{"id":1045559,"date":"2013-04-09T12:18:22","date_gmt":"2013-04-09T16:18:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.immortalitymedicine.tv\/anatomy\/lovers-eye-and-masonic-prank-initiation-devices-illustrated-lectures-with-one-night-only-mini-exhibits-dance-of-death-linocut-class-workshops-in-taxidermy-hair-art-anthropomorphic-insects-and-ba.php"},"modified":"2024-08-17T17:24:11","modified_gmt":"2024-08-17T21:24:11","slug":"lovers-eye-and-masonic-prank-initiation-devices-illustrated-lectures-with-one-night-only-mini-exhibits-dance-of-death-linocut-class-workshops-in-taxidermy-hair-art-anthropomorphic-insects-and-ba","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.euvolution.com\/futurist-transhuman-news-blog\/anatomy\/lovers-eye-and-masonic-prank-initiation-devices-illustrated-lectures-with-one-night-only-mini-exhibits-dance-of-death-linocut-class-workshops-in-taxidermy-hair-art-anthropomorphic-insects-and-ba.php","title":{"rendered":"Lover’s Eye and Masonic Prank Initiation Devices Illustrated Lectures with One-Night-Only Mini Exhibits! Dance of Death Linocut Class! Workshops in Taxidermy, Hair Art, Anthropomorphic Insects and Bat Skeleton Domes! "Rest in Pieces" Book Party! Special London-based series this June and July! Morbid Anatomy Presents this Week and Beyond…"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/a><\/div>
<\/a><\/div>
<\/a><\/div>
This Thursday, April 11, Morbid Anatomy hopes to see you at Brooklyn's Observatory at our \"Lover's Eye\" event, a night dedicated to enigmatic portrait miniatures featuring only the sitters eye that were often used to commemorate illicit love affairs in the 18th century. The lineup will consist of an illustrated lecture tracing their history and resurgence in contemporary art, as well as a one-night-only mini exhibit of actual antique examples from a private collection. See top image for a special sneak preview of the lecture!<\/div>
<\/div>
We also are excited to announce our newly added \"Masonic Slapstick\" evening, which will take place on Tuesday April 30 and explore the work of the DeMoulin Brothers, leading makers of \"initiation prank devices\" for the masons and other lodges. It will begin with an illustrated lecture by John Goldsmith, Curator of the DeMoulin Museum, followed by a one-night-only exhibition of initiation devices curated by Mike Zohn, co-star of TV's \"Oddities\"<\/a>. The second image down shows one of the DeMoulin Brothers's works, a \"Parade Goat.\"<\/div>
<\/div>

We are also excited to announce a new, typically inspired class by Morbid Anatomy Art Academy<\/a>'s regular instructor Lado Pochkua. In this class, entitled \"Dance of Death by Hans Holbein: A Linocut Workshop\" (Mondays May 20, 27th and June 3, bottom image) students will learn the techniques of woodcuts and linocuts by creating a copy of one of Hans Holbein’s prints from his 1538 Dance of Death series, and will leave class with their own finished Dance of Death linocut and the skills to produce their own pieces in the future.<\/p>

