Death: A Self Portrait

A new exhibit in London explores the human fascination with death throughout time and various cultures.  Death: A Self-portrait at the Wellcome collection showcases morbid still lifes from the 1600's, to Day of the Dead sculptures in the 1970s.  Metamorphic postcards from 1900's, ancestral offerings to contemporary art and sculpture are also displayed.  

As macabre as this exhibit may appear at first, I found it very interesting to see how people of different histories interpret death.  It's not so much about being morbid, but acknowledging how short life really is, or celebrating the person who once was, so they are never forgotten.  Everyone's relationship with death is so very personal, which makes each item special.  

Death: A Self Portrait 

Until February 24, 2013

Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE, UK

Dracula - Ballet with Bite

Forget all the bloodsucking politician jokes.  Opening tonight and going through November 4, 2012 is the Washington Ballet's company premiere of Dracula.  They promise the production will be sexy and very theatrical...  Choreographer Michael Pink aims to stay true to the original novel.  His dancers embody much more dimensional characters in this production than you would expect in typical ballet recitals.  It looks like the costumes will be gorgeous and Goth...  Hmm, I might need to hop a bus down to the country capital for this one.

Learn more here: http://www.washingtonballet.org/season-performances/dracula
Photo from the Washington Post/Dayna Smith

Bela Lugosi's Dead: Vampire Film Festival at BAM

There's a film festival for everyone.  If you're nocturnal and feeling a little anemic, the Brooklyn Academy of Music has got your back.... From now until September 30th, BAM is presenting 33 films exploring the themes of your favorite Gothic anti-hero(ine), the vampire.


The diverse lineup showcases everything "From Lugosi to the lesbian undead, Murnau to Maddin, camp-horror staple to postmodern, society-as-sickness metaphor, the vampire’s reign over popular imagination continues to seduce filmmakers over to the dark side."  You can enjoy guilty pleasure at the campy "Blakula", drool over Eiko Ishioka's costume designs in "Bram Stoker's Dracula", be moved by brutality and innocence at "Let the Right One In"...  

Film stills from Jean Rollins "Le Frisson des vampires",George Romero's "Martin (John Amplas), and Michael Almereyda's "Nadja" (Karl Geary and Elina Löwensohn).

Steampunk Night at Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Looking for some period nightlife in the City of Angels?  This Saturday, the Los Angeles Country Museum of Art is throwing Muse 'Til Midnight.  The party is a celebrations of all things Steampunk.

First, you have the League of S.T.E.A.M. a Victorian parlor of interactive art and performances.  An open bar, the Stargazer garden featuring large scale Steampunk installations and clockwork fountain.

If you're looking for style, don't miss the Steampunk fashion show.  There is a stilt circus and moustache mayhem for sillier fun.  Purchase tickets online here.