People of Denver! I recently ran across the Mixed Taste lecture series at MCA Denver, and it sounds like pure magic. The topics range from Russian Conceptualism to beef and dubstep, with layers of intersection and tons of witty spakers. As the most excellent Edible Geography, who recently spoke about artificial flavorings, explains:
The genius of the series, which was developed in 2004 by the museum’s Director and Chief Animator, Adam Lerner, lies in its format: two speakers give back-to-back presentations on seemingly unrelated topics, such as Hegel and spontaneous human combustion, or fingerprinting and traditional Sumatran architecture, and, miraculously, the juxtaposition and unexpected overlaps turn out to shed new light on each topic.
So, obviously, uh-mazing. Upcoming topics include:
- July 19 Judas Iscariot & Hissing Cockroaches
- July 26 Beef & Edgar Allan Poe
- August 2 Phantom Limbs & Flannery O’Connor
- August 9 Thomas Jefferson & Giant Vegetables
- August 16 Fingerprinting & Traditional Sumatran Architecture
- August 23 Mongolian Gobi Bears & the Fourth Dimension
- August 30 Psychic Animals & Vincent van Gogh
So jealous! While I can’t be there, it inspires me to adopt the concept and do something similar here in New York. Just thinking about potential topics makes me super excited: the oyster, Egyptology, Victorian cooking, glassblowing, Lord Byron, worms…
Which speakers and topics would you be interested in?
This sounds awesome! I would love to check out Beef & Edgar Allan Poe, Fingerprinting and Traditional Sumatran Architecture, and Psychic Animals & Vincent van Gogh.
It reminds me a little bit of what’s going on at the Brooklyn Brainery.
I want to take Psychic Animals and Vincent Van Gogh, please.
Brooklyn Brainery is the best! I love, love, love everything they do.
I’m a little late to the party here, but Phantom Limbs and Flannery O’Connor sounds intriguing, also Jefferson & Giant Veg. The possibilities are endless…I hope you plan something like it in NY!