We at Morbid Anatomy are SO excited to announce the return to Observatory of one of our all-time favorite speakers, that silver-tongued rogue scholar Mel Gordon, author of, among many other books, Grand Guiginol: Theatre of Fear and Terror, The Seven Addictions and Five Professions of Anita Berber; and Voluptuous Panic: The Erotic World of Weimar Berlin.

On Sunday, June 3, Mr. Gordon will be giving an illustrated lecture at Observatory based on his research for the book Erik Jan Hanussen: Hitler's Jewish Clairvoyant followed by a special screening of "lost" film footage from Hanussen's 1919 "Hypnosis: Hanussen's First Adventure," a Caligari-like story of sex magic and the occult. Books will also be available for sale and signing.

For those who have not yet seen Mr. Gordon speak, trust me; this is a night not to be missed. Full details follow; hope very much to see you there!

Erik Jan Hanussen: Hitler's Jewish Clairvoyant: An Illustrated Lecture and Screening with Mel Gordon, Author of "Erik Jan Hanussen: Hitler's Jewish Clairvoyant"
An illustrated lecture and screening of "lost footage" with Mel Gordon, author of Erik Jan Hanussen: Hitler's Jewish Clairvoyant and Grand Guiginol: Theatre of Fear and Terror
Date: Sunday, June 3 (please note date change from Monday, June 4)
Time: 8:00
Admission: $8
Presented by Morbid Anatomy

"Historians digging into the archives to reconstruct the chronicle of the Twentieth Century will have to deal with this strange phenomenon of Erik Jan Hanussen, born Herschmann Steinschneider in the humble home of a poor Jewish actor in Vienna. It will be their task to unravel a complex maze of reality and legend, myth and romance, to reach the core of the true personality of Steinschneider, alias Hanussen, and his influence on one of the most significant chapters of European history, the ascent and reign of Adolf Hitler." --Pierre van Paassen, Redbook Magazine, "The Date of Hitler's Fall," May 1942

When Pierre van Paassen, the prominent Dutch author and foreign correspondent, wrote the above for McCall's Redbook Magazine, the "amazing exploits of Erik Jan Hanussen" were still hot international filler. What could have been more titillating than the true and enigmatic story of a Jewish mystic who helped usher in the Third Reich before  becoming one of its first victims?

Tonight, join Mel Gordon--author of Erik Jan Hanussen: Hitler's Jewish Clairvoyant--for an illustrated lecture on the amazing story of Hitler's Jewish Clairvoyant featuring a special screening of "lost" film footage from Hanussen's 1919 "Hypnosis: Hanussen's First Adventure," a Caligari-like story of sex magic and the occult, and other documentary sources. Books will also be available for sale and signing.

Mel Gordon is the author of Erik Jan Hanussen: Hitler's Jewish Clairvoyant, Grand Guiginol: Theatre of Fear and Terror, Voluptious Panic: The Erotic World of Weimar Berlin, and many other books. Voluptious Panicwas the first in-depth and illustrated book on the topic of erotic Weimar; The lavish tome was praised by academics and inspired the establishment of eight neo-Weimar nightclubs as well as the Dresden Dolls and a Marilyn Manson album. Now, Mel Gordon is completing a companion volume for Feral House Press, entitled Horizontal Collaboration: The Erotic World of Paris, 1920-1946. He also teaches directing, acting, and history of theater at University of California at Berkeley.

More here.

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A new season of The Midnight Archive--that wonderful web-based documentary series centered around Brooklyn's Observatory--will be launching shortly, and series creator Ronni Thomas has just posted an exciting new teaser to give you a taste of what is to come, which, as you will see, will include featurettes on yours truly, the amazing Weimar-revivalist/performance artist Max Raabe, the time-traveling collection of Evan Michelson, the Victorian machines of Tim Mullen, Stanley Burns and his collection of Post-Mortem photography, and the green fairy herself, absinthe!

You can view the excellent teaser by clicking "play" above.

And here is what series creator Thomas has to say about this upcoming season:

Coming up shortly - after a brief hiatus the Midnight Archive web series is on its way back complete with all new things to make your eyes bulge. This season shifts focus to some prolific collections and their owners including our gal Joanna Ebenstein (Morbid Anatomy/Brooklyn Observatory) and the elegant and charming Evan Michelson (owner of Obscura Antiques in NYC) - but we also sprinkle in a decent dose of the old who/what/where/why's of the obscure. We're excited to get it underway and always excited to hear your feedback - prepare for a great stretch! 

