This Saturday and Sunday, why not make the trip out to Coney Island to take in some lectures and spirited discussions on the topics of the questionable delights of immersive amusements, human anatomy on display from fairground to museum, science for public amusement, dime museums and their place in the 21st Century imagination, and scholarship as artistic medium, featuring a variety of inspiring scholars, collectors, authors, artists and practitioners, and all housed provocatively within the immersive amusement that is the Great Coney Island Spectacularium?
Why not indeed!
The event--called the Congress for Curious Peoples and co-curated by The Morbid Anatomy Library --features many of my favorite scholars, artists, collectors and bon vivants, including (but not limited to!) Mark Dion, Norman Klein, Mark Dery, Lord Whimsy, John Troyer, Evan Michelson, Mike Zohn, and Laurel Braitman; I will also be on hand to present a brief paper and take part in a discussion, and, of course, there will be a scheduled break to take in the Super Freak Weekend Freakshow downstairs at Coney Island USA.
This is going to be a seriously unmissable weekend. Full schedule and line-up for the Congress for Curious Peoples follows. Can't wait, and hope very much to see you there!
The Congress for Curious Peoples
Saturday and Sunday, April 16th and 17th
The Coney Island Museum
1208 Surf Avenue, Brooklyn
Saturday April 16th
10:00 - 11:00 Keynote Speaker
Norman Klein, author of "The Vatican to Vegas: The History of Special Effects"11:30 - 1:30 "The New Curiosity": Scholarship as Artistic Medium
Mark Dion, Artist
Joanna Ebenstein, The Morbid Anatomy Library
Wendy Walker, author of "The Secret Service"
Moderated and introduced by Aaron Beebe, The Coney Island Museum
1:30 - 3:30: Lunch and Sideshow Visit
3:30 - 5:30: Immersive Amusements/ Scripted Spaces
Mark Dery, author "The Pyrotechnic Insanitarium: American Culture on the Brink"
Amy Herzog, author of "Dreams of Difference, Songs of the Same: The Musical Moment in Film"
Moderated and Introduced by Alison Griffiths, author of "Shivers Down Your Spine: Cinemas, Museums, and the Immersive View"
Sunday April 17th
10:00 - 12:00: The Fairground and The Museum: Human Anatomy on Display
Lisa Farrington, author of "Creating Their Own image: the History of African-American Women Artists"
Anna Maerker, author of "Model Experts: Wax Anatomies and Enlightenment in Florence and Vienna, 1775-1815"
Elizabeth Stephens, "Anatomy as Spectacle: Public Exhibitions of the Body from 1700 to the Present"
Moderated and introduced by John Troyer, author of "Technologies of the Human Corpse" (Forthcoming)12:00 - 1:00: Lunch
1:00 - 3:00: The 19th Century Dime Museum in the Contemporary Imagination
Will Baker, author of "Multiple Meanings and Values in Johnny Fox's Freakatorium"
Aaron Beebe, The Coney Island Museum
D. B. Denholtz, editor of "Shocked and Amazed: On & Off the Midway"
Evan Michelson, Obscura Antiques and star of TV's "Oddities"
Mike Zohn, Obscura Antiques and star of TV's "Oddities"
Moderated and introduced by Andrea Dennett, author of "Weird and Wonderful: The Dime Museum in America"
3:30 - 5:30: Science and Technology for Public Amusement
Laurel Braitman, author of "Animal Madness" (forthcoming)
Fred Nadis, author of "Wonder Shows: Performing Science, Magic, and Religion in America"
Simon Werrett, author of "Fireworks: Pyrotechnic Arts and Sciences in European History"
Moderated by Lord Whimsy/Allen Crawford, author of "The Affected Provincial's Companion, Volume One"
Tickets for the weekend are $25 and can be purchased by clicking here. To find out more about The Congress for Curious Peoples, click here. To find out more about The Spectacularium, click here and to read some recent reviews of The Spectacularium, click here and here.
Special thanks to the Andy Warhol Foundation, whose generosity helped to fund all of these fantastic events.
Also, the lovely poster was designed by the incomparable Lord Whimsy; click on image to see larger more readable version.
