Cynthia von Buhler

New York Dolls

2012-01-14T09:31:00.000-08:00

Why Are Dolls Appearing on Buildings in NYC? Live Urban Walls has partnered with Cynthia von Buhler in projecting a variety of Speakeasy Dollhouse videos. The videos feature von Buhler's dolls and sets along with photographs from the immersive play.

The first video will be projected on Saturday, January 14th on a building at Orchard St. and Stanton St. in the Lower East Side.

Here's one of the videos.

The play is held in a historic Lower East Side speakeasy on the first Monday of every month.

Get your tickets now through Brown Paper Ticketing.

Speakeasy Dollhouse: Tickets Are Now On Sale For The 2012 Season

2011-12-01T07:26:00.001-08:00

Speakeasy Dollhouse
The Speakeasy Is Our Dollhouse and The Actors Are Our Dolls

Buy Tickets Now

A true tale of bootlegging, mafia, infidelity, and murder set in Prohibition-era New York City. The speakeasy is our dollhouse and the actors are our dolls.

"My grandparents, the Spanos, came to this country from Italy during the Roaring Twenties. They opened two speakeasies in the Bronx: one masquerading as a bakery, and the other one a secret nightclub. Shortly after Prohibition ended, my grandfather was shot and killed on the street in Manhattan. My grandmother was pregnant with my mother at the time, and upon hearing the news of the murder, she went into a coma. When her husband's coffin was dropped on the way up the narrow stairs of their apartment building, my grandmother woke up -- and went into labor. On the same day, my mother was born in one room of the small Bronx apartment while her father's body was laid out in a coffin in another.

Nobody still living in my family knows why my grandfather was shot. Nothing was known about the killer, his motive, or a trial. My grandmother took these secrets to her grave. And so, over the past two years, I have been researching this complicated mystery." - Cynthia von Buhler

To better explore her grandfather's murder and events leading up to it, Von Buhler has created an elaborate speakeasy dollhouse set in her art studio. There is a plush secret nightclub, a bakery, a pre-war apartment, a bootlegging bathroom, and a morgue. These sets contains minute and authentic crime scene details that can be examined from every angle.

To take it one step further, the artist has now created an immersive theatrical experience to go along with the sets and her own investigation. The play stages these events in a historic Lower East Side speakeasy set up to mirror the dollhouse sets. The actors aren't visually distinguished from the audience, so both become players in the life-sized speakeasy dollhouse.

Was Frank Spano guilty, or did his fatal trouble arise because he was innocent? Did he have a connection to the infamous mobster Dutch Schultz? Who was the man who committed the murder, and what became of him and his family? And just how corrupt was the government? Von Buhler (The Time Traveling Revealer of Truth) is the lone audience member, watching the interactions as fodder for her work. Revelations and observations will be used in the Speakeasy Dollhouse graphic novel series she is working on in conjunction with the play. Dress the part, and you become part of the family - and book!

Expect to witness a murder, a birth, and many things in between, all while sipping cocktails from teacups and enjoying cannolis fresh from the Spanos' Bakery. Mingle with flapper floozies, infamous mobsters, corrupt magistrates, and questionable cops. Live prohibition-era music by The Howard Fishman Quartet. From decor to music to characters, it's a mind-blowing trip back in time.

A documentary on Speakeasy Dollhouse is in the works. Find out more about it HERE.

The Discovery Channel have been filming and interviewing Cynthia about her play for their show Oddities.

Gothamist interview with Cynthia von Buhler.

Read reviews of the show HERE and HERE.

2011-11-07T15:14:00.001-08:00

Cynthia von Buhler will be a judge at Literary Death Match in Boston on November 17th!

Click to order discounted advance tickets now!

We’re already quivering with excitement thinking about our return to Boston this fall — this time at OBERON, especially since we’re planning on a show that’s even more delightful, amazing, and enthralling than Bostonians have ever seen us before.

Our panel of spectacular judges will include the tantalizingly insightful Ron Currie Jr. (author of God is Dead and Everything Matters!), the internationally renowned artist/illustrator/performer/children’s book author Cynthia von Buhler, and the enchanting comic artist Liz Prince (author of Will You Still Love Me if I Wet the Bed?).

Together, they’ll pass judgment over a crew of bold and fearless scribes, including Senior Editor for AGNI and The Believer contributor Billy Giraldi, the articulately astounding Courtney Maum (author of the short story collection Small Things in Big Places), the utterly brilliant Matthew Salesses (Fiction Editor and columnist for the GoodMen Project, and author of the forthcoming novella The Last Repatriate), and the dazzling novelist Sarah Braunstein (author of The Sweet Relief of Missing Children).

Hosted by LDM creator Todd Zuniga & Kirsten Sims.

Where: OBERON, 2 Arrow Street, Harvard Square, Boston (map)
When: Doors at 7, Show at 8:15 (sharp); afterdrinks after.
Cost: $10 preorder; $15 on the door.

Evelyn Evelyn Reading at Cousin Corrine's Live Comix Block

2011-10-18T19:05:00.001-07:00

Cynthia Von Buhler is staging an Evelyn Evelyn, A Tragic Tale in Two Tomes reading with live sound effects and a slide show at Cousin Corrine's Live Comix Block. She will sign books afterwards.

Evelyn Evelyn, A Tragic Tale in Two Tomes was written by Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley and was illustrated by Cynthia. The afterword was written by Neil Gaiman.

Book Court, 163 Court St. Brooklyn, Thurs Oct 20th @7PM.
Details:

Oddities: Speakeasy Dollhouse Featured On The Discovery Channel

2011-09-23T07:22:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends & Supporters,

Speakeasy Dollhouse is going to be featured on the Discovery Channel show Oddities. They filmed my visit to the Obscura store yesterday. I was interviewed about the project and I spoke with the owners of the coolest little antique store in the Lower East Side (NYC). I showed them some of my handmade dolls and sets and told them all about the story and play. They loved it and want to help out. The owners of the store (and stars of the show) are going to get many of the more obscure props for the play. They are searching for items like a coroner's gurney, coroners tools, religious art, and all sorts of Prohibition-era props. All of this will be filmed as an episode of Oddities which will air in early 2012. There's even a chance that they might come and shoot during the play!

