearly nonsensical sub-genre, these books
exist in between the finely-drawn lines of obscenity and free speech,
pornography and literature, and titillation and scientific inquiry.
Colin will share the history of these odd publishers and choice examples
from his library, including works like
White Meat, Praeputii Incisio, Black Opium, The Sword and Womankind, and
An Anthropological Cabinet of Curiosities. Come for the lecture, and stay for delicious artisinal cocktails and thematic tunes courtesy of
Friese Undine.
More info
here.
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An Erotic Guide to Paris at Night, Circa 1936
Illustrated Lecture and Vintage Films with Mel Gordon, author of Voluptious Panic: The Erotic World of Weimar Berlin
Date: Saturday, February 15
Time: 8:00
Admission: $8
Location: Observatory (543 Union Street at Nevin, Brooklyn; enter via Proteus Gowanus Gallery)
Tonight, the night after Valentine's Day, please join
Voluptious Panic: The Erotic World of Weimar Berlin
author Mel Gordon for a highly illustrated lecture in which he traces
the standard and atypical paths that international sex tourists followed
during the heyday of Paris' most unfettered years. He will also screen
rare filmic exposes of luxury brothels, gay and lesbian cabarets, nudist
supper clubs, lavish music hall productions, and love cult initiations.
The vast majority of the visual materials shown tonight have never been
presented since the 1930s and were purchased from private collectors.
More info
here.
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Stealing
corpses for anatomical dissection was a way of life for New York’s
earliest medical schools. It was even the spark that led to the nation’s
first riot, in 1788. But who were the earliest bodysnatchers, how did
they operate, and whose graves were they plundering? In this illustrated
lecture, Rest in Pieces
author Bess Lovejoy will discuss this forgotten chapter of New York’s
medical history, with some stops in points South. She’ll also cover some
archeological research on the victims of the bodysnatchers, and how
they have been remembered in the New York of today.
More info here.
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Selfies At Funerals: Postmortem Photography and Cultural Taboos: An Illustrated Lecture By Halli Gomberg
Date: Thursday, February 20
Time: 8:00 PM
Admission: $8
Location: Observatory (543 Union Street at Nevin, Brooklyn; enter via Proteus Gowanus Gallery)
Is
the phenomenon of “Selfies At Funerals” a new manifestation of social
media narcissism, or the last in a long line of older post mortem
cultural practices? This talk will explore the complex attitudes towards
death and photography over the course of American history, fom its
precursors in painted deathbed portraiture, through Victorian postmortem
and medical school dissection photographs and into newly emerging
technologies. We will examine how society deals with our private and
public mourning rituals, and why postmortem remembrance imagery can
still be a cultural taboo.
More info here.
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Anthropomorphic Mouse Taxidermy Class with Divya Anantharaman
Date: Sunday, February 23
Time: 12:00pm - 5pm
Admission: $110
SOLD OUT; email morbidanatomylibrary [at] gmail.com to be put on wait list
Location: Offsite: Morbid Anatomy Museum (New Space), 424 A 3rd Avenue
( Corner of 7th Street and 3rd Avenue ), 11215 Brooklyn, NY
Anthropomorphic
taxidermy--a practice in which taxidermied animals are posed as if
engaged in human activities--was an artform made famous by Victorian
taxidermist and museologist Walter Potter. In this class, as profiled by
the New York Times, students will learn to create--from start to
finish--anthropomorphic mice inspired by the charming and imaginative
work of Mr. Potter. Your final project might take the form of a
bespectacled, whiskey swilling, top hat tipping mouse; or perhaps a
rodent mermaid queen of the burlesque world? With some props and some
artful styling, your mouse can become whatever or whomever you want;
this is the joy of anthropomorphic taxidermy.
More info
here.
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Death
in a Nutshell: Frances Glessner Lee and the Nutshell Studies of
Unexplained Death: Illustrated lecture with Bruce Goldfarb, executive
assistant to the Chief Medical Examiner of Maryland
Date: Thursday, February 27
Time: 8:00
Admission: $8
Location: Observatory (543 Union Street at Nevin, Brooklyn; enter via Proteus Gowanus Gallery)
The
Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death is an extraordinary collection of
miniature dioramic death scenes, hand-crafted in the 1940s in obsessive
detail by Frances Glessner Lee. They were -- and still are -- used to
train police in the methods of forensic death investigation. Lee, a
wealthy socialite with no formal education who in middle age was
commissioned by the New Hampshire State Police, is considered the mother
of modern, scientific death investigation; she is also said to be the
inspiration for the character of Jessica Fletcher in
Murder, She Wrote.
Ttonight's illustrated lecture will tell the fascinating story of
Frances Glessner Lee and her Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death.
Later, on Saturday, March 29th, join Morbid Anatomy for a special field
trip to Baltimore featuring a tour of The Nutshells and the forensic
facilities by Mr. Goldfarb. Visits to additional "Charm City" highlights
will be organized with the help of our guide,
rogue taxidermist and "
angelic boyfriend" Robert Marbury."
More info
here.
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Bunny Taxidermy/ Jackalope Class with Rogue Taxidermist Katie Innamorato
Date: Sunday, March 2
Time: 12 – 6 PM
Admission: $275
***Tickets must be pre-purchased
here
Location:
Offsite: Morbid Anatomy Museum (New Space), 424 A 3rd Avenue ( Corner
of 7th Street and 3rd Avenue), 11215 Brooklyn , NY Subway: 4th Av - 9th Street (R - F - G)
This
class will introduce students to the process and techniques behind more
advanced basic small mammal taxidermy. Students will learn how to skin,
prep, preserve, mount, and position the animal. Attention will be
focused on how to properly split, turn, and position rabbit ears. Basic
armatures will be used and custom made forms (made by me) will be
provided. Students will learn how to make a custom body for their
specimens using an old traditional taxidermy technique of wrapping a
body. Using the carcass for reference, students will learn how to build
up and craft the bodies. Students encouraged to bring in any props they
may want to dress the animal up in. I will provide all specimens,
materials, and tools for the class. Each student will leave with his or
her own finished mount.
