Weekend of Anatomy: The Afterlife of Animals
Event Information
Description
Weekend of Anatomy: The Afterlife of Animals
You are officially invited to the fourth edition of the Weekend of Anatomy! This year's program has a little beastly vibe to it... Think taxidermy, animal artwork & paleozoology. In addition to our usual tours, you’ll be able to attend a series of awesome lectures, demos & workshops based on the fantastic world of fauna. Always wondered about the fabled dodo or the curious taxidermist Walter Potter? Or want to decorate your own chocolate skull during the 'Conjurer's Kitchen' workshop? Maybe check out a taxidermist at work? If you’re as excited as we are, you can now compose your own Weekend of Anatomy by buying separate tickets to anything you’d like to see or do.
Check out the full program below, and plan your day now by buying your tickets!
Saturday
Lecture pack - 10:30-13:45
If you think lectures are boring, think again! On Saturday we have scheduled six 30 minute-talks about the afterlife of animals – all very different, but equally interesting. At 10.30 Anneke Groen (museologist specialized in natural history) will start off with a lecture about the history of taxidermy and some extraordinary examples on the taxidermy of elephants. At 11:00 Joanna Ebenstein (co-founder former Morbid Anatomy Museum) will tell us all about the whimsical taxidermist Walter Potter: ‘The man who married kittens’. He was known for his dioramas featuring mounted animals mimicking human life. 11:30 will welcome Atelier Les Deux Garcons, the talented artist duo that’s widely known for its incredible sculptures of taxidermy. They frequently present their deer, lambs, cats & piglets as accessorized Siamese twins. Sure, morbid humour plays a role, but their work also certainly incites to reflection. Check their work at http://www.lesdeuxgarcons.nl
(Photo by Les Deux Garcons/Bureau Strictua.)
After a short break, at 12:15 Marijke Besselink (Naturalis Biodiversity Center) will continue the series with a compelling lecture about the delightful dodo. What is it that makes this extinct bird so popular and ‘alive’ after its death? At 12.45 Dennis Nieweg (Miramar Zeemuseum) will talk about extraordinary findings of animal bones throughout history and why archeozoology is such an interesting subject. At 13:15 we will end the series with Katharina & Parm von Oheimb (Natural History Museum, London). What do animals like owls and black cats have to do with death and morbidity? Their alluring lecture ‘Animals as mediators between the worlds of the living and the dead' will surely speak for itself.
Price: €10,- for the whole pack
Workshop Conjurer’s Kitchen (fox skull) 14:00
Culinary wizard Annabel de Vetten will be with us to teach a chocolate anatomy workshop! She will demonstrate how to make a mold from an original object, how to use the mold for casting a chocolate specimen and how to temper the chocolate (a culinary trick that assures that it will stay solid). After that you will be handling your own pre-made beautiful fox skull made of solid chocolate, decorate it and paint it with edible paint. Afterwards you can take your tasty piece of art home with you to show off your skills, hang it on the wall or – if you really can’t resist – eat it. Check out her magic at http://www.conjurerskitchen.com
Duration: approximately 3 hours.
Price: €60,- all materials included
Workshop ‘Ruysch Jar’ by Eleanor Crook 14:00
Workshop by anatomical sculptor Eleanor Crook. Crook has created anatomical and pathological waxes for several medical and science museums in Britain (e.g. the Science Museum and the Hunterian Museum), and is artist in residence at Gordon’s Museum at Guy’s Hospital, London. She has led many workshops in wax modelling, and this is the fourth time that she is joining us for the Amsterdam Weekend of Anatomy. Eleanor will teach you wax modelling techniques to create your own specimen model - which you can colour, decorate, suspend and ‘embalm’ in an embellished jar inspired by the beautiful work of 17th century anatomist Frederik Ruysch. His jars freely combined scientific display with artistic and atmospheric expression. The workshop can be altered to suit your personal experience with wax modelling, so everyone can make their own ‘Memento Mori’ preparation. Afterwards you can take your jar home.
Duration: approximately 3 hours.
Price: €100,- all materials included
Anatomical Drawing Class ‘The Art of Slow Looking’ 14:00
The skull of a crocodile or rather the bones of a monkey? Medical illustrator Lucy Lyons will guide each participant in the creation of a finished work that is based on real anatomical specimens from the Museum Vrolik collection. The drawing workshop will focus on getting to know some of the specimens by spending time looking slowly and gaining in-depth understanding through close observation. Various drawing techniques will be shared and materials are provided so that each participant will return home with his or her own unique drawing. Check out Lucy’s incredible work: www.lucylyons.org
Duration: approximately 3 hours.
Price: €40,- all materials included
Backstage & Museum Tours 11:00-16:00
You can visit museum Vrolik with a tour guide throughout the Weekend of Anatomy. On both Saturday and Sunday, the first tour will start at 11am and the last will start at 3pm. Tours are in Dutch or English, if necessary. When booking your tour through Eventbrite, please select your day and tour time.