I'm working like mad on the book and play. It is going to be magical.

Keep spreading the word.

Cheers, Cynthia
"Most of my friends’ bedroom walls are covered with posters of David Cassidy or horses. Mine are covered with pictures from art books."

"Of Dolls & Murder", Narrated by John Waters To Be Screened at Speakeasy Dollhouse

2011-09-18T12:42:00.000-07:00

Gothamist Interviews Cynthia von Buhler About Speakeasy Dollhouse

2011-09-09T11:21:00.000-07:00

From Gothamist:
Cynthia Von Buhler Tells Us About Recreating Her Grandfather's Murder In The Bronx

"Artist Cynthia von Buhler has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund a project she's already been working on for years, and is a lifetime in the making.

To sum it up, her grandfather was murdered in Manhattan before she was born, and to figure out why, she created a miniature version of all the places that played key roles during her family's life at that time. These are based off "Nutshell Studies—dollhouses that students could examine from every angle... complete with minute and authentic crime scene details" which have been used to "challenge detectives and strengthen their ability to read evidence."

Her Speakeasy Dollhouse project also consists of a gorgeous book, and an immersive play, along with the handmade dolls and sets. We highly recommend you fund it so you can participate in the completed project! Below, von Buhler tells us more..."

Click HERE to read the full interview.

Enjoy a few pages from the book below.

Speakeasy Dollhouse

2011-09-05T20:16:00.000-07:00

Speakeasy Dollhouse is a biographical tale of murder, bootlegging, mafia, and intrigue, set in New York City and explored through a graphic novel and live performances.

This is a true story about my grandfather who, during prohibition, along with my grandmother, bootlegged liquor and owned two speakeasies in New York City. He was shot and killed in 1935, but nobody in my family ever found out why. I'm uncovering the facts and telling the story in two ways: First, a graphic novel with photographs of miniature dolls and sets that I've created to visualize and convey the story, and second, in an immersive play through which the events unfold in real life. You can help me solve this mystery by pre-ordering the book or by purchasing tickets to the play through Kickstarter. - Cynthia von Buhler (née Carrozza)

In 1922, my grandfather was given a free trip to America because he was a brave soldier in Italy.He ran an ice delivery business in the Bronx and someone owed him money. He needed the money because he had four children and his wife was pregnant. So he grabbed his coat and went to collect the debt. He took his twelve-year-old son, Dominick, with him. They unlocked the door and let him into the apartment.
But before he could finish taking off his coat, he was shot. He couldn’t defend himself because his arms were stuck in his sleeves. He died.When Grandma found out, she fell down and went into a long sleep. Two days later, Grandpa’s coffin was being carried into their apartment when the man who carried it tripped and fell, and dropped the coffin right on the ground! My mother says that Grandpa’s ghost tripped him.The sound of the coffin hitting the floor woke Grandma up. Her baby started to come out. In the living room, my grandfather’s body was laid out in his coffin, and in the bedroom next to it my mother was born.
For more information click HERE to watch a video about the project.
Thank you to Howard Fishman, Amanda Palmer and Kim Boekbinder for donating downloads of their prohibition-era songs to my Kickstarter project. Howard Fishman by Anne Vellis. Amanda Palmer by Anabel Vázquez Rodríguez. Kim Boekbinder by Heike_Schneider-Matzigkeit.

Neil Gaiman Presents Our Evelyn Evelyn Book Trailer

2011-09-03T06:28:00.000-07:00

Evelyn Evelyn: A Tragic Tale in Two Tomes Has Been Printed!

2011-08-10T13:00:00.000-07:00

It's printed! You won't be able to get one in your greedy little hands until October. You can sneak peek a few pages and read Neil Gaiman's afterword HERE on Amazon. Pre-order it on Amazon now. It might sell out of its first pressing quickly.

The Hotel Chelsea - The End of an Era

2011-08-01T00:16:00.000-07:00

The Hotel Chelsea is closing. Here's an article in The New York Times about it.

I've been staying there this year while I look for an apartment. I even threw a fabulous party there back in March. Yao Xiao immortalized the party with her drawing (see below). The party was held in the large one bedroom, room 103, where Sid and Nancy once infamously stayed - and Nancy died. Here's a picture of Liz and Katelan at the party. Katelan wrote a blog post about it. I've also had a few slumber parties there. Here's a video from one.

If any of my friends had additional pictures from this party send them along and I'll post them.

To read my initial post about the party click HERE.

The Cynthia von Buhler Font - Let's Celebrate 5,000!

2011-07-26T11:31:00.001-07:00

AS PROMISED: To download the font CLICK HERE and download away. Feel free to take my songs and vintage tv ads that are in there too. Cheers!

****
I love antique-looking fonts. It's hard to find a perfect one, so I drew my own for the book Evelyn Evelyn, A Tragic Tale in Two Tomes. It was turned into a font by Dark Horse Comics. I am offering it for free to all of my followers and friends on Twitter and Facebook. I'm only two dozen fans away from 2,000 followers on Twitter and 3,000 friends on Facebook. Let's celebrate 5,000!

If you follow me on twitter retweet this tweet:

Please RT: My next 23 followers (& all current followers) will be given the @CynthVonBuhler font used for @EvelynEvelyn. http://cynthiavonbuhler.blogspot.com/2011/07/cynthia-von-buhler-font.html

If you friend me on Facebook share this link: http://cynthiavonbuhler.blogspot.com/2011/07/cynthia-von-buhler-font.html I'm 27 friends away from 3,000 on Facebook. When I reach 3,000 friends I will give it to all of my friends. I do not have a fan page on Facebook yet. I'm waiting until I reach the capacity of friends you can have (5,000) and then I will start one.

