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| Curing Tarantism by Dancing the Tarantella; sourced here. |
On Saturday December 15th, we will be hosting our fourth annual Morbid Anatomy holiday fair, the perfect place to find unique, niche, and off-the-beaten-path gifts for those hard-to-please folks on your shopping list. This year's iteration will feature oodles of taxidermy, artful bones, unusual antiques, odd edibles, Krampus cards, Morbid Anatomy swag, obscure books, abject housewares and assorted curiosities by vendors including Ryan Matthew Cohn of TV's Oddities; Morbid Anatomy Taxidermists in Residence Divya Anantharaman and Katie Innamorato; and artists Nicholas Kahn, Sarah Falkner, Rebeca Olguin, Elizabeth New and Mark Splatter. There will also be music and beer provided by our kind sponsor Brooklyn Brewery.
If that does not interest:this Friday, December 7th, we are delighted to host London-based artist Chiara Ambrosio for a talk and screening devoted to the "dance mania" of tarantism in Southern Italy (see image). On the following Monday, December 9th, All the Saints You Should Know's Elizabeth Harper's will present a talk on the relics of Paris. The very next evening, art historian Maura Coughlin will delight us with "Danse Macabre: Death and Material Ecologies in Brittany."
Morbid Anatomy's December is also filled witj parties and spectacles. First up is our Friday the 13th
(!) party, when we will celebrate Morbid Anatomy's
birthday with "The Devil- A Celebration" featuring an Illustrated
lecture by The Midnight Archive's Ronni Thomas; an artifact show and tell; live music by Bird Radio; DJed tunes and cocktails by Friese Undine; and sweets by Rachel Ridout. The very next night--Saturday December 14th--you won't want to miss our annual party devoted to Krampus, St. Nicholas' cloven-hooved, chain-swinging, lolling-toungued, child-punishing Eastern-European sidekick.
Come in your best Krampus costume to win prizes!
And, finally, for those who want to learn the craft of taxidermy, Morbid Anatomy Taxidermist in Residence Divya Anantharaman has scores of offerings just for you, including Anthropomorphic/Naturalistic Chipmunk Taxidermy Class Krampus Special (December 7); Skull, Bone, Antler Decoration Workshop (December 8) and Anthropomorphic/Naturalistic Squirrel Taxidermy Class (January 12).
And, finally, for those who want to learn the craft of taxidermy, Morbid Anatomy Taxidermist in Residence Divya Anantharaman has scores of offerings just for you, including Anthropomorphic/Naturalistic Chipmunk Taxidermy Class Krampus Special (December 7); Skull, Bone, Antler Decoration Workshop (December 8) and Anthropomorphic/Naturalistic Squirrel Taxidermy Class (January 12).
Full details follow on all events!
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Anthropomorphic/Naturalistic Chipmunk Taxidermy Class with Divya-Krampus Special!
A class with Morbid Anatomy Library Taxidermist in Residence Divya Anantharaman
Date: Saturday, December 7 (afternoon)
Time: 12:30PM
Admission: $120
*TICKETS MUST BE PRE-ORDERED AT http://chippytaxidermy.brownpapertickets.com/
***Offsite at The Fabricoscope (41 Willow Place, #2, 11201 Brooklyn) (MAP)
Subway: Court St, Borough Hall, Jay St. Metro Tech.
Perfect for beginners, this hands-on class will examine the nutty ways of the chipmunk! Students will create a fully-finished chipmunk mount in the naturalistic or anthropomorphic style of their choice. Students will learn everything involved in producing a finished mount - from initial preparation, hygiene and sanitary measures, to proper technique and dry preservation. The class will teach a few methods of creating a form to suit a small animal (sculpting, the age old technique of wrapping, and carving) and students will have the option of selecting which technique they would like to use for their piece. The use of anatomical study, reference photos, and detailed observation will also be reviewed as important tools in recreating the natural poses and expressions that magically reanimate a specimen. A selection of naturalistic and anthropomorphic props will be provided, however, students are welcome to bring their own bases and accessories if something specific is desired. All other supplies will be provided for use in class.
In the spirit of the holidays, we will have some extra special Krampus themed props, accessories, and refreshments!