- "The Secret Museum" Exhibition Opening, Observatory, This Saturday, April 10, 7-10 PM - April 6th, 2010 [April 6th, 2010]
- Job Opportunities at the Medical Museion, University of Copenhagen - April 9th, 2010 [April 9th, 2010]
- "The Secret Museum" Exhibition Opening, Observatory, TONIGHT! April 10, 7-10 PM - April 10th, 2010 [April 10th, 2010]
- Animal Body Worlds at the Neunkirchen Zoo, Saarland, Germany - April 11th, 2010 [April 11th, 2010]
- Congress for Curious People: Lectures Begin Tomorrow Night at the Coney Island Museum! - April 12th, 2010 [April 12th, 2010]
- A Brief History of Automata, An Illustrated Lecture and Demonstration by Mike Zohn, Obscura Antiques and Oddities, TONIGHT! Coney Island Museum - April 14th, 2010 [April 14th, 2010]
- "The Brading Collection of Taxidermy, Waxworks, Costume and Similar Items," Duke's Auction House, Dorset, April 13th (Today!) - April 15th, 2010 [April 15th, 2010]
- Charles Wilson Peale and the Birth of the American Museum, Coney Island Museum, Tonight!!! - April 16th, 2010 [April 16th, 2010]
- "The Congress for Curious People," Epic 2-Day Symposium Begins Tomorrow!!! - April 16th, 2010 [April 16th, 2010]
- "A History of Taxidermy: Art, Science and Bad Taste," An Illustrated Presentation By Dr. Pat Morris, Congress for Curious People, Coney Island Museum - April 17th, 2010 [April 17th, 2010]
- The Dance of Death, 1919, Attributed to Josef Fenneker - April 20th, 2010 [April 20th, 2010]
- "Stuffed Animals and Pickled Heads" Book and Lecture by Stephen Asma, Thursday April 22, Observatory - April 21st, 2010 [April 21st, 2010]
- "The Silken Web: The Erotic World of Paris, 1920-1946," Mel Gordon Lecture at Observatory, Tomorrow April 20th - April 21st, 2010 [April 21st, 2010]
- "Museums, Monsters and the Moral Imagination" Lecture by Stephen Asma, Tonight!, Observatory - April 22nd, 2010 [April 22nd, 2010]
- "The Rogue Taxidermy Kunstkammer," The Minnesota Association of Rogue Taxidermists, La Luz de Jesus, Los Angeles - April 23rd, 2010 [April 23rd, 2010]
- "Anatomical Art: Dissection to Illustration," Exhibition Curated by Marie Dauenheimer, Arlington, Virginia - April 26th, 2010 [April 26th, 2010]
- "Excellent Old-School Science Models," Life Magazine Photo Gallery - April 28th, 2010 [April 28th, 2010]
- "Three Unique Medical Museums in Northern Italy," Lecture by Marie Dauenheimer, Observatory, Saturday May 1 - April 29th, 2010 [April 29th, 2010]
- Tomorrow Night at Observatory! "Three Unique Medical Museums in Northern Italy," Lecture by Marie Dauenheimer - April 30th, 2010 [April 30th, 2010]
- "Imaging / Imagining the Skeleton," Symposium, Tomorrow, Friday, April 30, 1:00-4pm, CUNY Graduate Center - May 1st, 2010 [May 1st, 2010]
- Kabinett des Grotesken ("Cabinet of the Grotesque"), Berliner Medizinhistorisches Museum der Charité, Spiegel Online - May 4th, 2010 [May 4th, 2010]
- Head of Discovery and Engagement, Wellcome Library, Employment Opportunity - May 5th, 2010 [May 5th, 2010]
- "Experimenting with Death: An Introduction to Terror Management Theory," Lecture, Observatory, Thursday May 6 - May 5th, 2010 [May 5th, 2010]
- The Taxidermy of Mr. Walter Potter and his Museum of Curiosities, Melissa Milgrom - May 6th, 2010 [May 6th, 2010]
- Tonight!!! "Experimenting with Death: An Introduction to Terror Management Theory," Lecture, Observatory - May 6th, 2010 [May 6th, 2010]
- Original Fritz Kahn Posters and Key Booklet, Sotheby's Vintage Posters Auction, May 13 - May 6th, 2010 [May 6th, 2010]
- "The Saddest Object in the World," An Illustrated Meditation, Observatory, Friday, May 7th - May 7th, 2010 [May 7th, 2010]
- "An Atlas of Topographical Anatomy after Plane Sections of Frozen Bodies," Christian Wilhelm Braune, 1877 - May 7th, 2010 [May 7th, 2010]
- Tonight!!! "The Saddest Object in the World," An Illustrated Meditation, Observatory - May 9th, 2010 [May 9th, 2010]
- Various works by Francois Maréchal - May 13th, 2010 [May 13th, 2010]
- The Pennsylvania Medical Humanities Consortium, May 19-20, College of Physicians, Philadelphia PA - May 14th, 2010 [May 14th, 2010]
- Morbid Magicians, Demented Doctors, and Sinister Swamis: The Golden Age of the American Spook Show, Observatory, Monday, May 17 - May 14th, 2010 [May 14th, 2010]
- Frank Frazetta, Renowned Fantasy Artist, Dies at 82 - May 15th, 2010 [May 15th, 2010]
- San Francisco Zen Center presents ‘The Accidents of our Materials’ with sculptors Arthur Ganson & Elizabeth King - May 18th, 2010 [May 18th, 2010]