This is a limited offer. Soon the font will only be available for sale. If you use the font in a publication you do not need to pay me a fee, but you do need to give me credit as the creator. --Cheers, Cynthia von Buhler

Life. Death. Repeat. A Cynthia von Buhler Interview

2011-07-26T11:15:00.000-07:00

Cynthia von Buhler chatting with author Neil Gaiman.
Bryan Reesman interviewed me for his popular blog Attention Deficit Delerium.

Some artists are difficult to pigeonhole, and that’s a great thing.
I have known Cynthia von Buhler for fifteen years, from her earlier performance art days with the female dominant, fetish-oriented group Women Of Sodom and her beguiling, edgy and romantically inspired painting to her expanding career path as both a graphic novel artist and children’s book author and illustrator. While she certainly possesses a very distinct style, Cynthia is not that easy to categorize. She has worked in the visual arts and music. That diversity also extends into her life — she occasionally hosts really fun parties populated by a wide variety of equally eclectic people. Her recent summer bash at her woodland compound in Connecticut featured a live play that was an improvised mash-up of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang performed outdoors near midnight. She played Snow White. No matter what she works on, Cynthia brings her own unique perspective into the project, and she likes to challenge people’s perceptions and expectations.

Cynthia von Buhler drawing a page from Evelyn Evelyn: A Tragic Tale in Two Tomes. Photograph by Seth Kushner.
Cynthia’s work has run the gamut of extremes, from two feline-friendly children’s books (The Cat Who Wouldn’t Come Inside and But Who Will Bell The Cats?) to colorful, striking paintings with unusual mixed media elements (such as fruit, a half-melted candle, even a syringe) to a vending machine display called Cynth-O-Matic, which dispensed packaged samples of her body hair and various fluids. (Seriously.) Some of Cynthia’s recent and upcoming projects include illustrating the Evelyn Evelyn graphic novel A Tragic Tale In Two Tomes, a children’s chapter book and a graphic novel about her grandparents.

Read the interview HERE.

Kali Goddess

2011-07-24T23:33:00.000-07:00

My Kali goddess painting which was commissioned by US News & World report has been used again. This time it is the cover of a new poetry magazine called A Gathering of the Tribes.

There's A Melancholy Mermaid Swimming In My Lake

2011-07-05T21:11:00.000-07:00

Mermaid swimming, film and song remix by Cynthia von Buhler. I needed music for my mermaid tail swimming collage and this song by Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley seemed perfect. I illustrated the forthcoming graphic novel written by them titled Evelyn Evelyn, A Tragic Tale in Two Tomes. The book will be released in October by Dark Horse Comics. Pre-order the book on Amazon now. More info on the book and this music can be found here: http://evelynevelyn.com Note 1: This song remix was not authorized by my friends Amanda & Jason, but I don't think they'll mind. Note 2: This was shot on an iPhone (thank you Alex Farhang) and was manipulated into a film in iMovie.

Sleep Forever

2011-06-28T11:11:00.001-07:00

Snow White has fainted. Her sidekick Squirrelly and The Huntsman look on.
I held my third annual Fur Gnarl summer party at my country estate this past weekend. I staged "Sleep Forever," an immersive theater mashup of Snow White & The Seven Dwarves and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. It was an homage to the wonderful "Sleep No More." Ours was more of a clusterfuck, but we all had a blast. I plan to stage another immersive theater presentation soon. The next one will be open to the public. I'm attaching some photos below. I'll add a few more when the rest of the photographers send their images in. All photos are by Paul Weiner unless noted otherwise.

Performers:
Cynthia von Buhler as Snow White
Katelan Foisy as The Queen
Rachel Boyadjis as The Prince
E. Stephen Fredericks as The Children Catcher
Katrina Galore as Truly Scrumptious
Scott Dakota as The Huntsman
Toot Sweet as Chiity Chitty Bang Bang
Walter Sickert as Baron Bomburst
Edrie as Baroness Bomburst
Julie Fotheringham as Creepy (Dwarf 2)
Dalya as Curvy (Dwarf 4)
Justin Moore as Drunky (Dwarf 3)
Joshua Fouts as Twitchy (Dwarf 5)
The Ninja House as Dwarf Cottage
Christina D'Alessandro as Squirrelly
Jeff Newelt as Caractacus Potts
Shahriar Shadab as Jeremy Potts
Sarah Coombs as Jeremiah Potts
Melissa Dowell (Kiwi) as The Prince's Horse

Jeremiah and Jeremy Potts and The Prince's Horse.
The Prince's Horse, The Prince, The Huntsman.The Prince.
The Prince and The Evil Queen Fight.
Snow White and Squirrelly in the Dwarf Cottage.
Drunky and The Horse.Celebration when The Children Catcher is trapped.
Snow White douses The Children Catcher in beer.
The Huntsman.
Truly Scrumptious.
The Prince.Truly Scrumptious.
The Potts family.
The Potts family with Truly Scrumptious.
The Prince's Horse.
Drunky.
Curvy.
Creepy.The masks hung on the dock nest. Photograph by Walter Sickert.

Other Performers at The Fur Gnarl
My husband Russell Farhang (of The Howard Fishman Quartet and many other bands).
My ex-husband Adam von Buhler (of Anarchy Club, Map & Key, formerly of Splashdown).
A new band named My Husband and My Ex-husband. Singing is the amazingly talented Keith from Anarchy Club and formerly of C-60.
The lovely Kim Boekbinder.
My assistant/Princess/Prince Rachel Boyadijs also happens to be a talented poet and singer. Here she play the uke for Foley as he sings a gorgeous Irish tune.
The wonderful Walter Sickert and The Army of Toys
Once again, the wonderful Walter Sickert and The Army of Toys

Other artistic displays:
Terra Fredricks beautiful projection on the Great Room ceiling.Al Gori's Homespun Merry-Go-Round. This follows me everywhere. Al, make sure that it is at my funeral one day!
Al Gori's Homespun Merry-Go-Round.Al Gori's Homespun Merry-Go-Round.
A work-in-progress from my art studio.
A work-in-progress from my art studio.
My messy art studio.

