“The Morbid Anatomy Anthology” Publication Fundraiser Party

Fundraising Party for “The Morbid Anatomy Anthology” with contributor mini-lectures. complementary artisinal cocktails, music, and giveaways from Kikkerland
Date: Friday, October 26

Time: 8:00 PM
Admission: $20
Presented by Morbid Anatomy

We are very pleased to announce the forthcoming Morbid Anatomy Anthology-a lavish, illustrated book which will immortalize in print some of the best of the Morbid Anatomy Presents lecture series from the past 5 years. The book, to be co-published by Morbid Anatomy and Strange Attractor Press, will be edited by Morbid Anatomy‘s Joanna Ebenstein and author, polymath, and many time Observatory-presenter Colin Dickey.

Tonight’s party- the proceeds of which will go towards the printing and production costs of The Morbid Anatomy Anthology-will feature 15 minute mini-lectures by 4 contributors to the volume: Mark Dery, Colin Dickey, Shannon Taggart and Joanna Ebenstein. There will also be complementary artisinal cocktails and music provided by Friese Undine and giveaways of wonderful anatomical cutting boards from Kikkerland.

ABOUT THE BOOK
The Morbid Anatomy Anthology will cover such topics as anthropodermic bibliopegy (ie. books bound in human skin), 19th Century “Diableries“, Henry Wellcome’s collections of preserved human tattoos, 19th century death-themed Parisian cabarets, extreme taxidermy, popular wax anatomical models, collecting death, the Anatomical Venus, Santa Muerte and Death in Mexico, “artist of death” Frederik Ruysch, macabre collections, and much, much, MUCH more.

The rogue scholars, artists, writers, museologists, morticians and scientists whose works fill this volume will include Morbid Anatomy Library Scholar in Residence and star of TV’s “Oddities” Evan Michelson; Mark Dery, cultural critic and author of the upcoming The Doubtful Guest: The Mysterious Mind and Legendary Life of Edward Gorey; Paul Koudounaris, author/photographer of Empire of Death; Stephen Asma, author of Stuffed Animals and Pickled Heads; Caitlin Doherty of Order of the Good Death; Carl Schoonover, author of Portraits of the Mind; Mel Gordon, author of The Grand Guingol; Kate Forde, curator at The Wellcome Collection; Pat Morris, author of Walter Potter and His Museum of Curious Taxidermy; Ronni Thomas, creator of The Midnight Archive; John Troyer, deputy director of the Centre for Death and Society at the University of Bath; Artist Zoe Bellof; Photographer Shannon Taggart; Mark Pilkington of Strange Attractor Press; Ross MacFarlane of The Welcome Library; Joanna Ebenstein of Morbid Anatomy; writer Colin Dickey; and many, many more.

Stay tuned for more details, and hope to see you there!

RESURRECTION! A Gala Benefit to Rebuild The Morbid Anatomy Library

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Post-deluge view of the Morbid Anatomy Library Collection

RESURRECTION! A Gala Benefit to Rebuild The Morbid Anatomy Library
Date: Saturday, June 30
Time: 8:00
Admission: $25

Presented by Morbid Anatomy

On Good Friday, 2012, The Morbid Anatomy Library suffered a deluge; a fire in an upstairs gallery set off the sprinkler system, dousing the library below and destroying many books and artifacts. On Saturday, June 30th, join Observatory and The Morbid Anatomy Library for a star-studded resurrection spectacular MCed by Evan Michelson of TV’s “Oddities” and cult writer and luminary Mark Dery.