Each student will leave class with a fully finished piece, and the knowledge to create their own pieces in the future.
Divya Anantharaman, one of the Morbid Anatomy Library's "taxidermists in residence," is a Brooklyn based artist whose taxidermy practice was sparked by a lifelong fascination with natural mythology and everyday oddities. After a journey filled with trial and error, numerous books, and an inspiring class (Sue Jeiven's popular Anthropomorphic Mouse Taxidermy Class at Observatory!), she has found her calling in creating sickly sweet and sparkly critters. Beginning with mice and sparrows, her menagerie grew to include domestic cats, woodchucks, and deer. Recently profiled on Vice Fringes, the New York Observer, and other publications, she will also be appearing in the upcoming season of Oddities-and is definitely up to no good shenanigans. You can find out more at www.d-i-v-y-a.com
Also, some technical notes:
- We use NO harsh or dangerous chemicals.
- Everyone will be provided with gloves.
- All animals are disease free.
- Although there will not be a lot of blood or gore, a strong constitution is necessary; taxidermy is not for everyone
- All animals were already dead, nothing was killed for this class.
- Please do not bring any dead animals with you to the class.
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Tarantism: Dance, Possession and Exorcism in Southern Italy: Illustrated Lecture and Screening with Chiara Ambrosio
Illustrated Lecture and Screening with Filmmaker and Artist Chiara Ambrosio with Thematic DJed music and Special Cocktails by Friese Undine
Date: Saturday, December 7 (evening)
Time: 8:00
Admission: $10
Presented by Morbid Anatomy
** This talk originally premiered at the 2013 Congress of Curious Peoples, London
Tarantism is a form of dance mania that illustrates the complex struggle between Pagnism and Catholicism in the South of Italy.
Its journey and development- from Greek and Roman times, through the middle ages and renaissance, straight through to the modern day- traces a story that transcends the history of medicine and religion to embrace a vast and complicated conversation about the political and socio-economical identity of a land, and the continued fight for freedom and emancipation in an extremely volatile and difficult terrain, both physical and psychological.
This event will begin with a talk will exploring Tarantism as a ritualistic spectacle that, through dance and music, offers a form of resistance and continuation of specific local histories beliefs and identity. After the talk, Chiara will screen her film "Time To Go,"which was heavily inspired by the ideas behind the talk and dance as a form of exorcism. There will also be DJed music and special artisinal cocktails courtesy of artist Friese Undine.
Chiara Ambrosio is a filmmaker working with animation, experimental film, documentary and sound to explore the ways in which we perceive, remember, articulate and preserve personal and collective histories and place through the filter of memory and the imagination. Her most recent works include “ A Walk Through Woods,” a film-cycle developed and filmed on location in North Cornwall, and “La Frequenza Fantasma (The Ghost Frequency)”, a feature-length documentary film-poem developed as part of a Fellowship in the Visual Anthropology department of Goldsmith University and filmed in a village in the South of Italy. Her first animation was produced and scored by British composer Michael Nyman, and her subsequent work has included collaborations with performance artists, musicians and writers, and has been shown in a number of venues including national and international film festivals, galleries and site-specific events. Chiara is also the founder and curator of The Light & Shadow Salon, a monthly film salon at The Horse Hospital in Bloomsbury. More information can be found at: www.acuriousroom.com.
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Skull, Bone, Antler Decoration Workshop with Divya Anantharaman
A class with Morbid Anatomy Library Taxidermist in Residence Divya Anantharaman
Date: Sunday, December 8
Time: 1:00 PM
Admission: $85.00
*TICKETS MUST BE PRE-ORDERED AT http://skulldecoration.brownpapertickets.com/
***Offsite at The Fabricoscope (41 Willow Place, #2, 11201 Brooklyn) (MAP)
Subway: Court St, Borough Hall, Jay St. Metro Tech.
For as long as humankind has been harvesting animals for food and clothing, we have also been using their bones to create tools, utensils, and art. A timeless tradition, from ancient to modern times, the possibilities are endless, and a great way to celebrate the holidays-with a decoration for your home, or creating a handmade gift for a loved one.