Additional photographs of the party by the lovely and talented Kate Black can be found HERE.

For additional photographs and commentary from the fashion designer extraordinaire Kambriel click HERE.

For a slideshow of the whole party, performers, and guests (photographed by Paul Weiner) click HERE.

Evelyn Evelyn: A Tragic Tale in Two Tomes Heads to the Printer

2011-05-08T20:55:00.000-07:00

It look longer than expected to complete the hundreds of pages of art for the Evelyn Evelyn graphic novel. It will be a two book hardcover set. We finally have a final release date, September 2011. Hooray! Here are the final proofs. They only needed a few tweaks here and there. I have been documenting my art process on a private blog. When the book is released I will open up the blog to the public. All of the drawings from the book will be available for sale. It was a pleasure working with the musicians/writers, Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley. Neil Gaiman wrote a wonderful afterword for the book. I also enjoyed working with Shawna Gore and Rachel Edidin at Dark Horse Comics. A big thank you goes out to my two art interns Meghann Pardee (darkening) and Fin Cramb (coloring)!

CulturePOP Photocomix: Cynthia Von Buhler

2011-04-22T09:04:00.000-07:00

The talented Seth Kushner and I made an online comic about my life. We are working on extending it into a full-length graphic novel. See the bio comic here on Dean Haspiel's fantastic Act-ti-Vate web comic site. - http://activatecomix.com/104-24-1.comic

From Seth Kushner's Blog:

This week's new installment of CulturePOP Photocomix Profiles of Real-Life Characters is the 24th and the season-2 finale. To mark the occasion, I present my profile on artist Cynthia Von Buhler.

Cynthia and I started work on the piece last fall. We discussed concepts and she soon sent me a first draft of a script, which is nearly identical to the final version. I read through it and learned about her history and the history of her family and was floored by the scope and with how well she broke down the beats of the story by page and text box. It gave me to perfect map for planning out the profile.

But, how the hell was I going to set scenes taking place during Cynthia's childhood and during the 1920s and 1930s? Cast actors and green screen in virtual sets? No, Cynthia had a far more ambitious idea. She would build miniature dollhouse sets and figurines for me to photograph. Wasn't that going to be difficult to do, I asked. No, she said, my last two books were done that way. If you haven't seen her books, But Who Will Bell the Cats? and The Cat Who Wouldn't Come Inside, you should check them out.

We did our first shoot in December, which comprised of most of the shots of Cynthia herself. I crossed off panels from the script as we worked. Then Cynthia began constructing the sets and our period characters. It took her some time to put together the prohibition speakeasy, a birth scene and a death scene, and her own childhood bedroom, among others. She also had to collect the various prop items; a bathtub still, gun, skunk, coffin, and many, many more. When I arrived at her Connecticut studio last week I was absolutely astounded by all she had wrought. But, don't take my word for it...

See it here - http://activatecomix.com/104-24-1.comic

Comments welcome and appreciated, as always. Hope you enjoy it!

Show & Tell Come To Life

2011-03-31T21:37:00.000-07:00

Show & Tell by Cynthia von Buhler.Above: Cosette Chapiteau (as Show) and Sucre d’Orge (as Tell)
The Dr. Sketchy Anti-Art School Art Star Tribute in my honor was delightful! Below you will find a video of people sketching the models as they pose while the talented Howard Fishman (guitar) and Russell Farhang (violin) perform their song Gypsy Waltz. Gypsy Waltz plays whenever someone gets close to the interactive painting. -Cynthia von Buhler
This painting was commissioned for the cover of Communication Arts. The multimedia painting explores the use of word versus action with hidden visual and auditory messages.Above: Cosette Chapiteau (as Show) and Sucre d’Orge (as Tell)A drawing inspired by the above pose by Yao Xiao.
When you approach the painting a violin waltz can be heard coming from Tell's heart. When you look inside Show's keyhole you see a tiny lit up diorama of a framed Man Ray photograph.A few sketches inspired by the painting and pose are below:

Belen Gaard by Cynthia von Buhler.
Model Cosette ChapiteauI'm No Angel by Cynthia von Buhler.
Model Sucre d'OrgeDrawing inspired by the pose and art by Rita Flores.
Fidelio by Cynthia von Buhler.
Joan of Arc by Cynthia von Buhler. Some people believe that they saw a white dove fly out of Joan of Arc's heart when she was burned at the stake. This painting was a book cover for Beyond The Myth: The Story of Joan of Arc. It also appeared on the cover of Step By Step.
Model Cosette Chapiteau as Joan of Arc.
Drawing inspired by this painting and pose.

The beautifully delicate Sucre d'Orge disrobes for us. Please do not watch this if you are offended by nudity.

Magic! Just for fun Cynthia made a dove appear and disappear:What is that on Cynthia's face in the video above? Live sleeping cockroaches, of course. How do you do this? 1) Place them in the freezer for 1 hour and they peacefully doze off. They don't feel a thing. 2) Glue them to your face with the tiniest bit of eyelash glue. 3) They will wake well rested a few hours later.

After the event Cynthia held a salon party at her Chelsea Hotel room. Sketches from the event were displayed next to the painting which inspired them. Models posed nude while artists drew them. Yao Xiao documented the party with her lovely drawings. You can hire her to document your own parties. Find out more about her HERE.A couple days after the party we all realized that Cynthia had been staying in the room where Sid (Sex Pistols) and Nancy had stayed and where she was murdered. Creepy. We had thought the butterfly curtains were in her honor. Here is artist and author Katelan Foisy's take on the evening.