<\/div>
Other upcoming offerings include taxidermy, hair art, anthropomorphic insect shadow box AND bat skeleton dome workshops, Rest in Pieces<\/a><\/i> book party, and a special London-based series this June and July.<\/div>
<\/div>
Full details follow. Hope to see you at one or more of these terrific events!<\/div>
____________________________________________________<\/b><\/div>
\"\"<\/a><\/dt><\/dl><\/div>
Love’s Unknowable Eye: The Curious History and Mysterious Allure of 18th century “Lovers Eyes” <\/b>Illustrated lecture and Genuine \"Lover's Eye\" Show and Tell with Artist Lauren Levato
Date: Thursday, April 11th
Time: 8.00
Admission: $8
Presented by Morbid Anatomy<\/a><\/div>
<\/div>
Tonight at Observatory, we invite you to join us for a highly illustrated talk on what were historically called \"eye miniatures,\" now called “lover’s eyes.” These beautiful portrait miniatures, featuring only the eye of the sitter, enjoyed a brief stint of outrageous popularity in the 18th century after a scandal involving the Prince of Wales, an illicit love affair, and a dramatic suicide attempt over the rejected love of a forbidden woman. Often created as tokens of memory for unsanctioned love, these gorgeous paintings—intensely intimate yet mysteriously anonymous—were lushly rendered on such media as ivory or copper. More than just treasures or statements of wealth, they were symbols of devotion, marriage, death, infidelity, memory, and promise. Nearly all of these enigmatic eyes are from lovers unknown, fictions that lure us with a fixed gaze, unyielding in its mystery and desire. Although the feverish mania for these objects ended nearly as quickly as it began, they continue to inspire, serving as muse to contemporary artists, photographers, painters and tattooists who explore the concept in thoroughly contemporary manners.<\/div>
<\/div>
Tonight, Chicago based artist Lauren Levato--who curates a private collection containing thousands of objects of erotic affection, including several lover’s eyes set in brooches, rings, pill boxes, and bracelets--will trace the history and phenomenon of Lover’s Eyes, of which only an estimated 1,000 are known to still exist.<\/div>
<\/div>
Lauren will also bring some authentic 18th century Lover’s Eyes for your delectation.<\/div>
Lauren Levato<\/a> is a visual artist and writer.  She is working on her exhibition for the International Museum of Surgical Science, opening in December, and has begun her own collection of lover’s eyes in tattoo form, as a type of signature of some of today’s best working tattooers.<\/div>
<\/div>
Image: Unknown \"Lover's Eye\" on braided hair bracelet, Georgian period; Private collection<\/div>
<\/div>
 ____________________________________________________<\/b><\/div>
<\/div>
\"\"<\/a>Raccoon Head Taxidermy Class with Rogue Taxidermist Katie Innamorato<\/b>
<\/a><\/div>
Date: Sunday, April 14<\/div>
Time: 12 – 6 PM<\/div>
Admission: $350<\/div>
***Class Limited to 5; Must RSVP to katie.innamorato [at] gmail.com<\/a> <\/div>
This class is part of The Morbid Anatomy Art Academy<\/a><\/div>
<\/div>
This course will introduce students to basic and fundamental taxidermy techniques and procedures. Students will be working with donated raccoon skins and will be going through the steps to do a head mount. The class is only available to 5 students, allowing for more one on one interaction and assistance. Students will be working with tanned and lightly prepped skin; there will be no skinning of the animals in class. This is a great opportunity to learn the basic steps to small and large mammal taxidermy. All materials will be supplied by the instructor, and you will leave class with your own raccoon head mount.<\/div>
<\/div>
Rogue taxidermist Katie Innamorato<\/a> has a BFA in sculpture from SUNY New Paltz, has been featured on the hit TV show \"Oddities,\" and has had her work featured at La Luz de Jesus gallery in Los Angeles, California. She is self and professionally taught, and has won multiple first place ribb
ons and awards at the Garden State Taxidermy Association Competition. Her work is focussed on displaying the cyclical connection between life and death and growth and decomposition. Katie is a member of the Minnesota Association of Rogue Taxidermists, and with all M.A.R.T. members she adheres to strict ethical guidelines when acquiring specimens and uses roadkill, scrap, and donated skins to create mounts.<\/div>
Her website and blogs-<\/div>
http:\/\/www.afterlifeanatomy.com<\/a><\/div>
http:\/\/www.afterlifeanatomy.tumblr.com<\/a><\/div>
http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/afterlifeanatomy<\/a><\/div>
http:\/\/www.etsy.com\/shop\/afterlifeanatomy<\/a><\/div>
<\/div>
____________________________________________________<\/b><\/div>
<\/div>
\"\"<\/a>Bat in Glass Dome Workshop<\/b><\/div>
Part of DIY Wunderkammer Series: With Wilder Duncan (formerly of Evolution Shop, Soho) and Laetitia Barbier, head librarian at The Morbid Anatomy Library
<\/a><\/div>
With Wilder Duncan<\/a> (formerly of Evolution Store<\/a>, Soho) and Laetitia Barbier<\/a>, head librarian at The Morbid Anatomy Library<\/a><\/div>
Date: Sunday, April 21<\/div>
Time: 1 – 6 PM<\/div>
Admission: $200<\/div>
*** MUST RSVP to Laetitia [at] atlasobscura.com<\/a>  <\/div>
This class is part of the DIY Wunderkammer Series<\/a> and The Morbid Anatomy Art Academy<\/a><\/div>
<\/div>
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!<\/div>
<\/div>
This class is part of the DIY Wunderkammer workshop series<\/a>, curated by Laetitia Barbier<\/a> and Wilder Duncan<\/a> for Morbid Anatomy as a creative and pluridisciplinary exploration of the Curiosity Cabinet. The classes will focus on teaching ancient methods of specimen preparation that link science with art: students will create compositions involving natural elements and, according to their taste, will compose a traditional Victorian environment or a modern display. More on the series can be found here<\/a>.<\/div>
<\/div>
Wilder Duncan<\/a> is an artist whose work puts a modern-day spin on the genre of Vanitas still life. Although formally trained as a realist painter at Wesleyan University, he has had a lifelong passion for, and interest in, natural history. Self-taught rogue taxidermist and professional specimen preparator, Wilder worked for several years at The Evolution Store creating, repairing, and restoring objects of natural historical interest such as taxidermy, fossils, seashells, minerals, insects, tribal sculptures, and articulated skeletons both animal and human. Wilder continues to do work for private collectors, giving a new life to old mounts, and new smiles to toothless skulls.<\/div>
<\/div>
Laetitia Barbier<\/a> is the head librarian at The Morbid Anatomy Library<\/a>. She is working on a master's thesis for the Paris Sorbonne on painter Joe Coleman. She writes for Atlas Obscura<\/a> and Morbid Anatomy<\/a>.<\/div>
<\/div>
____________________________________________________<\/b><\/div>
<\/div>
\"\"<\/a>A Fate Worse Than Death: The Perils of Being a Famous Corpse with Bess Lovejoy, Author of <\/b>Rest in Pieces<\/b><\/i><\/div>
With Bess Lovejoy, author of Rest in Pieces<\/a><\/i><\/div>
Date: Friday, April 26th<\/div>
Time: 8pm<\/div>
Admission: $10<\/div>
Presented by Morbid Anatomy<\/a> and Phantasmaphile<\/a><\/div>
<\/div>
Most of us know what our afterlives are going to be like: eternity in the ground, or resting in an urn on some relative’s mantelpiece. If we’re lucky, our children might occasionally bring us flowers or a potted plant, and that’s about as interesting as things are going to get.<\/div>
<\/div>
Not so the famous deceased. For millennia, they’ve been bought and sold, worshipped and reviled, studied, collected, stolen, and dissected. They’ve been the star attractions at museums and churches, and used to found cemeteries, cities, even empires. Pieces of them have languished in libraries and universities, in coolers inside closets, and in suitcases underneath beds. For them, eternity has been anything but easy.<\/div>
<\/div>
The more notable or notorious the body, the more likely it is that someone’s tried to disturb it. Consider the near-snatching of Abraham Lincoln, or the attempt on Elvis’s tomb. Then there’s Descartes, who is missing his head, and Galileo, who is spending eternity without his middle finger. Napoleon’s missing something a bit lower, as is the Russian mystic Rasputin, at least if the rumors are true. Meanwhile, Jesse James has had three graves, and may not have been in any of them, while it took a court case and an exhumation to prove that Lee Harvey Oswald was in his.<\/div>
In this illustrated lecture, Bess Lovejoy will draw on her new book, Rest in Pieces<\/a><\/i>, to discuss the many threats faced by famous corpses--from furta sacra (\"holy theft\" of saintly relics), to skull-stealing phrenologists, \"Resurrection Men\" digging up cadavers for medical schools, modern organ harvesters, the depredations of crazed fans, and much more.<\/div>
<\/div>
Rest in Pieces<\/i> will also be available for sale, and wine will be served in celebration of its release.<\/div>

