Thursday the 15th of July 2010
Doors at 6 pm, Talks commence at 7 pm
The Catalyst Club presents two talks on the theme of death. In "The Lost Art of Death Masks" Nick Reynolds, director and sculptor at Memorial Casts, Britain's only company specialising in this ancient art, will talk about casting the heads of prisoners on death row. Baroness Carrie von Reichardt will discuss anarchy, ceramics and her relationship with prisoners on death row including the Black Panther Herman Wallace, who has spent the last 38 years in solitary confinement in Louisiana's infamous Angola Penitentiary.
THE LOST ART OF DEATH MASKS with Nick Reynolds
The story of the death mask begins in Ancient Egypt where facial casts of the recently departed were taken in order to create burial masks to protect their souls from evil spirits. Subsequently the craft was maintained as a method of immortalisation and a popular keepsake of the dead which reached its heyday in the Victorian era. Unfortunately, the advent of photography resulted in the decline of this ancient art, but artist and musician, Nick Reynolds has spent the last decade instigating its revival.
The last death mask he made was that of an executed prisoner in Texas and was featured in the death row show and film '402.'
DEATH ROW AND BLACK PANTHERS with Baroness Carrie von Reichardt
Carrie von Reichardt or The Baroness has been a leader in the area of subversive ceramics for many years. As Kate Mikhail states in a recent write up in The Observer: “Is she a visionary muralist? A craftivist? An anarchic artist? Reichardt is not one for labels...”. The truth is Reichardt believes the revolution will be ceramicised and she can surely be labelled as one of England’s true anarchist ceramicists. She works from her amazing studios ‘The Treatment Rooms’ in London, a building that occupies an important place in the hearts of its locals. ‘The Treatment Rooms’ must be one of the country’s most complete and important display of mosaics on public view, and is featured in books on the world’s great murals and art pieces. Carrie will be speaking about why she got her pagan pussy out for the Panthers' and other true life stories of craftivism.
Nick and Carrie recently colloborated on the art project, The London Elephant Parade. Their elephant 'Phoolan' is currently on display outside the Natural History Museum.
The Catalyst Club is a unique monthly Brighton event that pays tribute to the old traditions of French Salon, debating societies and Gentleman's Clubs. It was set up to encourage people to share their eccentricities and passions with a live audience. Over the years speakers have included Brighton's oldest prostitute Letitcia, an octogenarian Barber Shop Quartet singer, a man who collects tinned meat, performer Lorraine Bowen, the Idler's Tom Hodgkinson, the late Ken Campbell and Chap Magazine's Atters. Talks are always entertaining, erudite and upbeat and have, over the years, ranged from cunnilingus to the dawn of civilisation.
The Catalyst Club was set up by David Bramwell. You can find out about more about him and the Catalyst Club at: www.drbramwell.com and www.catalystclub.co.uk
Talks at 11 Mare Street - please click here to buy tickets