Exclusive backstage tours will also be available again. They will start at 12pm and the last one will take off at 4pm. Space is very limited, so be quick if you want to have a sneaky peek in our depots full of undiscovered treasures!
Duration: both approximately one hour.
Price: €8-16
Sunday
Anatomical Atlases - @ Special Collections of the Amsterdam University 10:00-12:00
Curator of historical medical books, Dr. Paul Dijstelberge will show some of the Library’s most special and precious anatomical atlases and books on pathological anatomy. The Department of Special Collections owns one of the largest collections of old and rare books. Among these are many medical books dating from the 16th century to the end of the 19th century, including some copies of Vesalius famous De Humani Corporis Fabrica.
Duration: approximately one hour.
Warning: this tour takes place at Bijzondere Collecties in Amsterdam centre.
Price: €15,-
Demo pack - 11:30
In the hospital's disection wards we will have four different demos for you to enjoy - just wander and wonder about! Want to see a taxidermist live at work, stuffing beautiful birds? Now is your chance to ask all kinds of questions! Simultaneously, you can pay a visit to our wet specimen specialist and hold all kinds of cool animals - out of their jars. Really? Really! Skeleton mounting and animal inside anatomy are also part of the ongoing program at the disection wards, which are normally closed to the public. A true once in a lifetime experience!
Duration: approximately two hours.
Price: €15,- for the whole pack
Workshop Conjurer’s Kitchen (fox skull) 14:00
Culinary wizard Annabel de Vetten will be with us to teach a chocolate anatomy workshop! She will demonstrate how to make a mold from an original object, how to use the mold for casting a chocolate specimen and how to temper the chocolate (a culinary trick that assures that it will stay solid). After that you will be handling your own pre-made beautiful fox skull made of solid chocolate, decorate it and paint it with edible paint. Afterwards you can take your tasty piece of art home with you to show off your skills, hang it on the wall or – if you really can’t resist – eat it. Check out her magic at http://www.conjurerskitchen.com
Duration: approximately 3 hours.
Price: €60,- all materials included
Workshop 'Wax Modelling: faces' by Eleanor Crook 14:00
During The Weekend of Anatomy, experienced wax modeler and sculptor Eleanor Crook will teach a unique wax modelling workshop at Museum Vrolik. Crook has created anatomical and pathological waxes for several medical and science museums in Britain (e.g. the Science Museum and the Hunterian Museum), and is artist in residence at Gordon’s Museum at Guy’s Hospital, London. She has led many workshops in wax modelling, and this is the fourth time that she is joining us for the Amsterdam Weekend of Anatomy. All materials and tools are provided for this workshop, and each student will return home with their own beautiful wax model.
Duration: approximately 3 hours.
Price: €85,- all materials included
Anatomical Drawing Class ‘The Art of Slow Looking’ 14:00
The skull of a crocodile or rather the bones of a monkey? Medical illustrator Lucy Lyons will guide each participant in the creation of a finished work that is based on real anatomical specimens from the Museum Vrolik collection. The drawing workshop will focus on getting to know some of the specimens by spending time looking slowly and gaining in-depth understanding through close observation. Various drawing techniques will be shared and materials are provided so that each participant will return home with his or her own unique drawing. Check out Lucy’s incredible work: www.lucylyons.org
Duration: approximately 3 hours.
Price: €40,- all materials included
Backstage & Museum Tours 11:00-16:00
You can visit museum Vrolik with a tour guide throughout the Weekend of Anatomy. On both Saturday and Sunday, the first tour will start at 11am and the last will start at 3pm. Tours are in Dutch or English, if necessary. When booking your tour through Eventbrite, please select your day and tour time.
Exclusive backstage tours will also be available again. They will start at 12pm and the last one will take off at 4pm. Space is very limited, so be quick if you want to have a sneaky peek in our depots full of undiscovered treasures!
Duration: both approximately one hour.
Price: €8-16
FAQ
Can I visit the museum during the Weekend of Anatomy: The Afterlife of Animals?
Sure! As long as you have a ticket for a tour, workshop or lecture you can come and have a look at all of our historical treasures. It is however, a ticketed event so the museum will be closed to everyone else.
How do I get there?
Museum Vrolik is easy to get to by either using public transport or your own means of transportation. It is barely a five minute walk from Metrostation Holendrecht and there is plenty of parking space available. There will be signs to make your journey easier. Please visit 9292.nl or Google Maps for your specific route.
The museum is located on the ground floor of the AMC hospital in Amsterdam.
Can I get something to eat/drink around Museum Vrolik?
As long as you don't eat or drink in the museum itself, you're welcome to bring anything you want. If you want anything else, the AMC hospital has several places to get refreshments, like Starbucks or Albert Heijn To Go.
I can't make it. Can I give my ticket to someone else?
Yeah, no problem! Just make sure to send us an e-mail in advance so we are up to date as well.
I can't make it. Can I get my money back?
Unfortunately we can't offer refunds. We hope you'll make someone else happy with your ticket!
I have another question. How do I reach you?
If you have any questions, tips or comments, please e-mail our Event Manager at l.kuiper@amc.nl She'll be happy to help you out.
