Photos from the Steampunk Excursion to the Houdini Exhibit at the Jewish Museum, December 18, 2010
On Saturday, December 18, steampunks gathered to view the Houdini Exhibit at the Jewish Museum, followed by friendly socializing at the Waterfront Ale House. Ardent Houdini fan Miriam was our hostess, and the group was comprised of 25-30 or so steampunks from LiveJournal, Facebook, MeetUp, and assorted friends and friends-of-friends.
This wasn't an organized photo shoot, but I love photographing steampunks, so I couldn't resist snapping a few candids (the group photo and the one in the pub are by Professor Fumolatro). Forgive my not knowing/remembering everyone's names - if you can help with that, or you want to be captioned in another way, or a photo of yourself removed, or any other corrections, please leave a comment or send me a message.
Photo by Professor Fumolatro. Standing, left to right: Samuel, Ashley, Marina, Noam, mystery gent, Sean, Morgana, Catherine, Michael and the lads, Hilary, Mary, Dan, Hannah, Rachel, Nyx Ann, Jim. Seated, left to right: Tristan, Miriam, Diana.
My group photo, minus a few. Standing, left to right: Robert, Samuel, Diana, Ashley, Noam, mystery gent, Tristan, Morgana, Catherine, Daniel, Sean, Hilary, Nyx Ann, Jim, Hannah, Rachel. Sitting: Marina, Miriam, Mary. Not pictured: photographers Babette and another gent (?), camera-averse Kit, Michael and lads, Stan, Adrienne and a few others who showed up at the pub.
Our lovely hostess Miriam, who deserves a big
thank-you for suggesting the excursion, clearing
it with the Museum, finding a suitable pub,
rallying everyone on Facebook, and being an
all-around awesome and friendly steampunk person.
Dan's suspicious look is entirely justified as I steathily snapped this shot. As far as what Tristan is doing in the background, your guess is as good as mine, but Diana is amused!
Milling about while mustering everyone to enter the museum.
Morgana looks toasty-warm in her fur-trimmed cloak.
Catherine looks especially serene in this photo of steampunks in their warm coats eyeing Mary braving the cold in her striking ensemble.
A closer view of Mary's divine hat.
A lively splash of color in Marina's gorgeous velvet cloak and the crimson trim on Miriam's hat and skirt.
Michael and lads crossing the street to meet us during the group shots.
Steampunk attire under the sweatshirt, of course.
Tryptych of steampunk ladies
Catherine looks so lovely in the tryptych that I cropped
a portrait out of what was really a background image.
The ever-dashing Samuel, co-organizer of MeetUp.com's
Steampunk Artists & Enthusiasts
The lovely Diana and Ashley in the lobby of the Museum. Note the hilariously
bewildered expression on the museum-goer in the background - we did have that
effect on passers-by, invoking many what-is-steampunk explanations.
Yours truly posing in front of the Houdini backgroup. I can't resist the lure of
men's vests, but mine needs a bit of tailoring for my decidedly unmanly torso.
Morgana's smile is the very picture of a merry Victorian winter. She looks like she stepped out of an antique Christmas card.
Dan with hat in hand, looking gentlemanly as always, and an excellent view of the resplendent trim on Miriam's hat.
Kit, the lads, and Babette outside the museum.
While rallying everyone to head down to the pub, three steampunk ladies peer
excitedly at... something Babette and Michael are unveiling?
Photo by Professor Fumolatro. Who wouldn't want to sit at this table? I could
not join them because of school, but there shall definitely be a next time!
I will add a few words about the exhibit, since photography was not permitted. Houdini has been a household name for so many years, the true facts of his life and death are not widely known. The exhibit offers a complete history, from his early days as a teenage vaudeville performer, his relationship with his parents, his long marriage to Bess, who assisted him in his early acts, his thrilling, death-defying escapes that astounded audiences, his devotion to the field of magic and illusionism, his debunking of fraudulent seances and spiritualism, and his widely-misunderstood death from a burst appendix. The exhibit includes original accoutrements - including the famous milk can and steamer trunk from which he escaped - as well as black-and-white reels of his performances, photographs, his diaries (publicly displayed for the first time), advertisements, showbills, and contemporary art inspired by his life. Houdini's fame didn't happen overnight; he worked extremely hard, spent years touring with his act, and devoted countless hours to perfecting his escapes. Nearly a century after his death, his performances still invoke a thrilling sense of anxiety and astonishment, and an almost tangible sense of relief when the master emerges from his confinement. The popularity of the exhibit is testimony to his lasting impact. It runs until March 27 and admission is free on Saturdays.