Bess Lovejoy<\/a> is a writer, researcher, and editor based in
Seattle. She writes about dead people, forgotten history, and sometimes art, literature, and science. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times<\/i>, The Believer<\/i>, The Boston Globe<\/i>, The Stranger<\/i>, and other publications. She worked on the Schott’s Almanac series for five years. Visit her at BessLovejoy.com.<\/div>

<\/a>____________________________________________________<\/b>

\"\"<\/a>Masonic Slapstick - The DeMoulin Brothers and their Odd Initiate Prank Devices<\/b>
<\/b>An Illustrated lecture by John Goldsmith, Curator of the DeMoulin Museum accompanied by a one-night-only exhibition of initiation devices curated by Mike Zohn, co-star of TV's \"Oddities\"<\/a>
Date: Tuesday, April 30th
Time: 8:00 PM
Admission: $8
Presented by Morbid Anatomy<\/a><\/p>

Between 1890 and 1930, hundreds of thousands of men belonged to the Masons, the Elks, the Kiwanis, or another of the over one hundred lodges which provided American men with a social outlet, a sense of importance, and sometimes even health and life insurance. One way these many lodges competed for members was with the use of inventive, theatrical and unlikely gadgets used in lodge initiations.<\/p>

In 1892, Ed DeMoulin, a small town photographer who had more than a passing interest in the gadgets of the day, founded the DeMoulin company which went on to become one of the leading manufacturers of these lodge initiation devices. The DeMoulin brothers (Ed, U.S. and Erastus) held patents on many of the best known of these including \"The Lifting & Spraying Machine,\" \"The Lung Tester,\" and \"The Low Down Buck Goat.\" The DeMoulin’s motto was “Fun in the Lodge Room” and there’s little doubt that these water shootin’, electric shockin’, blank firin’, collapsin’ devices could do the trick.<\/p>