Additional pictures from the event can be found HERE.

Fairy Tales (with a Twist!) at Portland Stage

2011-02-22T13:10:00.000-08:00

But Who Will Bell the Cats? will be presented as part of Portland Stage's Theater for Kids on April 23 at 10:30.

Once upon a time...they all lived happily ever after. Or did they? Join Theater for Kids as we explore the realm of twisted fairy tales and fractured fables. Watch our professional actors turn traditions upside down during the readings, then work on your own fairy tale reinvention during an interactive workshop!

April 2 - The Amazing Bone by William Steig
April 9 - Cinder Edna by Ellen Jackson
April 23 - But Who Will Bell the Cats? by Cynthia von Buhler
April 30 - The Frog Prince Continued by Jon Scieszka

Theater workshop series starts Saturday April 2nd at 10:30 AM. Sign up your child for the whole series of five readings + workshops or choose your favorite, $60 for the series or $15 each. Click here for a registration form, email theaterforkids@portlandstage.org or call 207-774-1043 x117 with questions or to sign up.

Click here for Portland Stage's Theater for Kids website.

Dr. Sketchy's Burlesque Tribute To Cynthia Von Buhler

2011-02-16T08:55:00.000-08:00

Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School Tribute to Cynthia von Buhler at the Bowery Poetry Club on March 27th!

Any group can honor an artist with a gallery show or a few public speakers, however, at Dr. Sketchy's in NYC this March, we will be bringing the works of Cynthia Von Buhler alive with the help of models Sucre d’Orge and Cosette Chapiteau!

Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School is the little New York art event that became a movement. Started in 2005 by artist Molly Crabapple, the concept is simple. Artists draw glamorous thematically adorned burlesque dancers, compete in contests, and win prizes.

Cynthia Von Buhler is an American artist, performer, and children's book author known for her sensual, surreal and kinetic illustrations, thought-provoking installations and outlandish sculptural works. She has worked with such people as Steven Spielberg, Amanda Palmer, and even Martha Stewart and has an impressive body of work that continues to grow. Models Sucre d'Orge and Cosette Chapiteau will be recreating some of Cynthia's most iconic paintings on-stage.
Dr. Sketchy’s art star tribute to Cynthia Von Buhler will be March 27th at New York's famous "Bowery Poetry Club", located at 308 Bowery. The show will be run 4pm till 6:45pm and tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door.

Note from Cynthia: I will be giving 100% genuine CYNTH-O-MATIC capsules to everyone who attends!

More information HERE.

Slavs of New York: Andy Warhol's Nowhere (Extended Through April)

2011-02-16T08:48:00.000-08:00

Andy Warhol photographed by Gretchen Berg, 1966. (Click on the image for a 300 DPI jpeg download for press reproduction. Drag the larger image to your desktop to download. Image copyright: Gretchen Berg, 2011.)
Curated by Cynthia von Buhler.
Millennium Gallery
66 East 4th Street, New York, NY
Opening March 16, 2011 from 6PM – 8PM (free and open to the public)

New York City, March 16 – April 30, 2011 --The Kinofest NYC Film Festival in cooperation with the Millennium Gallery present an exhibit of photographs titled “Slavs of New York: Andy Warhol's Nowhere” curated by Cynthia von Buhler. The exhibit features photographs of Andy Warhol taken by artists Anton Perich, Gretchen Berg, and Sebastian Piras, some of which include Warhol’s “superstars” and collaborators (Candy Darling, Taylor Mead, Vincent Fremont, and Fred Hughes) and celebrities (Genevieve Waite, Keith Richards, Bianna Jagger, and Sylvestor Stallone).

When asked where he was from, Warhol usually replied that he "was from nowhere." While he may have considered this true in his mind and heart, in fact his family came from Mikova, Slovakia.

Anton Perich, born in Croatia, was a contributing photographer for Andy Warhol's INTERVIEW Magazine in the early 1970's. A selection of his photographs are now in the collection of the Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, the Warhol Foundation, and the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation in New York.

Gretchen Berg, a New York City photographer and journalist, interviewed Warhol in 1966. The interview and photographs were published under the title of "Andy Warhol, My True Story." Berg’s photographs, original recordings, a vintage photocopy of the typescripts from this interview were acquired by The Andy Warhol Museum in 2007.

Sebastian Piras' work focuses primarily on photographic portraits of artists. He has photographed Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg, and other artists. He directed and filmed the documentary “Taylor Mead Unleashed,” which also featured Allen Ginsberg and Quentin Crisp.

Also on display will be photos of notable Ukrainians by Kyle Cassidy (musician Vitalij Kuprij and former senator Walter Dudycz), Mikolaj Kirscke (actress Olga Kurylenko), Glenn Francis (actress Mila Kunis), Georges Baird (actress Milla Jovovich), Valeriy Davidenko (soccer player Andriy Shevchenko), Rhinowing (Gogol Bordello singer Eugene Hutz), David Shankbone (children's book author/illustrator James Warhola and actress Vera Famiga), and NASA (astronaut Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper).

The “Slavs of New York” exhibit and opening reception are presented as part of the Kinofest NYC Film Festival. Kicking off the festival week in conjunction with the exhibit opening, Kinofest NYC is screening I Am From Nowhere, a film by Georg Misch about the Warhol family home town, at 8 p.m. in the adjacent theater. Cynthia von Buhler will introduce the film. The admission to see the film is $10.

Cynthia von Buhler is an internationally exhibiting visual artist, author, and performer living in New York City. In 2007, on the twenty-year anniversary of Warhol's death, von Buhler curated the legendary exhibit entitled “Andy Warhol; In His Wake,” and created a work for it titled “The Great Warhola,” an interactive fortune-telling machine.