For more on the series, to see any of the episodes, or to sign up for the mailing list and thus be alerted to future uploads, visit The Midnight Archive website by clicking here. You can also "like" it on Facebook--and be alerted in this way--by clicking here.

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Morbid Anatomy Library's mother space, Proteus Gowanus, is having a benefit party! Invitation follows. Hope very much to see you there!

More information--and tickets!--here.

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Some of you out there might remember a recent post on this blog about the work of one of our favorite contemporary artists, self taught ceroplast Sigrid Sarda, whom you might also have seen profiled on the "Wax" episode of The Midnight Archive (see above) or on the fantastic i09.com.

We at Morbid Anatomy are very, very delighted to announce that Sigrid will be bringing her amazing craftsmanship (see her wax self-portrait-in-progress photographed above) to Observatory to teach two special classes developed as part of the nascent Morbid Anatomy Art Academy. The first class, Life and Death Mask Making Workshop, will take place on Sunday, June 3rd, and the second class. Anatomical Wax Votive Making Workshop will take place Sunday June 24th. In both classes, students will leave with their own finished piece to take home, and the knowledge to make their own pieces in the future.

Class size is very limited; if interested, please RSVP to morbidanatomy [at] gmail.com.

Full details follow; hope to see you at one or both of these terrific classes!

Life and Death Mask Making Workshop with Artist Sigrid Sarda
Date: Sunday, June 3
Time: 10 AM - 4 PM
Admission: $100 (includes $40 materials fee)
*** Limited class size; Must RSVP to morbidanatomy [at] gmail.com
This class is part of The Morbid Anatomy Art Academy

For many centuries and in many civilizations, artisans have created what are called "Life Masks" or "Death Masks" cast from the faces of the famous or the infamous to preserve their likeness--living or dead--for posterity. In this class, students will learn to create their very own Life Masks working with alginate--a non-toxic seaweed-based mold making product that is easy on the skin--and plaster. Students will pair up and cast one another, but don't be alarmed; the workshop's instructor Ms. Sarda assures us that you will love this experience, and that most everyone who has been cast comes out feeling relaxed to the point of jello, with the extra insentive of a free facial. All materials are included, and each student will leave class home with their face immortalized in plaster.
The day's schedule:

• Partnering up and casting
• Adding plaster to the negative mold
• An hour break for lunch (give or take depending on how fast the plaster dries)
• Demolding and cleaning the cast
• Touching up any imperfections in the plaster cast

Warning: If you are someone who is extremely claustrophobic, this is not for you. Dress casually and have fun!

Sigrid Sarda is self taught in the art of ceroplastics. She has been featured on such programs as The Midnight Archive and will be appearing on TV's Oddities this June. She will be showing her work in London this fall. You can find out more here, here and here.

Anatomical Wax Votive Making Workshop with Artist Sigrid Sarda
Date: Sunday, June 24
Time: 10 AM - 4 PM
Admission: $145 (includes $63 materials fee)
*** Limited class size; Must RSVP to morbidanatomy [at] gmail.com
This class is part of The Morbid Anatomy Art Academy

The Votive: Expressing or symbolizing a wish, desire, or vow; Offered, given, undertaken, performed or dedicated in fulfillment of or in accordance with a vow.

Anatomical votives--or replicas of diseased body parts left at a holy place either in hopes of curing ailments or in gratitude for having been healed--have been widely utilized since ancient times. Common media for votives have included terra cotta, marble, silver, and, our personal favorite, wax. In this class, expert wax worker and artist Sigrid Sarda will teach students to create an uncannily lifelike wax votive of the body part of their choice. Each student will leave class with a finished wax votive as well as a knowledge of mold making, wax craft, and the history and meaning of the anatomical votive.
Students are encouraged to focus on an afflicted body part for which they seek relief, or, if they are lacking any unfortunate ailments--be it an ear ache, psoriasis, or that pesky cutaneous horn--to choose a body part that is symbolic to them in anticipation of a particular wish or prayer. Symbolic meanings include the hand which traditionally equates to justice, strength, pledge of faith, power or sincerity, and the foot equating to humility and respect. If that doesn’t suffice we’ll make one up as we go along.
Using an ancient formula created by practitioners of wax modeling, you will create an object for your prayer. The steps taken to reach the desired goal are: first, casting your body part into alginate and creating a negative mold; second, pouring wax into the mold; and finally, demold and clean your votive.

