Curation

An artistic illustration of an astrological chart with a colorful background, featuring twelve zodiac signs arranged in a circle around a central pentagram symbol with Yin and Yang in the middle. Each zodiac sign has associated symbols and words.

80WSE Gallery, New York University
January 12 – February 13, 2016

Language of the Birds: Occult and Art

Language of the Birds: Occult and Art considers over 60 modern and contemporary artists who have each expressed their own engagement with magical practice.  Beginning with Aleister Crowley's trance portraiture and Austin Osman Spare's automatic drawing of the early 20th century, the exhibition traces over 100 years of occult art, including Leonora Carrington and Kurt Seligmann’s surrealist explorations, Kenneth Anger and Ira Cohen’s ritualistic experiments in film and photography, and the mystical probings of contemporary visionaries such as Francesco Clemente, Kiki Smith, Paul Laffoley, BREYER P-ORRIDGE, and Carol Bove.

WEBSITE
Poster for an art show titled 'Vision Quest', featuring a detailed, colorful, psychedelic illustration with a central eye, a skull, and vibrant geometric patterns. It advertises a group show of neo-shamanic art from January 16 to February 21, 2010, with an opening party on January 16 from 7-10 pm at the Observatory in Brooklyn, NY.
Poster for a group art show titled 'Sigils & Signs' at Observatory, April 27th to June 17th, 2012, featuring geometric sigil designs.
Poster for an art show titled "Alchemically Yours," featuring a tattoo-style illustration of a woman and a man entwined with a caduceus staff. The event runs from May 7th to June 12th, 2011, at the Observatory in Brooklyn, NY.
Poster for Fata Morgana, a female fantasy art exhibit running from March 14th to April 12th, open weekends and by appointment. Curated by Pam Grossman. Features a side profile of a woman with intricate tattoos and a small figure on her head. Lists participating artists and an opening party details. The poster includes logos for La Fée and Absinthe Parisienne.
A woman with long, wavy hair stands against a plain wall, her face softly illuminated with a mix of red and blue lighting.

Phantasmaphile Presents events

Art Workings Panel with Susan L. Aberth, Jesse Bransford and William Breeze for Language of the Birds: Occult and Art exhibition at NYU’s 80WSE Gallery

The Language theatrical performance, written by Matthew Freeman, for Language of the Birds: Occult and Art exhibition at NYU’s 80WSE Gallery

Through a Glass Darkly: A Conversation on Witches, Photography, and the Creative Urge with Rik Garrett and Pam Grossman at Catland

Decadence, Symbolism, and Rock and Roll’s Occult Imagination: An Illustrated Talk by Peter Bebergal, Presented by Phantasmaphile at Morbid Anatomy Museum

Phantasmaphile Presents events at Observatory

Botanica Erotica: Aphrodisiac Love Potions – A Workshop with Herbalist Kate Temple-West
Painted Alchemists: Thomas Wijck at the Intersection of Art, Science, & Practice with Elisabeth Berry-Drago
The Secret History of Positive Thinking with Mitch Horowitz
Music the Dead Can Hear: Sound, Symbol, and the Occult in Luigi Russolo’s Art of Noises
Jesse Bransford: Building the Fourth Pyramid – An Occult Installation in Galveston
Real Magic: The Life and Methods of Neville Goddard – A presentation by Mitch Horowitz
Adventures in Limbo: The Neither-Neither World of Austin Osman Spare (and Abraxas 3 US Launch!) with Robert Ansell of Fulgur Esoterica
Apocalypse Now? The Lure of Nostradamus in Modern Times with Stephane Gerson
Natural Perfume Blending Workshop with Julianne Zaleta (multiple dates)
Dawn’s Left Hand: The Art of Ithell Colquhoun and Mid-20th Century British Occulture with Amy Hale
Magic Circles in the Grimoire Tradition with William Kiesel of Ouroboros Press
Symbols & Spells with Judika Illes
Terrarium Making Workshop with Twig Terrariums
Occult New York Walking Tour with Mitch Horowitz (recurring)
Occult Bloodlines: Sex with Fairies, the Celtic Faith, and the Nephilim with Maja D’Aoust
Observatory’s Lunar-themed 3rd Anniversary Fundraising Party
Winter Solstice Ritual Celebration with Robin Rose Bennett
Cocktail Alchemy with Julianne Zaleta (multiple dates)
Tarot Practicum with Kathy Biehl
Moonshot Magazine’s “Secret Issue” Reading and Release Party
The Magic of Magic Squares with Jesse Bransford
Bohemian Occult Subculture in Britain’s 1890s with Treadwell’s Christina Oakley Harrington
Manly P. Hall and the Secret Teachings of All Ages with Mitch Horowitz
Anima, Animus, Animate: Exploring Masculine and Feminine Archetypes Through the Tarot
Plant Medicine: An Initiation into an Alchemist’s Art with Kate Temple-West
From Baphomet to Marlene Dietrich: Transversing the Boundless with Frater Puck
The Kabbalistic Mirror of Genesis with David Chaim-Smith
Art and Alchemy with Ann McCoy
Mediumship in History and Today with Paul Selig and Mitch Horowitz
Observatory’s 2nd Anniversary Valentine Phantasia Fundraiser Party
The Secret History of the Ouija Board with Mitch Horowitz
The Book of Symbols: Reflections of Archetypal Images with ARAS curator Ami Ronnberg
Haunted Houses: Photographs and Recordings with Corinne May Botz
Nomad Codes: Adventures in Modern Esoterica with Erik Davis
BEYOND BIBA Film Screening
Surrealism and Women Artists with Professor Susan Aberth
“The Beautiful Experience” with Judith Schaechter
Come to Your Senses: An Evening with Kóan Jeff Baysa, M.D. 
Chasing the Syncretic Tradition: Pulling Back the Curtain on the Visible World with Martin Bland
Women in Freemasonry with Professor Susan Aberth
ROCATERRANIA Film Screening
Shamanic Ritual with Itzhak Beery
Coincident Monsters with Daniel A. Rabuzzi and Deborah Mills
Occult America with Mitch Horowitz
Borders & Bridges: Guided Tours of Human Wonder with Jeff Hoke and Clint Marsh
For the Next 7 Generations – The 13 Indigenous Grandmothers Film Screening
Alchemy, Art, and the Realm of the Imaginary with Brian Cotnoir
Layered Orders: Crowley’s Thoth Deck and the Tarot with Jesse Bransford
MIRROR HORROR with Trinie Dalton

The Witching Hour

The Witching Hour is a 5-part video essay on witches in cinema for Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Film Comment blog.  Parts 2-5 can be viewed here. Mature content.