'80s Bus!!!

I saw this in Boston the other day. It was really weird. Everyone on the bus looked too young to remember the '80s. Why all this faux nostalgia? I've been to '80s themed birthday parties where everyone is all "OMG I love the '80s!!!!!" when they weren't... there. I think nostalgia could be considered grotesque because it represents a skewed, distorted view of the past. But then another layer is added when the people never even lived in the time period. (I guess this can also be said of historical reenactors...)
In any event, judging by the 80's bus partiers' enthusiasm for getting their picture taken, they were probably vom + Raly-ing.

James Castle Documentary Screening

The Foundation for Self-Taught American Artists, in conjunction with the MFA Book Arts & Printmaking and MFA Ceramics, Painting, & Sculpture Departments at the University of the Arts, and the Philadelphia Center for the Book

Invite you to a private film screening of

James Castle: Portrait of an Artist

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

University of the Arts
Connelly Auditorium
Terra Building, 8th floor
211 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia
Doors open at 7:00 pm, film screening begins at 7:30 pm

Jeffrey Wolf will introduce the film and answer questions after the screening

RSVP
If possible, please RSVP by noon on October 13 directly to the Foundation's executive director Molly Dougherty by phone or email at 215.979.1155 or MDougherty@FoundationSTAART.org"MDougherty@foundationstaart.org">.

James Castle: Portrait of an Artist

A 53-minute documentary film by Jeffrey Wolf, produced by the Foundation for Self-Taught American Artists, portrays James Castle's life and creative process, as told by family members, art historians, curators, artists, collectors, and members of the deaf community. A true case of triumph of the spirit, Castle's inspirational story is one of monumental achievement. James Castle: Portrait of an Artist is prominently featured in the Philadelphia Museum of Art's exhibition, "James Castle: A Retrospective" on view from Oct. 14, 2008 through Jan. 4, 2009.

For additional info please visit: www.JamesCastleFilm.com

Giants

This post is a follow up to a post I made a few weeks ago on Ron Mueck's Life Castings. When I was in New York this past weekend I stumbled upon the giant statue pictured here in a mall on Columbus Circle. The statue reminded me of Mueck's Life Castings, yet they were surrounded by happy tourists, taking pictures with them like you see in the photo.

So what makes Mueck's Castings so grotesque? For me, it is their size coupled with their realistic aesthetic that makes them borderline terrifying to me. The statue pictured here on the other hand is meant to be cute, perhaps powerful. But it actually has a similar effect on me. It's size makes it grotesque-like, reminding me of the Mueck and gargantuanism.

In short, though the intention of this statue is to be cute and welcoming, it ends up being quite grotesque to me.

Wayne Martin Belger and his Pinhole Camera...

"“Third Eye” is a piece by machinist/artist Wayne Martin Belger. It’s a pinhole camera that incorporates the 150 year old skull of an 13 year old girl child…"
click to see

Teeth

In conversations we've had about the grotesque in tv shows and movies, the general consensus seems to be that nothing shocks us anymore; we are so desensitized to so many manifestations of the grotesque that even those things which should horrify and shock us fail to do so. Well, I think I've found a movie that manages at least an element of shock. Though I was not as shocked as I should have been, this was most definitely a grotesque movie. The film's official website, www.teethmovie.com, gives a synopsis of which I've only grabbed about half of:

"A stranger to her own body, innocent Dawn discovers she has a toothed vagina when she becomes the object of violence. As she struggles to comprehend her anatomical uniqueness, Dawn experiences both the pitfalls and the power of being a living example of the vagina dentata myth. "

The film won several different awards at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. I must warn you, however: this movie has the potential to be extremely offensive. It also has some bloody scenes where you see more than you ever wanted to. I recommend it, especially in the context of the grotesque, but also warn that you could be offended by some of the themes and visuals.

rapememo*

NSFW: this tumblr seems to have a similar theme to our blog, although it's in Japanese, so (1) I'm not sure what its purpose is and (2) it's significantly more hardcore.

Body Worlds and Plastination

The Body Worlds and Bodies exhibits approach the intersection of science and art by preserving human cadavers through the process of plastination. Plastination uses reactive polymers and acetone to rid the body of putrefaction bacteria and halt decomposition. Plastination was originally developed as a tool for teaching anatomy and health education, but once removed from the classroom and placed into the context of a museum or gallery, it enters the realm of the grotesque.

A few years ago, the Bodies exhibit showed at the Franklin Institute. I didn't have the opportunity to see it in person, but for those of you who are interested in seeing the show in person, it's still showing in New York and Atlantic City. And if you'd like to, you can even donate your body!

www.bodyworlds.com
www.bodiestheexhibition.com/