The class will begin with a short talk on the history of votives followed by casting the the body part of your choice. Next, we will take a short break for lunch. following which we will de-mold and clean your lovely wax votive. Please dress casually (it’s a bit messy and very fun). All you need is to bring yourself. All materials are provided, and you get to leave class with your very own votive.

Sigrid Sarda is self taught in the art of ceroplastics. She has been featured on such programs as The Midnight Archive and will be appearing on TV's Oddities this June. She will be showing her work in London this fall. You can find out more here, here and here.

You can find out more about Sigrid and her work here, here and here. You can find out about the classes and Observatory by clicking here. To sign up for the class, please RSVP to morbidanatomy [at] gmail.com. All photos by Sigrd Sarda of her own work.

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Tonight at Observatory, hope to see you for a screening of Kat Green's intriguing looking film "The Secret Life of Mushrooms," a documentary about psychedelic Psilocybin mushroom tourism in Mexico, followed by a Q and A with the filmmakers. Also coming up: workshops withc ceroplast Sigrid Sarda in wax anatomical votives and life and death masks; "Drawing from the Bestiary" class with Saul Chernick; an upcoming lecture with Mel Gordon about Erik Jan Hanussen: Hitler’s Jewish Clairvoyant; and the screening of a film detailing the unexpectedly dark history of Jell-O.

Full list of upcoming events follows; Hope to see you at one--if not more!--of these terrific events.

"The Secret Life of Mushrooms" -- Screening and Q and A with the Filmmakers
Screening of the film "The Secret Life of Mushrooms" with the film's producer/director Kathleen Green and interviewer Dan Glass
Date: TONIGHT Monday, May 21
Time: 8:00
Admission: $5
Presented by Morbid Anatomy

"Kat Green's documentary on mushroom tourism in Mexico is a valuable and insightful examination of the fallout when global culture encounters indigenous sacred traditions. At a time when most of the focus is on ayahuasca tourism in the Amazon, Kat's documentary reminds us that mushroom tourism continues, as it has since the 60s. Well worth viewing!" – Dr. Dennis McKenna, co-author of The Invisible Landscape: Mind, Hallucinogens, and the I Ching

Psilocybin mushrooms were first brought into the public consciousness in the late 1950's after R. Gordon Wasson discovered the ceremonial mushroom rituals of the Mazatec Indians in Mexico and published his findings in Life magazine.?? Huautla de Jimenez – the largest town in the Sierra Mazateca – was made famous amongst spiritual seekers, resulting in a hippie invasion to the remote mountain town that lasted over a decade. Today, mushrooms are still commonly used for healing, and have become a very public symbol of Huautla's pride in their culture.?? The Secret Life of Mushrooms features interviews with anthropologist and author of The Devil's Book of Culture, Ben Feinberg, local curandera Ines Cortes Rodriguez, Mazatec ritual specialist Edward Abse, and a wide variety of local historians, musicians, and business owners, as journalist Dan Glass investigates the long term cultural effects that outsiders have had on the small mountain town in the last 50 years.
Tonight, join filmmakers Kathleen Green and Dan Glass for a screening of The Secret Life of Mushrooms at Observatory, followed by a brief Q & A. You can find out more about the film by clicking here.

Kathleen Green (Producer/Director – The Secret Life of Mushrooms) Brooklyn filmmaker Kathleen Green has been working in film, video, and live event production since 1997. In that time, she has created documentaries, music videos, short films, and visual art with the goals of finding untold stories, exploring new ways to capture dance on camera, and generally making pretty things to look at.  Her work has been screened at the Dance on Camera Festival, Coney Island Film Festival, the New York Tango Film Festival, the 2007 Americans for the Arts Convention, the Pioneer Theatre, Collective: Unconscious, the Bowery Poetry Club, on the Fuse network, and at various galleries in Berlin. She has also worked with HBO, MTV, MSNBC, the Sundance Channel, VH1, Fuse, and the History Channel as a freelance editor and post supervisor.  She is currently developing a non-fiction series about fire artists and their work entitled Playing With Fire, and the dance film, Strange Attractors. 