About Kinofest NYC Film Festival
Founded in 2009, Kinofest NYC is a festival committed to celebrating the art of independent cinema. Kinofest NYC seeks to educate and entertain its participants and to provide opportunities for its public to watch independent film from Ukraine and other post-Soviet countries. The festival also serves as a forum to introduce new filmmakers from these countries to American audiences and industry professionals.

Millennium Gallery is an experimental theater space that is partially funded by The Warhol Foundation. Gallery hours are Mon-Sat 7–10.30 p.m. and Sat 1–5 p.m. & by appointment.

Contact: Hannah Goldstein, hannah@drawbridge.com

Candy Darling and Andy Warhol photographed by Anton Perich, 1972. (Click on the image for a 300 DPI jpeg download for press reproduction. Drag the larger image to your desktop to download. Image copyright: Anton Perich, 2011.)

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-13T11:05:00.000-08:00

Evelyn Evelyn Gingerbread Cookie Cutters

2011-01-31T14:22:00.000-08:00

I bought some of these to give to my friends as gifts. Aren't they adorable? Who doesn't love gingerbread cookies? Buy your own HERE. Evelyn Evelyn: A Tragic Tale in Two Tomes will be out on May 18, 2011. Pre-order it now on Amazon.com.

Heeb Storytelling Group Photograph

2011-01-24T23:34:00.000-08:00

For a full recap on the event go HERE. I'm in the top row, third from right.

My Ice Throne

2010-12-19T20:16:00.000-08:00

Last week I designed a piece of ice furniture. I did a drawing of a tree-like throne with squirrel arm rests and a small bird and Bill from Ice Matters carved it perfectly. I made a woodland installation with live doves, trees, snow, a mushroom stool and the throne.The installation is long gone, but the ice sculpture still stands majestically in my yard. Next year I want to make a whole ice room, like the ice hotels in Sweden and Quebec. Until then, my dog and I are enjoying our glittering throne.

Tuesday, Dec. 21st at Joe's Pub, NYC - Heeb Storytelling: The Live Comics Edition

2010-12-18T00:08:00.002-08:00

Join us for a night of irreverent entertainment-graphic novel-style-curated by Heeb's comics editor Jeff Newelt. Eight extraordinary comics creators will project their smart, funny and sexy comics on a big screen, accompanied by a soundtrack and shenanigans.

I'm presenting the art I created for the graphic novel, Evelyn Evelyn: A Terrible Tale in Two Tomes. It was written by the world-reknowned musicians, Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley and features a foreword by the award-winning author and comic creator god,Neil Gaiman. The book will be released by Dark Horse Comics in May 2010.

The talented New York musician, actor, and playwright Howard Fishman will be the narrator. I will be reading, wielding a chainsaw, shooting a gun, and will scream my guts out. My assistant extraordinaire, Rachel Boyadis, will also assist with the presentation. We will all join in to sing Chicken Man.

The Comics To Be Presented Are:

Award-winning artist and author CYNTHIA VON BUHLER (Evelyn Evelyn: A Terrible Tale In Two Tomes - illustrated by von Buhler and written by Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley with a forword by Neil Gaiman)

Downtown artist/impressaria MOLLY CRABAPPLE (Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School, Puppet Makers)

AL JAFFEE, legendary creator of the MAD Magazine Fold-in and Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions; PAUL POPE (Batman Year 100, Heavy Liquid, THB)

JEFF NEWELT AKA JAHFURRY (The Pekar Project)

SARAH GLIDDEN (How To Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less)

DEAN HASPIEL (The Alcoholic-written by Jonathan Ames of HBO's "Bored to Death")

Erotic book editor/cupcake connoisseur RACHEL KRAMER BUSSEL, MISS LASKO-GROSS, creator off the graphic novels Escape From Special and A Mess of Everything.

Photocomix pioneer SETH KUSHNER

and special guests to be announced.

Comics aren't just for schmendricks anymore! - Jeff Newelt

Tuesday, December 21, 7:00 p.m. (Doors at 6:00 p.m.) Joe's Pub, 425 Lafayette Street, New York, NY

$15 (reservations required for table seating)

Pre-order Evelyn Evelyn: A Terrible Tale in Two Tomes Now!

My Birthday Party and Art Appears in Salman Rushdie's Children's Book Trailer.

2010-11-11T18:44:00.001-08:00

Scenes from my recent circus themed birthday party are in Salman Rushdie's book trailer on The New Yorker website. Salman's book sounds delightful. I must read it. Thank you to my friend Scott Dakota for sending me the link. Scott wrote:

My eye is in a beautiful book trailer for Salman Rushdie in The New Yorker. Which may sound like an odd turn, which it is... see brief eye cameo at 18 seconds, with art wheel by Cynthia von Buhler to the left. Sculpture cameo by Empire S.N.A.F.U. Restoration Project at 1:43. Haunting music by Sxip Shirey.

The art wheel Scott refers is called What I am Now You Will One Day Be. The piece can be seen more clearly in another You Tube video from different party.

A Dodo Skeleton and A Letter To A Burglar

2010-10-20T13:29:00.000-07:00

Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer gave me this beautiful reproduction Dodo skeleton for my birthday. I was instructed that I must use it in my art. I will.The letter behind the skeleton is also a reproduction.
It is a letter written by Mark Twain (Samuel Langhorne Clemens) to a prospective burglar. I bought it at The Mark Twain House. The letter explains that the house doesn't have anything of value to steal, but there are some kittens in a basket, and "if you want the basket, put the kittens in the brass thing." This is perfect for my house because I don't have any fancy electronics, jewels, etc., but I usually do have kittens in baskets. When I go away I usually leave the letter on display (see photo). Now that I have dogs I think that any burglars will be deterred by their racket.

The Theme was FREAKS! Which Really Means: Be Yourself.