More
here.
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Melanistic Pheasant Taxidermy Class-Intermediate level class with Divya Anantharaman
Date: Saturday, March 8
Time: 1 pm - 5pm
Admission: $435
SOLD OUT; email
morbidanatomylibrary [at] gmail.com to be put on wait list
Location:
Offsite: Morbid Anatomy Museum (New Space), 424 A 3rd Avenue ( Corner
of 7th Street and 3rd Avenue), 11215 Brooklyn , NY
Limited class size of 3 people
In
this exclusive intermediate level workshop, we learn about the
melanistic pheasant and classic bird taxidermy. These large, beautiful
birds are a mutation of the common pheasant, first observed in the
1800s, and bred as a mutation in the 1920's/30's. Known for their unique
coloration, exquisitely patterned feathers and iridescent
green/black/purple plumage, these are very special birds!
More info here.
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Squirrel Taxidermy Class with Rogue Taxidermist Katie Innamorato
Date: Sunday, March 23rd
Time: 12 – 6 PM
Admission: $300
Must Pre-Purchase Tickets Here
*** Offsite: Morbid Anatomy Museum (New Space) , 424 A 3rd Avenue (Corner of 7th Street and 3rd Avenue), 11215 Brooklyn , NY
This
class will introduce students to basic small mammal taxidermy
processes. Each student will be provided with his or her own squirrel,
which they will skin, flesh, split, and prep for mounting. Students will
learn how to make a custom body for their specimens using an old
traditional taxidermy technique of wrapping a body. Using the carcass
for reference, students will learn how to build up and craft the bodies.
Students are encouraged to bring in any props they may want to dress
the animal up in. I will provide all specimens, materials, and tools for
the class. Each student will leave with his or her own finished mount.
More here.
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Bat in Glass Dome Workshop With Wilder Duncan (formerly of Evolution Store, Soho) and Laetitia Barbier, head librarian at The Morbid Anatomy Library
Date: Sunday, March 26
Time: 1 – 6 PM
Admission: $200
*** Tickets must be pre-purchased here
Location:
Offsite: Morbid Anatomy Museum (New Space), 424 A 3rd Avenue ( Corner
of 7th Street and 3rd Avenue), 11215. Brooklyn, NY
In
this class, students will learn how to create an osteological
preparation of a bat in the fashion of 19th century zoological displays.
A bat skeleton, a glass dome, branches, glue, tools, and all necessary
materials will be provided for each student, but one should feel welcome
to bring small feathers, stones, dried flowers, dead insects, natural
elements, or any other materials s/he might wish to include in his/her
composition. Students will leave the class with a visually striking,
fully articulated, “lifelike” bat skeleton posed in a 10” tall glass
dome. This piece can, in conjunction with the other creations in the DIY
Wunderkammer workshop series, act as the beginning of a genuine
collection of curiosities!
More here.
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Morbid Anatomy Baltimore Field-Trip Featuring The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death
Date: Saturday, March 29th
Cost: $100 (includes luxury ground transportation in Baltimore and all museum admissions.
Tickets can be found by clicking
here
Location: Baltimore, MD
Please note: This price DOES NOT cover bus transportation between New York and Baltimore, or meals. please email morbidanatomylibrary [at] gmail.com with questions.
Today, join Morbid Anatomy for a day of wondrous frolics in “Charm City” with special tour guide--and rogue taxidermist!--
Robert Marbury, whose Baltimore credentials include a star turn as Ricky Lake's "Angelic Boyfriend” in
John Waters' Cry-Baby.
Stops include
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Baltimore, where assistant to the examiner
Bruce Golfarb will lead us on a special tour of
The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death,
a collection of obsessively detailed miniature dioramic death scenes,
hand-crafted in the 1940s and still used to train police in the methods
of forensic death investigation;
Scarpetta House,
a full-sized furnished room donated by mystery novelist Patricia
Cornwell in which death scenes are staged to train forensic
investigators; the
Great Blacks in Wax Museum; and
the grave of Edgar Allan Poe, where we will engage in
a traditional Cognac toast.
Throughout the day, our delightful guide will also share with us his
favorite Baltimore sights, and regale us with stories of the secret,
fascinating, bizarre and sometimes tragic history of the city known
affectionately as "Mobtown.
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Winged Rats or Guinea Pigs Taxidermy Class with Rogue Taxidermist Katie Innamorato
Date: Sunday, April 6th
Time: 12 – 6 PM
Admission: $225
Must Pre-Purchase Tickets Here
*** Offsite: Morbid Anatomy Museum (New Space) , 424 A 3rd Avenue (Corner of 7th Street and 3rd Avenue), 11215 Brooklyn , NY
This
class will introduce students to basic small mammal taxidermy
processes. Each student will be provided with his or her own squirrel,
which they will skin, flesh, split, and prep for mounting. Students will
learn how to make a custom body for their specimens using an old
traditional taxidermy technique of wrapping a body. Using the carcass
for reference, students will learn how to build up and craft the bodies.
Students are encouraged to bring in any props they may want to dress
the animal up in. I will provide all specimens, materials, and tools for
the class. Each student will leave with his or her own finished mount.
More
here.
______________________________________________
Full list and more information on all events can be found
here. More on the Morbid Anatomy Art Academy can be found
here.
Top image: Vintage Valentine's Day card sourced
here
Hierarchies of the Dead: Bodysnatching in Old New York
