Category Archives: Anatomy

The Midnight Archive is a web-based video documentary series "centered around the esoteric and always exotic personalities that spring from Observatory," the Brooklyn-based event/gallery space I founded a few years ago. A new episode--this one based on the lovely and inspiring Sue Jeiven, who taught a beloved and continuously sold-out class on anthropomorphic taxidermy at Observatory--has just been released; you can view it above by clicking play.

Here is what Ronni Thomas, the man behind the series, has to say about this particular episode:

From the occult streets of midtown manhattan to a tattoo parlor in Brooklyn where Sue Jeiven is breathing new life into dead animals. We sat with Sue who teaches classes on Anthropomorphic Taxidermy at the Brooklyn Observatory to get some info on this unique and interesting art form.

EPISODE 03 : Anthropomorphic Taxidermy -- This episode brings us the cutest little thing ever to rip the guts out of a dead cadaver. I was very grateful when Sue Jeiven, a tattoo artist of East River Tattoo in brooklyn agreed to let me film her to chat about turning mice into little men. Here we discuss the history and process and facination behind a very old and very odd artform; anthropomorphic taxidermy. As Sue will explain, its the process of taking an animal's skin, preparing it, and putting it in a human-like setting. It sounds much more charming coming from sue. So have a look and if you are interested, she is planning a book on taxidermy in addition to occasionally teaching students how to 'DIY' their own little mouse or squirrel. Check in at the Brooklyn Observatory in hopes she adds another class in the future!

For more on the series, to see former episodes, or to sign up for the mailing list so as to be alerted to future uploads, visit The Midnight Archive website by clicking here. You can also "like" it on Facebook--and thus be alerted--by clicking here. To find out more about Observatory, click here. To be alerted to future classes taught by Sue Jeiven, click here to sign up for the Observatory mailing list.

Also, to see brand new episodes in person and meet the filmmaker, please come to the Observatory Halloween/Day of the Dead/Screening party! Click here for more on that.

Source:
http://morbidanatomy.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss

Fascinating job alert! Full details below.

Assistant Conservator
The Royal College of Surgeons of England

£20,000 pa (36 month contract starting 4 January 2012)
Central London

With a worldwide reputation for educational excellence and state-of-the art teaching facilities, the Royal College of Surgeons of England is committed to enabling surgeons to achieve and maintain the highest standards of surgical practice and patient care. Our Museums and archives, including the renowned Hunterian Museum, offer a fascinating and vital insight into medical history and are an invaluable teaching aid that need constant care and attention.

As part of the Museums and Archives team, in this training post you will learn the skills involved in caring for comparative and human anatomy across the RCS collections. As well as auditing, monitoring and recording the integrity of our collections, you'll clean and maintain items, monitor the environmental conditions in the museums and stores and dispose of conservation waste material safely. Remedial conservation such as preserving, mounting and refurbishing will also be an important part of the role, as will ordering the necessary materials and equipment and working with the Head of Conservation to refine and develop efficient and safe conservation techniques. Last but not least, you'll recruit, induct and supervise the volunteers working on zoological materials within the museums.

Ideally with a relevant degree or museum qualification, but definitely holding a level 3 vocational qualification or equivalent, you also have practical experience of working in a museum or similar environment. A sound understanding of safe practice in the workplace is also essential, including awareness of Health & Safety issues. Reliable, consistent and with a 'can-do' approach, you're adept with Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Outlook and Excel. What's more, you have clear communication skills, an openness to new ideas and the ability to follow technical instructions. The post involves coming into contact with heavy objects and some hazardous chemicals for which full training will be given. Any experience of handling human or animal tissues in a museum or laboratory context would also be an advantage.

Benefits include:

25 days' holiday (plus 4 closure days)
Defined Benefit pension scheme
Flexitime
Subsidised restaurant
In-house gym and squash court
For further information on this role and to apply please visit http://www.rcseng.ac.uk/about/working using reference 25/11.

Closing date: 2nd October 2011

We are an employer fully committed to our equality and diversity policies. We will judge you on your abilities and nothing else.

More on the job can be found here.