In this class, we will explore the many ways we can celebrate animals and our relationship to them by decorating their skulls, bones, and other parts using a number of materials and methods. Students will be guided in decorating a small skull, antler shed, or other part of their choice (from the selection provided). In addition to an assortment of skulls, bones, and shed antlers, decorative materials provided will include beads, crystals, expertly dried plants and flowers (Divya's signature specialty, used in her blooming skull and antler pieces), paints, finishes, and a number of other materials. Students are also welcome to bring their own design ideas or special items. There will also be inspirational images and books available for use.
This class will teach students everything involved in properly decorating bone in order to have a lasting piece, including initial cleaning, whitening and degreasing, any special preparation required based on the ornamentation of their choice, and a variety of attachment techniques. Tools and supplies will be provided for use in class.
Each student will leave class with a fully finished piece, and the knowledge to create their own pieces in the future.
Divya Anantharaman, one of the Morbid Anatomy Library's "taxidermists in residence," is a Brooklyn based artist whose taxidermy practice was sparked by a lifelong fascination with natural mythology and everyday oddities. After a journey filled with trial and error, numerous books, and an inspiring class (Sue Jeiven's popular Anthropomorphic Mouse Taxidermy Class at Observatory!), she has found her calling in creating sickly sweet and sparkly critters. Beginning with mice and sparrows, her menagerie grew to include domestic cats, woodchucks, and deer. Recently profiled on Vice Fringes, the New York Observer, and other publications, she will also be appearing in the upcoming season of Oddities-and is definitely up to no good shenanigans. You can find out more at www.d-i-v-y-a.com
Also, some technical notes:
- We use NO harsh or dangerous chemicals.
- Everyone will be provided with gloves.
- All animals are disease free.
- Although there will not be a lot of blood or gore, a strong constitution is necessary; taxidermy is not for everyone
- All animals were already dead, nothing was killed for this class.
- Please do not bring any dead animals with you to the class.
_______________________________________________
The Bones of the Saints: Unlocking the Secret History of Paris
An illustrated lecture by All the Saints You Should Know's Elizabeth Harper
Date: Monday, December 9
Time: 8:00
Admission: $8
Presented by Morbid Anatomy
Though frequently overlooked by tourists and locals alike, the holy dead of Paris continue to haunt the city to this day. The bodies of the saints are inextricably woven into the city and unlock some of the most fascinating chapters in the history of Paris.
In this highly illustrated talk, All the Saints You Should Know's Elizabeth Harper will introduce you to such curiosities as cephalophores, or decapitated saints like St. Denis, the patron saint of Paris; incorruptible corpses and their corruptible counterparts sculpted in wax that reside on the same street; the relics of Roman Empress St. Helena, the first relic hunter, now hidden away in a small parish crypt; the bones of 11,000 virgins that never existed; and finally the relics of the patroness of Paris and her connection the murder of an Archbishop by an occultist in the 19th century.
Elizabeth Harper writes All the Saints You Should Know, a blog on Catholic relics and lore as well as pieces on saints and sacred destinations for Atlas Obscura. She is the creator of the "Relics in Rome" map, which pinpoints hundreds of publicly viewable saints' relics in Rome's 900+ churches. She was also an organizer and presenter at Death Salon 2013. By day she is a lighting designer for theatre and opera. She's is currently collaborating with Teller from Penn and Teller on "Play Dead" in Los Angeles.
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Anthropomorphic/Naturalistic Squirrel Taxidermy Class with Divya Anantharaman
A class with Morbid Anatomy Library Taxidermist in Residence Divya Anantharaman
Date: Sunday, January 12
Time: 12:00 PM
Admission: $250.00
*TICKETS MUST BE PRE-ORDERED AT http://squirrelytaxidermy.brownpapertickets.com/
***Offsite at The Fabricoscope (41 Willow Place, #2, 11201 Brooklyn) (MAP)
Subway: Court St, Borough Hall, Jay St. Metro Tech.