Dan Glass (Interviewer – The Secret Life of Mushrooms) Dan Glass has written travel, science, and culture stories about such diverse subjects as solar eclipse chasing, Puerto Rican senior citizen bicycle gangs, the psychological effect of viewing earth from space, and flophouses in Coney Island, among others. He's traveled through over 40 countries on five continents, with highlights including excursions to Ethiopia's Omo Valley to find ritual stickfighting battles, solo horse treks through central Mongolia, and riverboat trips 800 miles down the Congo River. His work has been featured in outlets including Wired, NPR, Discover, and Playboy Online. He lives in New York City.

And onward and upwards:

• May 31: “Powder House” A Film about Jell-O: Screening of this film about this "symbol, multi-faceted and elusive; it’s silly, playful, funereal, American. It’s made from bones." Q and A with the filmmakers
• June 3: Life and Death Mask Making Workshop with Artist Sigrid Sarda *** Must RSVP to morbidanatomy [at] gmail.com
• June 3: (please note date change)  Erik Jan Hanussen: Hitler’s Jewish Clairvoyant: An illustrated lecture and screening of “lost footage” with Mel Gordon, author of Erik Jan Hanussen: Hitler’s Jewish Clairvoyant and Grand Guiginol: Theatre of Fear and Terror
• June 24: Anatomical Wax Votive Workshop with Artist Sigrid Sarda ***Must RSVP to morbidanatomy [at] gmail.com
• June 25: Class: Drawing from the Bestiary: Animal Anatomy of Real and Imagined Creatures: 4-Part Class with Artist Saul Chernick, M.F.A., Rutgers University ***Must RSVP to morbidanatomy [at] gmail.com
• June 30: Anthropomorphic Insect Shadowbox Workshop: With former AMNH Senior Insect Preparator Daisy Tainton
• June 30: Morbid Anatomy Library Post-Disaster Benefit SAVE THE DATE 
• July 7: Anthropomorphic Insect Shadowbox Workshop: With former AMNH Senior Insect Preparator Daisy Tainton
• July 13: Anatomical Venuses, The Slashed Beauty, and Fetuses Dancing a Jig: Illustrated lecture by Morbid
  Anatomy founder Joanna Ebenstein, followed by afterparty featuring thematic music and specialty cocktails by Friese Undine

You can find out more about all events by clicking here.

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As the walls of the old Easter Seals pool came down last Wednesday, Bill Ruff thought back to the questions that surrounded Vector Rehabilitation's decision to buy a leaky pool 19 months ago.

Are you crazy?' That's what some people asked me. I looked them straight in the eye and said, Right. I'm nuts. What's your point?

Today, the chief executive officer of the renamed Vector Physical Therapy and Aquatic Center and the board of directors he works with are looking more like visionaries. The state-of-the art heated therapy pool is the centerpiece of an estimated $2.6 million overhaul of 3289 Edgewood Road in Eureka. The former owner, Easter Seals of Northern California, cited a flow of red ink and, despite community uproar, shuttered the pool and adult daycare facility in April 2010.

Heated to 92 degrees Fahrenheit, the new 52-foot by 18-foot pool will open to the public late fall. Ruff expects to add four to eight full-time equivalent jobs -- half of them with benefits. His payroll will jump 30 to 40 percent, and his Medicare reimbursement will jump 10 percent by adding anywhere from 400 to 800 new clients a year. And that's just for starters.

The Humboldt Del Norte Medical Society wrote a letter in support of the project and Humboldt State kinesiology professor Justus Ortega is eager to start research projects to compare pool and land therapy benefits for walking and fall prevention.

Heated pool therapy is non-weight-bearing,

This is going to put us at a level I don't think any of us comprehended when we started, Ruff said. We'll have community education classes, top of the line physical therapy, a partnership with HSU to train students and produce research, and a place special needs students from local schools can use.

They are so community-oriented, Ortega said, When you say, 'Hey, can we do this? Their first answer is yes. They say they'll find a way to make it happen. They're solution-oriented.

About 100 former student and community users have been looking for a solution since the pool closed.

When are you going to get that pool open is all I hear from doctors I visit and people who call, Ruff said. People are still asking if I'm crazy, but now that we've broken ground and are gearing up for active programs, it's becoming reality for 90 percent of the people.

Read more from the original source:
Anatomy of a turnaround; Vector starts new era with pool groundbreaking