Photos of specimens from the Hunterian Museum of The Royal College of Surgeons of England by Elaine Duigenan; more here.

Source:
http://morbidanatomy.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss

Hallween/Day of the Dead/Costume Contest/Screening party, anyone? Hope very much to see you there.

Halloween and Day of the Dead Party with New Episodes of Ghoul A Go-Go and The Midnight Archive, Costume Contest, Music, and More!
Date: Saturday, October 22
Time: 8:00 PM
Admission: $12
Presented by Morbid Anatomy and Borderline Projects

Please join us on Saturday, October 22 for a Halloween/Day of the Dead costume party featuring brand new episodes of Ghoul A Go-Go and The Midnight Archive, as well as burlesque, music, piñatas, food, beverages, sugar skulls, a costume contest, and more! Please, please (!!!) come in costume! All costumes welcomed!

The night's amusements will include:

ENTERTAINMENT!

• Ghoul a Go Go: Premiere of a brand new episode
• The Midnight Archive: Two new episodes of The Midnight Archive, Ronni Thomas' new web series based on Observatory
• Music: Wavy gravy Halloween music for the all night dance party
• Burlesque: A creepy Burlesque performance by Lil' Miss Lixx
  

FOOD AND DRINK!

• Traditional Food and Drink Specials throughout the evening
  

COSTUME CONTEST!

• Prizes for costumes inspired by either Vlad, Creighton, The Invisible Man, or any of the clips featured on Ghoul a Go Go

TRADITIONAL DAY OF THE DEAD ATTRACTIONS!

• Day of the Dead Altar: Altar de Muertos, an installation by Rebeca and Salvador Olguin celebrating Mexico and its past, history and culture
• Face painting: Have the Kiss of Death painted on your face by La Catrina
• Pan de Muerto: Indulge in this traditional dessert called Bread of Death
• Piñata: Dash death to smithereens with our annual death piñata!
• Sugar skulls: Decorate and eat or bring home your own Day of the Dead sugar skull
• Offerings to the Departed: In some places in Mexico, people leave small, coffin-like figures out for the souls of the departed. Guests are invited to leave their own offering; they will be available at the installation

More information here; Hope to see you there.

Image: El Jarabe en Ultratumba (The Folk Dance Beyond the Grave), Jose Guadalupe Posada

Source:
http://morbidanatomy.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss

Check out this beautiful bracelet by jewelry designer Delfina Delettrez. Delettrez is from Rome, the daughter of French jewelry designer Bernard Delettrez. She is inspired by gothic imagery, in case that wasn’t clear.

Her site seems to be down at the moment, but you can find more of her work online.

[via The Daily What]

Source:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/streetanatomy/OQuC

This was sent to me by my dear friend and fellow medical illustration graduate, Juna Kurihara.  Juna is based in Japan which is where this insane music video originated.

There are no words to explain.  There is anatomy sprinkled throughout though!  And I can’t guarantee that you won’t be left humming PON PON PON PON PON WAY WAY WAY PON PON WAY PON…

Source:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/streetanatomy/OQuC

Calgary based mixed media artist, Candace Couse, works with paint, installation, video, and most interestingly, fiber.  A somewhat recent graduate with a MFA from University of Calgary, Candace creates incredibly detailed knitted anatomical structures.  The images above are from a 2010 show, called Landlocked at the Nickle Arts Museum in Calgary, AB.

Candace says of her work,

My own research—in mixed media—is a discourse with geography, mapping, space/place theory, the body and identity. The conceptual considerations examine the basic human need to acquire territory as a prerequisite to identity, how a loss of territory leads to a breakdown of self inundated with anxiety and loss of security. Most recently, I have completed a short film with The National Film Board of Canada titled, Sick/Malade. The film is a fanciful, endoscopic journey through the knitted body that is violently disrupted by the discovery of a malignant malady. Sick/Malade is currently being marketed for a two year film festival circuit.

View more of Candace’s work on her site, candacecouse.com and keep updated on the progress of her film at the The National Film Board of Canada.

I hope we can view the film soon!

Source:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/streetanatomy/OQuC