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Your Scientific ignorance
Tag: Magic
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More Magus
I was invited to present some work in the Animation Adjacent exhibit, which is part of Sweaty Eyeballs, and will accompany the festival (see Behind the Screens). I’ve been making physical work that is represented in my short, Magus Incognito.
Here are the dioramas and shadow boxes I made to support Magus Incognito, and my persistent fascination with the Kybalion.
Thrice Great Hermes:
Evidence of the principles:
The 7 hermetic principles:
Magus Incognito:
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Magus Incognito
When I wrapped up Brains, I began thinking about what my next project should be. I have a sketchbook with a few ideas, including some music videos, and the sequel to The Lunatics (which I played with in the animation I made for the Peale last month). I also am eager to do some 3D stop motion work.
Another idea that’s been rolling around my brainpan is a treatment of some ideas put forth in a favorite book: The Kybalion. Initially, I figured it would be non-narrative. So, I picked up a fresh of The Kybalion: The Definitive Edition and began brainstorming.
This book was recommended to me by a medium in Washington, D.C. years ago, and I’ve returned to it many times. And the copy I’ve linked makes a strong case that William Walker Atkinson is the actual author. This edition also includes Atkinson’s The Seven Cosmic Laws. I’ve had a lot of fun reading this.
I originally intended to make Magus Incognito in the spring, but a festival of hermetic inspired films caught my eye on filmfreeway.com. I seem to work best when I have a deadline, and had to quickly focus my ideas for this. This version is 77 seconds long, and the file I uploaded turned out to be 70.77 MB! I may continue to develop this material into a longer film, but this initial pass accomplishes what I was was hoping to achieve.
The animation can be viewed at doranimation.com.
I also made a diorama for this animation in a Trader Joe’s green tea mint tin box.
UPDATE 9/18/2024
Magus Incognito has screened at 3 festivals and will be included in the Sweaty Eyeballs Animation Festival this fall! It won an award for best animation at the Hermetic International Film Festival!
I made a body of work (dioramas and shadow boxes) to support this film, which is on display at Area 405 in Baltimore as part of the Animation Adjacent exhibit.
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The King’s Roads
I was invited to participate in a diorama project called The Yonder Cabinet by Kelley Bell and Melissa Penley Cormier, where “a card catalog reimagined as a collection of artists’ interpretations of their favorite literary places.” I received a box which can fit inside a retired library card catalog.
I had a hard time choosing what illustrate. Wandering through my favorite books, I came up with several great diorama scene candidates.
- Jack Audrey and Stephen Maturin playing music in Jack’s cabin of the HMS Surprise, from one of Patrick O’Brian’s novels
- The five horsemen in Terry Pratchett’s The Thief of Time, riding out against the auditors.
- Miniature War on his horse in his back yard, surveying a battle of ants, while Death looks on. Also from The Thief of Time
- Martin Chatwin as the Beast in Lev Grossman’s The Magicians
- Fat Charlie talking to the Bird Woman in Anansi Boys
- A scene from The Sandman
- Etc.
Hopefully you get the idea.
I chose a passage from Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. I love this book, and Clarke’s approach to magic.
In this part of the story, Mr. Strange walks into a mirror, and travels on the King’s Road to a woman’s sitting room. This road belonged to John Uskglass, also known as the Black King, the King of the North, and most commonly, the Raven King. He was the ruler of Northern England for over 300 years and is accredited with bringing magic to England.
I made this diorama from memory, as I couldn’t place my hands on my old copy of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. I mistakenly remembered the Mirror being over the fireplace. I only realized the error after it wad complete.
I enjoyed making this very much. I believe the final catalog will be on view at Maryland Art Place.
Palmistry and Podiatry – the Art of Divination. Looking for answers?
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Tarot Tins
I’ve always loved the imagery on Tarot cards, and the endless possibilities for representing them. I thought I’d start with some traditional cards…