2010-10-08T14:15:00.000-07:00

Preternatural Performers, Aberrant Artists, and Fairground Fare!
Photograph of Jonathan Nosan by Paul Weiner
On October 2, 2010 I held a lavish birthday party for myself in a two story, 8,000 square foot Manhattan loft. The party was sponsored by my husband, Russell Farhang, and my locations company, CvB Spaces.

I was a mermaid and I greeted my guests from a claw foot bathtub with running water.
Photograph by Krys Fox

It started when I had a dream about the gulf oil spill.
A week before the party I had a dream about oil spill mermaids. In my dream, I was one of the lucky ones who had been rescued and cleansed of oil. I decided to recreate this dream for the party.

I had a latex mermaid tail created in one week by The Mertailor. I needed many mermaid costumes for the oil spill mermaids. They wouldn't be immersed in water, so I made their costumes out of cellophane, saran wrap, foam core and fish netting. Their oil was spray-on food coloring and edible glitter.

I created a test of my costume and tried it out on my 15 year old niece.

I created an oil spill mermaid installation.
Photograph by Krys FoxPhotograph by Scott Dakota
Photograph by Paul Weiner

In the mermaid room Amanda Palmer tries on a dress made for her by Kambriel.Kambriel:Photograph by Clif Stoltz.

The live mermaid sideshow featured two life-size drawings by Molly Crabapple at the entrance and performances by Miss Vivian, Zelda Fitzgerald, Delysia La Chatte, Dulcy, Ange Lynn, Ariel Wolf, Dame Cuchifrita, Chicava, Honey Child, Ashley Schmidt, Julie Schworm, Amy Uzi, Becky Zaehring, Andrea Kaplan, Natasha Sorokin, Edrie, Katrina Galore, and jojo The Burlesque Poetess.

Molly Crabapple poses in the mermaid room. I'm in the tub.

Photograph by Kyle Cassidy.

The mermaid dressers were Kambriel, Melissa Dowell, Natasha Sorokin and Curse. Kambriel helped dress me and she even made me a hair piece, on the spot, utilizing bits of glittery ocean detritus.
Me, Molly and Kambriel rolling around on my mermaid bed.Photograph by Mark Hoffman.Molly Crabapple's art:

I was in that tub for two hours. My favorite place in the whole world is the bathtub. My second favorite place is a party. Needless to say, I was in my element.

Here I am greeting my guest and former bandmate, Larisa Gassel.Photograph by Mark Hoffman
Russell Farhang (the sailor) gave me the party as a birthday present. He gets a big kiss! Artist Scott Cahaly sits beside the tub.Photograph by Mark HoffmanAmanda Palmer and Neil Gaiman brought me an amazingly lifelike reproduction Dodo skeleton to use in my art. Here's the Dodo skeleton on a shelf in my house. It fits right in.Daniel Handler, a.k.a. Lemony Snicket gave me a delightfully strange little paperback book as a birthday present. Here's Neil with Daniel.

Photograph by Kyle Cassidy
I receive a kiss from one of my biggest fans, Mike Canter.Photograph by Mark Hoffman
Meghann Pardee has been working as one of my interns on the Evelyn Evelyn graphic novel. I meet her for the first time.Photograph by Clif Stoltz
Adele Griffin and me.
Meghann Pardee, Adele Griffin, Christina D'Alessandro (my sister) and me.Photograph by Paul Weiner
Meghann Pardee, Daniel Handler (Lemony Snicket) and Adele Griffin.Look in my hand. I'm holding the beautiful glass hourglass Adele just gave to me.Photograph by Mark Hoffman

Sometimes life is surreal.
I was carried, dripping wet, from tub to bed by my sailor. Then the bed was carried to and fro by strong men.
My friend Dean Haspiel, who recently won an Oscar for his title animations for HBO's Bored to Death, introduced me to the shows writer, Jonathan Ames (far left). Bored to Death is fantastic. Watch it! On the right is Allan Bennington Castro, the manager of the best bookstore in Manhattan, Books of Wonder. My window display for But Who Will Bell the Cats was in the bookstore's window for a good part of the summer.Photo by Dean Haspiel.Neil Gaiman and I chat while I eat cotton candy.Photo by Menachem Luchins.
John Cameron Mitchell (Hegwig and The Angry Inch, Shortbus) brought a bevy of handsome boys. Here he is with Krys Fox.Juan Son also arrived with John. We should have had Juan's fantastic Mermaid Sashimi video shown at the party. We will need to ask him to perform at our next party.
Adele Griffin and Rachel Boyadis (center).
Sweetheart Mike Canter couldn't stop saying how happy he was to be there. We almost had to tape his mouth shut.
Betsy Bird (Author, New York Public Librarian, book reviewer (New York Times, Time Out Kids, School Library Journal, Publisher's Weekly, etcetc) and Kid Lit's number one blogger chatted with me while I was in the tub. You can read Betsy's School Library Journal and Publisher's Weekly blog post about the party HERE.Photograph courtesy of Betsy Bird
I also chatted with Daniel Handler (Lemony Snicket). I have recently become friends with his wife, Lisa Brown. We were sad that she couldn't make it to the party. She had a book event elsewhere. Here's Daniel riding and singing on the Merry-Go-Round.Photograph by Betsy Bird.

Me, Jen Ferguson and Molly Crapapple.
Allan Bennington Castro and me.

Larisa Fuchs (Gemini Scorpio), Carlos (DJ and Fashion Designer), Molly Crabapple and me.
Scott Dakota, me, Ajda The Turkish Queen and a bunny rabbit (some people were saying that this bunny was Salman Rushdie incognito. Others said that Salman was strolling around the party photographing the ladies. Neither the bunny nor the photographer were Salman. Apparently someone saw his name on the guest list and their imagination got the best of them). I do not know who the bunny was, but we did snuggle on the bed for a bit. You can see my friend Madeline Von Forester in the background. She looked stunning in all white.Jerelle Kraus (not pictured) gave me chocolate sardines from Paris!Russell Farhang and Larisa Fuchs.Photograph by Paul WeinerPeter Christian Hall:Scott Pellegrino was a huge help at the end of the night when Russell broke his arm.My friend Dohan had oil spill eyes.