- Various Works by George Washington Thomas Lambert - May 19th, 2010 [May 19th, 2010]
- The Never-Realized Führermuseum, Linz, Austria - May 21st, 2010 [May 21st, 2010]
- Proteus Gowanus Benefit/Anniversary Party, Saturday, May 22nd, 7-10 p.m. - May 21st, 2010 [May 21st, 2010]
- "Many Dead Things: The Specimens of Alex CF," Superette Gallery, London - May 22nd, 2010 [May 22nd, 2010]
- "The Secret Museum," Photography Exhibition, Observatory, Closes June 6th - May 23rd, 2010 [May 23rd, 2010]
- Various Figure Drawings by Sergio Lopez - May 24th, 2010 [May 24th, 2010]
- "Another Science Fiction," Tomorrow, Tuesday May 25, 86th Street Barnes and Noble, 7 PM, NYC - May 24th, 2010 [May 24th, 2010]
- The Secret Museum Website and Exhibition Closing Party - May 27th, 2010 [May 27th, 2010]
- Oxberry Pegs Presents: Animators Are God? Series, "The Clay Animation of Jimmy Picker," Saturday May 29th, Observatory - May 28th, 2010 [May 28th, 2010]
- Exhibition to Revisit Contemporary Korean Art - May 28th, 2010 [May 28th, 2010]
- Portrait Sketches by Luke Kopycinski - May 28th, 2010 [May 28th, 2010]
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Confiscated Items Online Auction, Ongoing - May 29th, 2010 [May 29th, 2010]
- Despite Tightening Up Of Society, Iranian Art Sees A Boom - May 29th, 2010 [May 29th, 2010]
- Various Works by Santiago Rusiñol - May 29th, 2010 [May 29th, 2010]
- Various works by Tina Spratt - May 30th, 2010 [May 30th, 2010]
- MAXXI Gallery, Rome’s First Contemporary Art Museum Opens Its Doors - May 31st, 2010 [May 31st, 2010]
- Michelangelo’s Hidden Sistine Chapel Message Discovered - May 31st, 2010 [May 31st, 2010]
- Various Works by Dorian Iten - June 3rd, 2010 [June 3rd, 2010]
- Monet’s Water-Lily Painting For Sale - June 3rd, 2010 [June 3rd, 2010]
- Secret Museum Closing Party and Morbid Anatomy Library/Observatory Open Studios, This Weekend! - June 3rd, 2010 [June 3rd, 2010]
- Art Students League of Denver Summer Art Market - June 3rd, 2010 [June 3rd, 2010]
- Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian (c. 200 CE) - June 3rd, 2010 [June 3rd, 2010]
- "I’m Officially Obsessed with Observatory," Melissa Stern for Time Out New York, June 2010 - June 4th, 2010 [June 4th, 2010]
- Gallery Nucleus Presents Enchanté - June 4th, 2010 [June 4th, 2010]
- Various Works by Edward Kinsella - June 4th, 2010 [June 4th, 2010]
- Renowned Sculpture Artist Louise Bourgeois Dies - June 4th, 2010 [June 4th, 2010]
- Various Works by Paul Gauguin - June 5th, 2010 [June 5th, 2010]
- Various Works by Stephen Pan - June 6th, 2010 [June 6th, 2010]
- Bravo Premieres “Work of Art” Reality Show - June 6th, 2010 [June 6th, 2010]
- Art of Photography Show – Entry Deadline June 7th - June 6th, 2010 [June 6th, 2010]
- "Anatomical Venuses, The Slashed Beauty, and Fetuses Dancing a Jig" Lecture, Coney Island Museum, Sunday June 13th, 4:30 PM - June 7th, 2010 [June 7th, 2010]
- Amazing Auction Alert! "The Gallery of Creation, a Museum of Natural History, Created by Joseph Hurt Studio, Inc.", Friday and Saturday, June 25 & 26 - June 9th, 2010 [June 9th, 2010]
- Various Works by Ron Hicks - June 10th, 2010 [June 10th, 2010]
- Two Upcoming Events at Observatory by Torino:Margolis - June 11th, 2010 [June 11th, 2010]
- This Sunday! "Anatomical Venuses, The Slashed Beauty, and Fetuses Dancing a Jig" Lecture, Coney Island Museum, Sunday June 13th, 4:30 PM - June 11th, 2010 [June 11th, 2010]
- Various Works by Lui Ferreyra - June 11th, 2010 [June 11th, 2010]
- "Borrowed from the Charnel House," Saul Chernick, Opening Tonight, NYC! - June 12th, 2010 [June 12th, 2010]
- Zoe Beloff London Engagements, Tonight and Tomorrow Night, June 10th and 11 - June 12th, 2010 [June 12th, 2010]
- Various Works by John M Collier - June 14th, 2010 [June 14th, 2010]
- “Show Time” by Mariano Steiner - June 15th, 2010 [June 15th, 2010]
- This Friday at Observatory! "The Anatomical Unconscious: X-Ray Specs, Visible Women, and the Eros of the Unseen," With Cult Author Mark Dery - June 18th, 2010 [June 18th, 2010]
- "Woman Advertising J.M. Dolph, Furniture Maker and Undertaker," Cabinet card, circa 1877 - June 19th, 2010 [June 19th, 2010]
- Various works by Karol Bak - June 22nd, 2010 [June 22nd, 2010]
- Amazing Auction Alert #2: "The Owsten Collection," June 25th and 26th, Sydney, Australia - June 23rd, 2010 [June 23rd, 2010]
- The Art of the Potentially Deadly Deal: Marketing Heroin on the Street - June 24th, 2010 [June 24th, 2010]
- This Tuesday at Observatory! Torino:Margolis Performance - June 28th, 2010 [June 28th, 2010]