“That's because only a real artist knows the actual anatomy of the terrible or the physiology of fear - the exact sort of lines and proportions that connect up with latent instincts or hereditary memories of fright, and the proper colour contrasts and lighting effects to stir the dormant sense of strangeness.” ― H.P. Lovecraft, Pickman's Model
At the end the 19th century during peak of the Gilded Age, there was rapid economic growth through the expansion of industry. With more disposable income and accessible travel options, wealthy Americans acquired a fascination with the exotic and esoteric. One of the most famous collectors of the time was the Divine Madame X. During her lifetime, she circumnavigated the globe with her husband Admiral D.S. Cooperfield, searching for artifacts, ornaments, motifs, and various obscure treasures of the time. After her husband’s death, Madame X retreated into solitude. With no children of her own, the entire fortune was bequeathed to her niece—her only known living heir.
Upon inheritance of her reclusive great-aunt's estate, this generous local benefactor (who wishes to remain anonymous) discovered a secret room in the back of the house' attic filled with decades of items collected over an eccentric lifetime. We have been lucky enough to be able to present this discovery to you here, seen by the public for the very first time.
Featured Artists
Jeremy Hetherington
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Boriana Kantcheva
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Eric Bornstein
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Martha Friend
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Judith Klausner
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M.L. Van Nice
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Heather Balchunas
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Becky Carpenter
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Hilary Scott
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Faye Dupras
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Jodi Colella
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About the curator
This month’s guest curator features the talent of Judith Klausner.
Judith is well-known for her close attention to detail using Victorian handicraft processes, transforming everyday objects into extraordinary objects of exquisite delicacy. Fascinated by the disregarded ephemera of life, she continues to ask the question what defines these things as ephemeral at all. It is this unique personal aesthetic and keen point of view that has been the inspiration for the latest installation at the Inside-OUT gallery.
About the Inside-Out Gallery
Initiated in 2009, The Inside-Out Gallery is located in the CVS Window in Davis Square, a unique space that allows the public to view an eclectic array of works from artists and local organizations each month. The mission of the Somerville Arts Council is to cultivate and celebrate the creative expressions of the