The Chadbourne Thaumaturgium
friday, 4 april 2008 -- first friday at the Main Street Museum!
“Politicking Magic; The Iconographic Cross-Currents of Cartooning and Conjuring; Selections of Graphic Art and Artifacts from the Chadbourne Thaumaturgium” exhibition from Thursday, 3 April — 27 May, 2008
Opening Reception Friday 4 April, 2008 from 6 – 8 pm. champagne and cupcakes!
Aerial Suspension (of selected patrons of the Museum) at 7:00 pm our little-er members defy gravity with Montague Chadbourne, prestidigitator and visiting research fellow for the main street museum from new york city.
also: "TAROTovMEM" the random digital tarot readings (RDTR) of mark ezra merrill. come experience it!
but wait, theres more! as a spectacular observance of the birthday of graham robinson (main street museum roadie and esteemed volunteer), with cake! and our house band Pariah Beat! roots music and so much more! playing the Museum Stage -- 9 to 11pm
All Free and Open to the Public! Donations accepted for the band!
Exhibition, Reception and Aerial Suspension at the Main Street Museum
“Politicking Magic; The Iconographic Cross-Currents of Cartooning and Conjuring; Selections of Graphic Art and Artifacts from the Chadbourne Thaumaturgium”
Exhibition from Thursday, 3 April — 27 May, 2008 Opening Reception Friday 4 April, 2008 from 6 – 8 pm
Ærial Suspension (of selected patrons of the Museum) at 7:00 pm All Free and Open to the Public!
The Main Street Museum thrills to announce a traveling conspectus of artifacts and graphic works from the Chadbourne Thaumaturgium collected from the editorial pages of American newspapers and journals—spanning half a century. This engaging, entertaining and morally uplifting selection of editorial cartoons is drawn from the collection of magic-scholar Montague Chadbourne, visiting research scholar at the Main Street Museum, confidant to some of the greatest masters of 20th century magic, contributor to the Journal of Magic History (among other publications), and a practitioner of prestidigitation in his own right. Our front gallery will be hung with scores of provocative editorial cartoons, providing commentary on topical political issues and scandals, each graphic work tartly invoking the imagery and distinctive tropes drawn from the age old—oftimes folkloric—art of Magic and Sleight-Of-Hand. Mr. Chadbourne observes: “The persona of the shining wonder-worker is set against the mask of the Pol as artificer-in-extremis.”
Conjuring-iconography has endured most formidably from the time of European masters such as Bosch and Breugel—as past and current graphic-commentators with no little frequency have surveyed the social and political scene through the optic of the magician’s art (one of illusion and manipulation). The signature effects of legerdemain: pulling a surprise out of a hat; sawn-in-halves; manipulation of the cups and balls; escaping from bondage (like Houdini); these and other characteristic acts of the magician’s oeuvre are among the constituative elements out of which generations of political cartoonists have come to frame our national life, or the foibles of a public official.
Further material displays from the Chadbourne Thaumaturgium include colorful documents associated with the magician Al Flosso, who, transmuted into a pictorial legacy, became a vital character portrayed in the acclaimed graphic novels Jar of Fools (vols. 1 and 2) by Jason Lutes, member of the faculty at the Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction. (www.cartoonstudies.org)
During the opening reception, in an interactive and educational vernisage, selected smaller patrons of the Museum will have opportunity to experience the transcendent phenomenon of Levitation. That’s right, Ærial Suspension, defying the laws of physics right here on the Museum Stage! In downtown Rio Blanco anything is possible!
Other objects and documentation pertaining to the art of-illusion form the remainder of this exhibition, one of enlightenment and delight—endowed with the illimitable wonders of graphic magic. ____________________________ main street museum -- 58 bridge street, opposite railroad row, downtown rio blanco -- 802.356.2776 -- info@mainstreetmuseum.org -- www.mainstreetmuseum.org hours: thursday thru saturday afternoons from one to six pm
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