In this intimate, hands-on class (limited to only five students), we will study the nutty ways of the squirrel! Students will create a fully-finished classic squirrel mount in a natural sitting position. Students will learn everything involved in producing a finished mount - from initial preparation, hygiene and sanitary measures, to proper technique and dry preservation. The class will offer the option of creating a form through the age old technique of wrapping and carving a head, or using a pre-fabricated head and sculpting a body. There will also be a carcass casting demo, and explanation of how foam mannikins are made. The use of anatomical study, reference photos, and detailed observation will also be reviewed as important tools in recreating the natural poses and expressions that magically reanimate a specimen. A selection of naturalistic and anthropomorphic props will be provided, however, students are welcome to bring their own bases and accessories if something specific is desired. All other supplies will be provided for use in class.
Each student will leave class with a fully finished piece, and the knowledge to create their own pieces in the future.
Divya Anantharaman, one of the Morbid Anatomy Library's "taxidermists in residence," is a Brooklyn based artist whose taxidermy practice was sparked by a lifelong fascination with natural mythology and everyday oddities. After a journey filled with trial and error, numerous books, and an inspiring class (Sue Jeiven's popular Anthropomorphic Mouse Taxidermy Class at Observatory!), she has found her calling in creating sickly sweet and sparkly critters. Beginning with mice and sparrows, her menagerie grew to include domestic cats, woodchucks, and deer. Recently profiled on Vice Fringes, the New York Observer, and other publications, she will also be appearing in the upcoming season of Oddities-and is definitely up to no good shenanigans. You can find out more at www.d-i-v-y-a.com
_______________________________________________
Also, some technical notes:
- We use NO harsh or dangerous chemicals.
- Everyone will be provided with gloves.
- All animals are disease free.
- Although there will not be a lot of blood or gore, a strong constitution is necessary; taxidermy is not for everyone
- All animals were already dead, nothing was killed for this class.
- Please do not bring any dead animals with you to the class.
Danse Macabre: Death and Material Ecologies in Brittany
Illustrated lecture by Art Historian Maura Coughlin
Date: Tuesday, December 10
Time: 8:00
Admission: $8
Presented by Morbid Anatomy
Ossuaries, skull boxes, widows weeds and material substitutions for bodies missing at sea figure in many travel narratives, popular images and paintings of Breton coastal culture. Many representations depict the seemingly anachronistic practice of reburial of the body, several years after its interment; the ritual function of the ossuary in the churchyard; the display of individual skull boxes in the church and ossuary; and the hybrid Celtic-Christian culture of death lore, Toussaint and the Ankou (grim reaper) in Brittany. A range of artistic topographies have been written onto the Breton landscape, mapping out an ecology of place, obsessed with the pervasive nature of death. Maura Coughlin will explore topics of death, mourning, waste and ecology in coastal Brittany from about 1850 to 1940.
Maura Coughlin, after receiving a PhD in Art History from New York University in 2001, taught at Brown University, RISD and in the art history departments of several New England Universities. She is now Associate Professor of Visual Studies at Bryant University. In late fall of 2013, she has essays related to her talk at Morbid Anatomy being published in two new collections: Death Tourism: Disaster Sites as Recreational Landscape. Edited by Brigitte Sion (Seagull Books - Enactments, December 2013 ) and Women and the Material Culture of Death (Edited by Maureen Daly Goggin and Beth Fowkes Tobin (Ashgate) November 2013). She also runs the blog materialbrittany.blogspot.com—a stew of thoughts on visual and material culture related to Brittany, where mourning, skulls, fish, seaweed, death and compost all collide—and is working on a film, Danse Macabre, which uses layers of imagery and sound work to mimic some of the associations conjured by the fin de siècle fascination with the cult of death in Brittany.
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THE DEVIL - A Celebration and Morbid Anatomy Birthday Party
Illustrated lecture by The Midnight Archive's Ronni Thomas; Artifact Show and Tell; Live Music by Bird Radio; DJed tunes and cocktails by Friese Undine; Sweets by Rachel Ridout; and Morbid Anatomy Birthday Party
Date: Friday, December 13
Time: 8:00
Admission: $12
Presented by Morbid Anatomy
This Friday the 13th of December, join us for a night of demonic fun as we explore history’s most elusive and alluring character - The Christian Devil. Morbid Anatomy filmmaker in Residence Ronni Thomas (themidnightarchive.com) has a freely admitted obsession with the Devil; tonight he will discuss his origin, his life, his evolution, and his importance in “three acts”; early Christianity, middle ages, and romantic-modern era’. We will also take a look at the Devil’s fascinatingly designed Hell as perceived by Dante, Tundale, Bosch and many others. How did the Devil go from being a genuine and terrifying threat to becoming a champion for the passionate and rebellious? Where did the devil get his horns? What did 666 represent?
