Andy Gracie, “The Quest for Drosophila titanus,” 2011
Science at Play: Bioart in Brooklyn
March 23–May 11, 2013
Opening reception: Saturday, March 23, 8 PM
Gallery hours: Saturdays & Sundays 12–6 PM
Life is restless. Bioartists—the emerging group of practitioners who
manipulate living tissues, DNA, and bacteria—must embrace this
restlessness. Working in the lab, the artist can’t contain his medium.
Even in the Petri dish, fungal spores invade the colonies, or the slime
mold overruns maze. Precision gives way to open-ended experiment. The
lab is a garden, and the bioartist is the gardener for the new
millennium, where breeding advances naturally into gene splicing.
CUT/PASTE/GROW provides a space to ask fundamental new questions
about aesthetics and our assumptions about life and death. What, for
example, makes a beautiful blueprint for a beautiful form—what makes a
beautiful gene?
By cutting and pasting DNA into a being, the organism itself—both in
function and behavior—becomes a chimera, a hybrid natural/engineered
being stitched from disparate parts, a result of both Darwinian
evolution and the will of the artist.
Since antiquity, hybrids were considered abominations. Today, we can
view them in any number of ways: Are these chimerae quasi-artworks or
quasi-organisms? Is bioart a new approach to society and ecology, a
partnership with the microbial life all around us?
Find out more at cutpastegrow.com
Invited artists:
- Tuur van Balen
- Nurit Bar-Shai
- Heather Barnett
- Bruce Bryan
- Revital Cohen
- Tom Deerinck
- Andy Gracie
- Eduardo Kac
- Chris Voigt/Natalie Kuldell/Wythe Marschall/Karen Ingram
- Edgar Lissel
- Julia Lohmann
- Simon Park
- Nikki Romanello
- Paul Vanouse
- Liam Young
Curators
Observatory
is a gallery and event space in the Gowanus neighborhood of Brooklyn,
New York. Inspired by natural history, morbid anatomy, and the
intersection of art and science, Observatory hosts lectures, classes,
and exhibitions. Observatory is part of the Proteus Gowanus art complex,
located at 543 Union Street (at Nevins). Gallery hours are 3–6 PM,
Thursdays–Fridays; 12–6 PM, Saturdays–Sundays.
Genspace is a
nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting education in molecular
biology for both children and adults. Its staff and volunteers work
inside and outside of traditional settings, providing a safe, supportive
environment for training and mentoring in biotechnology. Genspace also
supplies a Biosafety Level 1 lab for biologists, laypeople, and artists
to gather and collaborate on biotechnology projects.
Nurit Bar-Shai is a co-founder of Genspace and an
interdisciplinary artist who works at the intersection of art, science,
and technology. She composes video, live telematic installations and
conducts experiments through creative collaborative inquiry. Nurit
lectures and exhibits her work worldwide.
Daniel Grushkin is a co-founder of Genspace and a
journalist who covers the intersection of science, biotechnology, and
culture. His articles have appeared in The New York Times, Businessweek, National Geographic Adventure, Popular Science, and Scientific American.
Wythe Marschall writes and teaches about futurism. With artist Ethan Gould, he is the author of Suspicious Anatomy,
an illustrated book of fake neuroscience. At Observatory, Wythe has
curated art shows and lectures on retrofuturism, technological ecstasy,
the neo-grotesque, and the para-academic. Wythe teaches undergraduate
literature at Brooklyn College. His stories and essays have appeared in McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern and elsewhere.
William Myers teaches and writes about the history of architecture, art and design. His book BioDesign: Nature + Science + Creativity
was published by The Museum of Modern Art in New York and Thames &
Hudson in London in 2012. He has worked for the Solomon R. Guggenheim
Museum, The Museum of Modern Art, the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National
Design Museum, Hunter College, and Genspace.
Then I'm hosting Robert Ansell's Austin Osman Spare lecture and our Abraxas Issue 3 Release Party on April 2nd:
Adventures in Limbo: The Neither-Neither World of Austin Osman Spare (and Abraxas 3 US Launch!)
Austin Osman Spare “The Death Posture” 1913
With Robert Ansell of Fulgur Esoterica
Date: Tuesday, April 2nd
Time: 8pm
Admission: $10
Presented by Phantasmaphile
Austin Osman Spare was an English occult artist working in the
early-to-mid 20th Century. An exceptional illustrator and painter, he
also developed his own mystical practice involving sigils and other
esoteric codification. In this 60min audio-visual journey, we are
invited to explore Austin Spare’s approach to creating magical art. His
liminal methods are then compared with classical composers working
during his lifetime. There is also a soundtrack by John Contreras (of
Current 93 and Baby Dee) that was composed uniquely for this
presentation.
This talk will be immediately followed by the US launch celebration of Issue 3 of Abraxas International Journal of Esoteric Studies. Copies will be available for sale – save on international shipping! – and wine will be served.
Robert Ansell is the managing director of the highly-regarded publishers FULGUR.
For more than 20 years he has collaborated with writers and artists,
both established and new, to produce some of the most inspirational
magical books of recent times. In 2009 Robert launched Abraxas, a high quality journal of esoteric studies that has been widely lauded.
A specialist in the art and sorcery of Austin Osman Spare, his published work includes; AOS Ex-Libris (1988), The Book of Ugly Ecstasy (1996), Borough Satyr (2005), The Valley of Fear (2008), The Exhibition Catalogues of Austin O. Spare (2011) and The Focus of Life
(2012). In 2010 he was also interviewed on Austin Spare for the BBC
Culture Show. Though rarely seen as a public lecturer, his two recent
appearances concerning Spare, AOS: A Celebration (2006) and The Cult of One (2007) received critical acclaim.
