Phantasmaphile

Ira Cohen

Ira Cohen  "At the court of the Golden Emperor, the Majoon Traveler and Lady Firefly appear in the Hall of Unconscious Magnetism"  1966-70

I am on a bit of an Ira Cohen kick at the moment.  Visionary poet, and psychedelic photographer and filmmaker, he is perhaps best known for his opiate, phantasmagorical film, The Invasion of Thunderbolt Pagoda.  One of his finest visual tricks is shooting via mylar, as evidenced by these gorgeous portraits of his mystic, artistic pals like Jimi Hendrix and Alejandro Jodorowsky.

Amy Earles

Amy Earles  "Telepathy"  2009

I learned about Amy Earles from JL Schnabel's scrumptious blog.  She creates paintings (some with moveable hinges!) that feature yougn girls who are not as innocent as they seem.  This piece in particular is rocking my world.  It's the perfect balance of sinister and playful, like so many childhood games.

Kate Street

Kate Street  "Bird in the Hand II"

I was agonizing over whether or not to feature one of Kate Street's fantastic sculptures or one of her exquisite drawings.  And then I thought, it's my blog goshdarnit, I can feature both if I want to!  So here is a drawing as well:

Kate Street  "Orchis Nodulosa"

I can't for the life of me recall where I just encountered her work, so apologies if it was on your site.  Anyway, I think she is a genius at blending the fanciful with the macabre.  Lovely lovely lovely.

Rasputina Super-limited Edition EP

Rasputina's mastermind, Melora Creager, just released a beautiful limited edition 3-song EP called the Willow Tree Triptych.  Each track is a cellofied folk song from a different country - America, England, and Ireland, respectively - and all titled "The Willow Tree."  The songs are beyond lovely, and Melora's voice has never sounded better.  But I would consider this minature album to be as much a collectible work of art as anything else.  Each CD is individually packaged with a one-of-a-kind, autographed collage done by Melora and her daughter Hollis.  As such it is a keepsake to be treasured and enjoyed for centuries to come!  Do order yourself one, as only 100 have been made, and they are going fast.

Clemente @ Deitch

Francesco Clemente  "A History of the Heart in Three Rainbows 3.1"  2009

I finally got to the Clemente show that's up at Deitch right now, and it is a dream.  Called "A History of the Heart in Three Rainbows" it consists of three absolutely giant scrolls which are each cut up into smaller paintings, like the one above.  Each scroll is a rainbow-colored allegory about love, identity, entrapment, and liberation.  In fact, it reminds me a lot of such metamorphic paradigms as Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey, and the stages of transmutation in alchemy.  Also, the experience of being surrounded by these giant paintings (allegedly the largest watercolors ever made), is transformative as well.  I hope some institution buys them all, and puts them in their own special room a la Monet's "Water Lilies."  Until then, this show will be up until May 30th, so you've still got a bit of time to visit.

Christopher Davison

Christopher Davison  "Girl Practicing Magic"  2009

I was so happy to be introduced to Christopher Davison's incredible work via Meighan's consistently awesome blog.  I am totally floored by his deliciously inky, magical drawings.  They have a dark charge to them that makes me swoony.

Kenneth Anger moment

Avant-occult filmmaker Kenneth Anger is having a Moment (and a long overdue one at that):

-  The Gossip's latest video for their song "Heavy Cross" is a mash-up of Anger's films.

-  NYC contemporary art museum, P.S.1, finally is exhibiting their Kenneth Anger retrospective, which is up until September 14th.

-  The Occulture Festival is taking place in London on May 23rd, and will be featuring tons of speakers, events, and film screenings, including some of Anger's work.  Wishwishwish I could go!  (And thanks for the tip, Joanna!)

Doug Stapleton

Doug Stapleton  "Sorrow of the Sea"  2009

I can never resist an artist with a gift for collage.  Doug Stapleton has an extremely strong eye for composition, and of course I find his sci-mythic (to clumsily coin a phrase) subject matter to be a total delight as well.  Beautiful, beautiful stuff.

(Thanks, Karena!)

Help restore the Buckland Museum of Witchcraft

Photo by Metadromos

I came across the following press release on my web wanderings:

May 8, 2009
Contact: Wendy O’Brien, WillowTree Press Author Promotions Group
Email: promo_dept [at] willowtreepress.com

REVEREND VELVET RIETH TO DISPLAY WITCHCRAFT MUSEUM
WTP Author Brings Buckland Witchcraft Museum To Midwest

Raymond Buckland gathered artifacts and placed them in a collection which ostensibly became the first museum of Witchcraft and Magic in the United States. It was officially opened to viewing in 1968. The collection continued to grow and by the early 70’s was moved, with selected pieces also being loaned to other museums, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In later years the museum was moved again and eventually languished in storage, unseen by the public.