The event will be interactive through dialogue, art and physical artifacts provided from Thomas’ own collection and that of Oddities' Evan Michelson’s private collection. And most importantly the event will bring our own little devil Joanna Ebenstein (founder of Morbid Anatomy) to her 25th year of age ;) We will also be celebrating the birthday of special guest Chiara Ambrosio. Cocktails by Friese Undine and demonic themed music throughout as well as decorated ambiance and festivities. There will also be live music by London's Bird Radio and sweets by Rachel Ridout. Not to miss-ssssssss…
Ronni Thomas is the Morbid Anatomy Museum Filmmaker in Residence. He is creator of The Midnight Archive web series is an avid drinker who appreciates both the history of antique spirits and the effects they have on his self esteem. He is currently working on a film about Victorian anthropomorphic taxidermist Walter Potter; more on that here.
Image: The Hours of Catherine of Cleves, 1440; sourced at Metal on Metal
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The Ghoul a Go Go and Morbid Anatomy Krampus A Go-Go Costume Party!
Date: Saturday, December 14
Time: 8:00
Admission: $13
Presented by Morbid Anatomy and Ghoul a Go Go
Join Ghoul A Go-Go and Morbid Anatomy at Observatory for their 200th annual party devoted to Krampus, St. Nicholas' cloven-hooved, chain-swinging, lolling-toungued, child-punishing Eastern-European sidekick! We've emptied a bag full of children to make room for all the fun!
A mystery episode of Ghoul A Go-Go will be shown in a darkened room. Cardone the Ultimate Vaudeville Magician will be there to astound you with his ultimate Vaudeville magic. Dust off that old Krampus outfit, because there will be a Krampus Kostume Kontest with a prize for the best! Instead of a movie, this year Creighton will be showing clips from his secret stash of bizarre holiday films.
You'll believe a reindeer can fly!
You will also have some beer, wine, and an Old Country favorite shot to warm you up! There will even be a Krampus Kake for those who are into that sort of thing. It wouldn't be the Observatory if you didn't learn yerself nuthin'. So, Vlad and Creighton will teach you their style of taxidermy. Creighton will demonstrate the process right before your eyes. You will then be given the opportunity to make your own critter (while supplies last) and a prize awarded for best monstrosity!
* Ghoul A Go-Go “MYSTERY EPISODE” with Vlad & Creighton appearing LIVE!
* CARDONE performing magic!
* Creighton screens his secret stash of bizarre holiday films!
* Taxidermy lesson as taught by Creighton: Everybody will a chance to create their own taxidermied critter!
* Krampus Kostume Kontest with prize awarded to best!
* Brew and spirits from The Old Country! Krampus Kake! More fun than you can beat with a stick!
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Holiday fair with multiple vendors serving your alternative holiday needs including taxidermy galore, artful bones, Krampus cards, unusual antiques, odd edibles, obscure books, abject housewares and assorted curiosities
Date: Saturday, December 14
Time: Noon - 6:00 PM
Admission: Free
Beer courtesy of our sponsor Brooklyn Brewery
Please join us on Saturday December 14th for the Morbid Anatomy annual holiday fair, the perfect place to find unique, niche, and off-the-beaten-path gifts for those hard-to-please folks on your shopping list. This year's iteration will feature oodles of taxidermy, artful bones, unusual antiques, odd edibles, Krampus cards, Morbid Anatomy swag, obscure books, abject housewares and assorted curiosities by vendors including Ryan Matthew Cohn of TV's Oddities; Morbid Anatomy Taxidermists in Residence Divya Anantharaman and Katie Innamorato; and artists Nicholas Kahn, Sarah Falkner, Rebeca Olguin, Elizabeth New and Mark Splatter. There will also be music and beer provided by our kind sponsor Brooklyn Brewery.
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