8:00: Doors, drinks, and music
9:00:
Introductory remarks by our MC
9:10:
World Premiere of Morbid Anatomy episode of The Midnight Archive, directed by Ronni Thomas
9:20:
A Series of 5-minute “Odes to Material Culture”:

  • Ryan Mathews of “Oddities” on Exploded, or “Beauchene” Skulls
  • Melissa Milgrom, author of Still Life: Adventures in Taxidermy, on a Glass Udder
  • Mark Jacobson of New York Magazine on a Human Skin Lampshade
  • Carl Schoonover author of Portraits of the Mind, on Ramón y Cajal, Art and Science
  • Lord Whimsy of The Affected Provincial’s Almanac Volume 1, with “A Report from Carpet Island”
  • Amy Herzog of Queens College, with “A Bunny Is Being Beaten: A Tale of Political Violence, Oedipal Angst, and a Lost Televisual Object (in which the author reveals far more about her psychosexual development than anyone ever wanted to know….)”
  • Evan Michelson on a Whale Bulla, and How it is Possible to Love, Desire and Hate an Object at the Same Time
  • Lisa O’Sullivan, director of the Center for the History of Medicine and Public Health at the New York Academy of Medicine on her Pocket Anatomy Figure
  • Barbara Mathé of AMNH on an Archetypal Piece of Sliced Bread
  • Daniel Margocsy of CUNY on A Tableau Made of Human Body Parts by Dutch Anatomist Frederik Ruysch
  • Salvador Olguín of Borderline Projects on a Santa Muerta Artifact

Following will be complimentary cocktails, music by Friese Undine, screenings of The Midnight Archive, performances by Jonny Clockworks, and droll giveaways from the design firm Kikkerland. Attendees are encouraged to dress “Obscurely.”

Throughout the night, you will also be invited to bid on objects in our silent auction which included works by such amazing artists and makers as:

  • Mark Dion and Dana Sherwood
  • Rosamond Purcell
  • Minnesota Rogue Taxidermist Robert Marbury
  • MTA Artist-in-Residence Sophie Blackall
  • Creative taxidermist Jessica Joslin
  • Ryan Mathews of “Oddities”
  • Empire of Death author/photographer Paul Koudounaris
  • Anthropomorphic taxidermist Sue Jeiven
  • Anthropomorphic insect shadowbox maker Daisy Tainton
  • Waxworker Sigrid Sarda
  • Museum-exhibit designer Christopher Muller
  • Erika Larsen
  • Shannon Taggart
  • Julia Solis
  • Justine Cooper
  • Saul Chernick
  • Nicholas Kahn
  • Laura Splan
  • Alex Kanevsky
  • Suzanne Anker
  • Friese Undine
  • Demetrios Vital
  • Cindy Stelmackowich
  • GF Newland
  • Andrea Meadows
  • Eric Lindvelt
  • And, as they say, much, much more.

If you can not join us at the benefit and are interested in aiding in rebuilding efforts, here are a few things you can do:

  • Make a monetary donation; to do so, simply click on the black “Donate Here” button on the top right hand side of this blog
  • Sponsor a book; Click here to see a list of damaged books; books purchased here will automatically ship directly to The Library and populate our sadly empty shelves.
  • Help spread the word!
  • Donate new books or artifacts for the collection: Mailing Address: Joanna Ebenstein, c/o The Morbid Anatomy Library, 543 Union Street #1E, Brooklyn, NY 1121


Observatory’s 2nd Anniversary Valentine Phantasia Fundraising Party

ovdayDate: Saturday, February 12th
Time: 8pm
Admission: $20

Please join us for Observatory’s 2nd Anniversary Valentine Phantasia Fundraising Party! 

There will be:

Heart-quenching libations courtesy of Sixpoint Craft Ales!

Heart-rending melodies from DJs Friese & Faulk!

Heart-skipping dance by Desert Sin’s Cassandra Rosebeetle!

Heart-stopping Raffle Prizes of the odd & miraculous variety including:

- A Delectable meal for two from Palo Santo restaurant!
- Tickets for two to “Sex and Taboo: A Valentine’s Day Massacre” burlesque noir show at Le Poisson Rouge!
- Aural pleasures from Hachette!
- Glorious scentstuffs from Herbal Alchemy!
- Curious photographs from Morbid Anatomy’s Joanna Ebenstein!
- A cardiac-themed original drawing by artist Rebeca Olguín!
- An autographed copy of the marvelous tome Occult America by Mitch Horowitz!

….and So! Much! More!

Looking forward to seeing you there.