Who were the DeMoulin brothers? And how did they become the zany geniuses behind these lodge initiation pranks? Tonight John Goldsmith, curator of the DeMoulin Museum, will share their story and demonstrate some of the devices. He’ll also provide a virtual tour of the DeMoulin Museum. There will also be a one-night-only mini exhibit of initiation devices curated by Mike Zohn, co-star of TV's \"Oddities.\"<\/a><\/p>

John Goldsmith<\/a> is curator of the was the DeMoulin Museum<\/a>. He was also a consultant on Catalog 439: Burlesque Paraphernalia<\/i><\/a> published by Fantagraphics in 2010 and The Extraordinary Catalog of Peculiar Inventions<\/a><\/i> published by Perigee in 2011. The DeMoulin Museum has been featured on KSDK’s “Show Me St. Louis” and WSEC’s “Illinois Stories”.
Mike Zohn<\/a>--co-star of TV's \"Oddities\"<\/a> and co-owner of Obscura Antiques<\/a>--is a long term DeMoulin enthusiast and collector.<\/p>

Image: \"The DADDY Uv-Um ALL,\" parade goat by The DeMoulin Brothers. <\/b><\/p><\/div>


<\/a>____________________________________________________<\/b>

\"\"<\/a>Anthropomorphic Insect Shadowbox Workshop with Former AMNH Senior Insect Preparator Daisy Tainton<\/b>With Daisy Tainton, Senior Insect Preparator at the American Museum of Natural History
Date: Saturday, May 11th
Time: 1 – 4 PM
Admission: $75
***Tickets MUST be pre-ordered by clicking here<\/a>
You can also pre-pay in person at the Observatory during open hours.
This class is part of The Morbid Anatomy Art Academy<\/a><\/p>

Today, join former AMNH Senior Insect Preparator Daisy Tainton for Observatory’s popular Anthropomorphic Insect Shadowbox Workshop. In this class, students will work with Rhinoceros beetles: nature’s tiny giants. Each student will learn to make–and leave with their own!–shadowbox dioramas featuring carefully positioned beetles doing nearly anything you can imagine. Beetles and shadowboxes are provided, and an assortment of miniature furniture, foods, and other props will be available to decorate your habitat. Students need bring nothing, though are encouraged to bring along dollhouse props if they have a particular vision for their final piece; 1:12 scale work best.<\/p>

BEETLES WILL BE PROVIDED. Each student receives one beetle approximately 2-3 inches tall when posed vertically.<\/p>

Daisy Tainton<\/a> <\/b>was formerly Senior Insect Preparator at the American Museum of Natural History, and has been working with insects professionally for several years. Eventually her fascination with insects and  love of Japanese miniature food items naturally came together, resulting in cute and ridiculous museum-inspired yet utterly unrealistic dioramas. Beetles at the dentist? Beetles eating pie and knitting sweaters? Even beetles on the toilet? Why not?
<\/a>____________________________________________________<\/b><\/p><\/div>

<\/a><\/div>

Dance of Death by Hans Holbein: A Linocut Workshop with Classically Trained Artist Lado Pochkua <\/b>
Dates: Tuesdays May 20, May 27 and June 4<\/p>

Time: 7 - 10 PM
Admission: $60
***MUST RSVP to morbidanatomylibrary [at] gmail.com<\/a>
This class is part of The Morbid Anatomy Art Academy<\/a>

The \"dance of death\" or \"danse macabre\" was a \"medieval allegorical concept of the all-conquering and equalizing power of death, expressed in the drama, poetry, music, and visual arts of western Europe, mainly in the
late Middle Ages. It is a literary or pictorial representation of a procession or dance of both living and dead figures, the living arranged in order of their rank, from pope and emperor to child, clerk, and hermit, and the dead leading them to the grave.\" (Encyclopedia Britannica<\/i>). One of the best known expressions of this genre are a series of forty-two wood cuts by Hans Holbien published in 1538 under the title \"Dance of Death.\"<\/p>

In this class, students will learn the techniques of woodcuts and linocuts by creating a copy of one of Hans Holbein’s prints from the Dance of Death series. The class will follow the entire process from beginning to end: drafting a copy of the image, either a fragment or whole; transfer of the image to a linoleum block; cutting the image; printing the image on paper. Students will leave class with their own finished Dance of Death linocut and the skills to produce their own pieces in the future.<\/p>