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Just a reminder that Gigi Moon Gems will be having a pop up shop at Oracle on Saturday, October 22 from 1:00pm-4:00pm!! We have been proud to carry this artist's work here at the shop, but Gigi Moon Gems will be bringing new pieces, 'Little Shadow Boxes Of Death" to our store, as well as many other lovely adornments!
Alessandra Dzuba, AKA The Bone Wizard will be doing mini tarot readings and we'll have refreshments available as well - you don't want to miss out!! See you there!!
Christina putting some final touches on her first articulation, a badger (aptly named Helga) while flying Hufflepuff colors, BECAUSE AWESOME.
Christina Maki, a professional photographer, began her apprenticeship with Alessandra Dzuba (aka Bone Wizard) in October 2015. Her apprenticeship began with a daunting project - to assist Alessandra as she sorted and articulated the bones of a 16ft long python.
This guy was NO JOKE. But lookie how beautiful it is!
Luckily for us, the project known as Operation Basilisk did not deter Christina, who has since moved on to working on several projects for Oracle, including - but not limited to - her very own articulated Badger!
We don't list a fondness for Harry Potter or a tolerance for salty language among our prerequisites here at Oracle, but we are delighted when lovely people such as Christina come our way and we are lucky to have her in our little coven!
Check out Christina's awsome Tumblr at augustbones.com
(photo by Lauren Thurman-King, who rules.)
Holy Smokes you guys...this August it will be two years since we first opened our doors for business!! I swear it feels like it was just yesterday, but so much has happened in that window of time! We have changed locations, expanded our shop and we have added the one and only Bone Wizard to our partnership...and that's not even the half of it! We have held educational workshops for artists who love science and for scientists who love art; dedicated our back room for in-shop production of skeleton articulation, for preserving and framing insects, pop-up shops and art installations; we have hosted tarot and palmistry parties (during which we have laughed and cried but mostly laughed with y'all); we have been pushed creatively in ways we never thought possible and we have so much more planned!
We are so happy to be a part of the thriving (and, fortunately for us, very open-minded) community of West 18th Street and we sure wouldn't be here without our wonderful customers!! We like y'all, is our point, and we want to say thank you.
Traditionally, a person gives the gift of cotton to mark a two year anniversary...we like cotton just fine, but we can do a little better than that. For the month of August, by way of a thank you to our amazing customers, we are offering a 10% discount on purchases* over $100 and a 20% discount on purchases over $200!! (*Excludes certain items). Thank you so much for your support, we wouldn't be here without it!
A fox working on a fox....
I recently sat down with Alessandra Dzuba (artist; dreamboat; co-owner and manager of Oracle; co-owner of Fraction Print Studio; Arcana founder and our resident Bone Wizard) and asked her about the process of articulating a skeleton.
Not even half of the bones are shown here for the fox skeleton!
She compared the endeavor to solving a jigsaw puzzle. Often, she is faced with a box of bones - all jumbled up together in a pile - and from there begins the laborious process of sorting the bones out and identifying where they belong (vertebrae, leg bones, tail bones, feet and toes etc.) there's a lot of teeny, tiny, pieces, as you can imagine.
Jesusgod...how...
Using wire and a bit of glue, Dzuba begins by assembling the vertebrae (of which there are many sections - lumbar, cervical, thoracic, caudal and sacrum) working from the center out - and often it's simply a matter of trial and error, feeling out which pieces connect and which do not. Deciding how to pose and stand the skeleton also determines how the thing is put together - whether it stands freely or rests in seated repose - the skeleton must be able to bear weight as it would in life.
MacGyver-ing a prop-stand with a glass jug - skills of improvisation are key!
It's fascinating to watch these incredible pieces come together and having an awareness of the research, knowledge and elbow grease that goes into each articulated skeleton facilitates a greater appreciation for each beautiful work.
Behold, a completed rooster skeleton!
I think it's NEATO!
We will be burning the midnight oil tonight to ensure that we meet all of your taxidermy, bone, skull, pelt, feathers, jewelry, insect and natural science needs! COME DANCE IN THE HELL FIRE OF THE DAMNED! (Or, you know, just hang out - we'll be staying open late!)