More recently, WillowTree Press Author, Reverend Velvet Rieth, was appointed curator of the Buckland Witchcraft Museum. She has undertaken the task of returning the collection to its originally intended purpose - to be viewed as a historical representation, and teaching tool, for and about Witchcraft and Magic.

Reverend Rieth will be a special guest at the 2009 Heartland Pagan Festival, located at Camp Gaia in just outside of Kansas City, Kansas. She will be overseeing an exhibit of selected pieces from the Buckland Museum while at the event.

For more information on Reverend Rieth’s speaking engagement at Heartland Pagan Festival, visit WWW.KCHSA.ORG

You can also donate here to help raise funds to restore the museum back to its permanent home in New Orleans.

Richard Saja @ The Shelburne Museum

Richard Saja  2009

I have sadly never been to Vermont, and now I have yet one more reason to want to go.  Richard Saja has overtaken the Kalkin House at the Shelburne Museum with an exhibit called "The Bright and Shining Light of Irreverence: Richard Saja and the Historically Inaccurate School":

"New York textiles designer Richard Saja channels his cheeky sense of humor and sophisticated style into transforming the interior of Shelburne Museum’s Kalkin House into a 19th - century salon infused with his characteristic “historically inaccurate” take on tradition.

The site-specific installation includes new works in a variety of materials inspired by archetypal salon décor and objects in Shelburne Museum’s collections, including quilts, sillouhette portraits and needlework."

Also included in the exhibition is a salon-style installation of human-animal portraits of the artist which he commissioned from colleagues.  You can preview these works on his Salon of Love and Horror blog.  The whole wonderful extravaganza opens on May 17th and will be up until October 25th, so plenty of time to plan a trip up north.

Jesse Bransford

Jesse Bransford  "Past ( ) Future (The Apocalypse of the Everyday)" mural detail  2008

Jesse Bransford's gorgeous work is chock full of the raddest designs ever.  He incorporates occult symbols with physics diagrams, creating large scale installations as well as drawings.  It's a stunning examination of the connections between magic and science, which research is proving time and again.

(Thanks, Trinie!)

Lush Life show @ Roq La Rue!

Mia Araujo  "Across the Nile" 

West coast, why must you confound me at every turn?  I would give an eyetooth to see the Lush Life group show at Roq La Rue.  It is described thusly:

'"Lush Life" brings together painters in both the alt-art world as well as contemporary art scene, who all work within a guideline of tight technical craftsmanship as well the use of opulent and decadent imagery to convey higher inner truths and emotions.'

The show opens on Friday, with a reception from 6-9pm, and will be up until June 2nd.  Teleportation needs to hurry up and get itself invented.

St. Lucy

Francesco del Cossa  "St. Lucy"  1473

I've recently become fascinated by images and stories of saints.  I know so little about them, and it seems every tale I hear is stranger and more marvelous than the last.  St. Lucy is my current obsession.  According to legend, her eyes were gouged out as punishment for refusing to marry.  Miraculously, God enabled her to still see, and in some retellings, replaced her eyes with new ones.  Most often, St. Lucy is depicted holding a golden dish with two eyeballs in it.  But this painting by Francesco del Cossa is my favorite.  That ocular plant is pretty spectacular, no pun intended.

Morbid Anatomy show in New Orleans!

Those of you living in the Big Easy are lucky ducks indeed.  Joanna Ebenstein of Morbid Anatomy has curated a glorious show at Barrister's Gallery.  It's called "The Morbid Anatomy Cabinet or Gallery as Wunderkammer" - sounds irresistible, no?  The opening is tonight (Saturday, May 9th) from 6-9pm.  The show will be up until June 9th.  If you see Joanna there, give her a big hug for me, OK?  Wish I could get down there myself.

Out of Town

I'll be out of town for a few days with my feller to relax and recharge in the lovely Hudson Valley.  Posting will commence upon my return.  Have a great week, Phantasmaphiles.  XO, Pam

Kelly Patton

Kelly Patton  "Third Eye"

I am so happy that Kelly Patton found her way to this site, because the discovery was mutually beneficial.  It was challenging to decide which of her mystical, illustrative works to spotlight here, but in the end, this all-seeing owl won out.  Wishing you all a dose of Athena's wise guidance to start your week.

Michael Hiep

Michael Hiep  "Awakening of Spring (Element Earth)"  2006

Happy May everyone.  We're having a rainy start to the month here in NYC, but that means we're also starting to be visited by luscious flowers - both out of the ground and on our trees.  I thought this piece by the allegorical painter Michael Hiep was all too appropriate.  His work is clever, imaginative, and has an air of celebration to it.

Via