Photography prodigy and Observatory member, Shannon Taggart, will be hosting the following three spiritualist lectures/demonstrations:
Traditional Spiritualist Message Service with UK Medium Myra Basey
Portrait of Myra Basey by Shannon Taggart
Date: Thursday, April 4th
Time: 8 pm
Admission: $10
Presented by: Shannon Taggart
Myra Basey, a Spiritualist medium visiting from the UK, will conduct a
traditional Spiritualist message service and demonstration of
clairvoyance. A brief introduction to Spiritualism and message services
in general will also be included. This is a rare opportunity – hope to
see you there!
About the presenter – From early childhood Myra Basey
has communicated with spirits and has had distinct memories of a past
life. These surfaced spontaneously and contained memories of places and
specific situations and events. As well as travelling America and
Canada, lecturing, training and holding workshops and discussion groups,
Myra has worked all over the UK, spending a number of years in
residency at the Spiritualist Association of Great Britain in London.
Do Tables Tilt, Turn And Float? Table Levitation Phenomena, 1850-2006: An Illustrated Presentation with Walter Meyer zu Erpen
Courtesy University of Manitoba Archives, MSS 14, Slide 008, Feb. 11, 1926
Date: Friday, April 5th
Time: 8pm
Admission: $8 (includes donation to T.G. Hamilton Memorial Fund and Psychical Research Archives Endowment Fund)
Presented by: Shannon Taggart
Using still photography and video, Walter Meyer zu Erpen will
outline the history of table levitation phenomena from 1850
onwards. He will combine historical research with his personal
experience of more than 130 sessions in a home circle sitting to elicit
table phenomena. This discussion will include the experiments of
psychical researchers with physical mediums Eusapia Palladino and Jack
Webber, among others; table phenomena in sitter groups including but not
limited to those conducted by W. J. Crawford, Dr. T. Glen Hamilton, and
Kenneth J. Batcheldor; and modern phenomena such as the levitation of a
65-pound table from the hands of the Thurmond Group in upstate New York
in 1975.
From 1998 to 2010, historian and archivist
Walter Meyer zu Erpen participated
in a Canadian Spiritualist study group in Victoria, British Columbia,
that observed strong psychokinetic table movements, including lifting,
rocking, and pivoting of a square, 21-pound table. Their activities were
featured in the Canadian TV documentary
Conjuring Philip as
part of psychical researcher Iris Owen’s retelling of how her
Toronto-based research group created “Philip,” an imaginary ghost,
during the 1970s.
Channeling Elvis? An Automatic Writing Demonstration with UK Medium Myra Basey
Transmission from Elvis by Myra Basey, photo by Shannon Taggart
Date: Saturday, April 6th
Time: 2 pm
Admission: $10
Presented by: Shannon Taggart
Automatic writing (or psychography) is writing which the writer
claims to be produced from a subconscious, external or spiritual source
without conscious awareness of the content. Automatism, the cornerstone
of Surrealism, was co-opted from Spiritualism’s use of automation as
a technique to create without conscious self-censorship. The automatic
writing and drawing practiced by the Surrealists can be compared to
methods used in other artistic efforts such as actionist painting
and the improvisation of free jazz.
During this presentation, Myra Basey, a Spiritualist medium visiting
from the UK, will demonstrate her unique form of automatic writing. A
stripped down fountain pen is propped against the clenched fist of her
left hand (although she is right handed) to produce writing. The
messages make complete sense and every word can be read clearly. She
works with two specific spirits, one of whom she identifies as Elvis
Presley. Since 1977 she has written thousands of transmissions from
Elvis.
A brief overview of automatic writing will be presented. Myra will
talk about the mechanics of physical mediumship and automatic writing as
well as share what she has learned from years of practice. There will
be a question and answer session for those interested in pursuing the
automatic writing process and those curious about Spiritualism and
psychic matters.
About the presenter – From early childhood Myra Basey
has communicated with spirits and has had distinct memories of a past
life. These surfaced spontaneously and contained memories of places and
specific situations and events. As well as travelling America and
Canada, lecturing, training and holding workshops and discussion groups,
Myra has worked all over the UK, spending a number of years in
residency at the Spiritualist Association of Great Britain in London.
Observatory member, Joanna Ebenstein of Morbid Anatomy, is abroad for several months doing all kinds of glamorous and deadly things, but her programming has continued at our space, thanks to her assistant, Laeticia Barbier. Of Phantasmaphilic interest in particular in this just-announced event about lover's eyes:
Love’s Unknowable Eye: The Curious History and Mysterious Allure of 18th century “Lovers Eyes”
Unknown “Lover’s Eye” on braided hair bracelet, Georgian period; Private collection
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
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.
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.
Lauren will also bring some authentic 18th century Lover’s Eyes for your delectation.
Lauren Levato 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.
And Joanna (albeit remotely) and I will be co-hosting the lecture and book launch of our dear friend Bess Lovejoy, in honor of her just-released tome: Rest in Pieces: The Curious Fates of Famous Corpses
:
A Fate Worse Than Death: The Perils of Being a Famous Corpse
With Bess Lovejoy, author of Rest in Pieces
Date: Friday, April 26th
Time: 8pm
Admission: $10
Presented by Morbid Anatomy & Phantasmaphile
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.
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.
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.
In this illustrated lecture, Bess Lovejoy will draw on her new book, Rest in Pieces,
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.
Rest in Pieces will also be available for sale, and wine will be served in celebration of its release.
Bess Lovejoy 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, The Believer, The Boston Globe, The Stranger, and other publications. She worked on the Schott’s Almanac series for five years. Visit her at BessLovejoy.com.
. The exhibition is up through May 26th. Full show info:
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