We raised our glasses to congratulate Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer on their wedding engagement.
Photograph by Mark Hoffman
Photograph by Justin Moore
Photograph by Justin Moore Holly Gaiman looks on during the champagne toast.Photograph by Paul Weiner
Kyle Cassidy, Neil Gaiman and Holly Gaiman.Photograph by Kyle CassidyPhotograph by Paul Weiner
I congratulate Neil and Amanda from my bed perch.Photograph by Paul Weiner

I had a variety of weird and wonderful performers. . .

Step right up! See a woman swallow a sword!
Photograph by Mark Hoffman

Step Right Up! See the tallest twins who ever lived.
For more information on the twins and their outfit go HERE.
Photograph courtesy of Ali Luminescent

Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys find a home on the island of misfit freaks.
Edrie:Photographs by Justin Moore
Katrina Galore::Bex:
Photographs by Paul Weiner
Mali:
Photograph by Paul Weiner

Sxip Shirey invited some of his friends onstage during his performance.
Photograph by Kyle Cassidy.
Jonathan Nosan, the contortionist, was a human pretzel.

Photographs by Paul WeinerPhotograph by Mike CanterSxip and I found the perfect table for his instruments.

Jason Webley really got my flipper shaking during his raucous set.
Photographs by Paul Weiner
Photograph by Kyle Cassidy.Jersey Shore's Uncle Nino (who also happens to live next door to my castle on Staten Island) and Ryan Anas (who helped set up and load in all day long) enjoy Jason's performance.

Evelyn Evelyn got stage fright and decided not to perform. Amanda and Jason did a song together instead.
Photograph by Clif StoltzeI painted this Evelyn Evelyn cutout the day before the party. It's a bit messy, but it did the trick.

Amanda Palmer serenaded mermaids and a rapt audience.
A few of the oil spill mermaids slid over from the adjacent mermaid room to watch Amanda perform.Photo by Clif Stoltz.Photographs by Paul Weiner.Photograph by Julie SchwormPhotograph by Clif Stoltz.

Interactive art was provided by moi...
jojo looking in my Show & Tell painting keyhole. Photographs by Justin Moore
It was Carol and Clif Stoltz's wedding anniversary. Clif and I used to run Castle von Buhler Records (with Adam Buhler).:My Shake Hands With Uncle Sam presidential scandals machine. You can see a video of this piece in action HERE. Photograph by Clif Stoltz.
Speaking of Adam, here he is with his fiance Su Young:This painting/sculpture of mine houses live rats. You can feed them through a tracehea hole in the neck.Photograph by TJ Horn.

My interactive sculpture It Can Happy To You being peeped at by a cute clown.The infamous CYNTH-O-MATIC machine. I should have placed one CYNTH capsule in each swag bag. Why didn't I think of that before? Next time. Beware.

...and The Empire Snafu Restoration Project
Photographs by Ali Luminescent Michael Pope makes a shadow on the wall.Photograph by Paul WeinerScott Dakota and Michael Pope:Photograph by TJ Horn

Tarot Readings were done by Katelan Foisy with my Shakespearian Tarot Deck.
Katelan also displayed some of her paintings.Photograph by Clif Stoltze

We placed Al Gori's Homespun Merry-Go-Round on the 4,000 square foot roof deck. Up there, you could practically reach out and touch the Empire State Building.
Photograph by Julie Schworm.Photograph by Krys Fox.Photograph by Scott Dakota.Photograph by TJ Horn.Walter Sickert took these beautiful photographs:

My wonderful intern Fin Cramb and his girlfriend Lynsey May Sutherland enjoy the roof:

We hung deviant art all over the place.
Paintings of Neil Gaiman and Cynthia von Buhler by Walter Sickert
Jen Ferguson's (who also graciously provided the live rats for my painting/sculpture) also hung her art on both floors.
I met Kelli Bickman for the first time.Photograph of Mark Hoffman photographing a couple sitting in front of Kelli's art.
jojo brought some of her tarot paintings. Photo by Mike Canter.
My Heaven and Hell paintings were hung behind some of the broken toys.

We spent the whole day tranforming the loft.
I only had the hanging portion of my Please Don't Look Up My Skirt sculpture at the loft. Larisa Fuchs from Gemini and Scorpio made it a skirt from her striped fabric and hung it from the ceiling.
Rachel (far left) and Larisa (far right) arrived at noon and helped me set up all day long. Photograph by Clif Stoltz.

Jason Webley, Ryan Anas and Michelle Auerbach helped out all day too.

We dined on cotton candy and other fairground fare.
Photograph by Paul Weiner
We ate oysters served ala human flesh and drank from an open bar manned by Miwa, (who is in truth a far cry from manly).

Unfortunately Russell fell down the stairs and broke his arm at the very end of the night. Thank you so much to Scott Pellegrino for taking him to the emergency room. Russell is a violinist and we were worried about how this would affect his playing. The doctors say that it is healing well and he should be fine. There were rumors that he broke his arm while carrying me around. Not true. And no, I did not push him down the stairs! Here's Russell carrying me. He won't be able to do this again for quite some time.
The party was sponsored by my husband,

The Right Honorable Russell T. Farhang

and my location company,

CvB Spaces: Locations for Film, Photography, and Events,

with decorating assistance from Gemini & Scorpio,

and cabaret model assistance from Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School.

You can rent this (and other) fabulous lofts, houses, and mansions for your own party or shoot through my company CVB Spaces.

Other blog posts about the party:
Kyle Cassidy
Kambriel
Neil Gaiman
Katelan Foisy
Molly Crabapple
Nicks N Dimes
Betsy Bird for School Library Journal/Publisher's Weekly
jojo, the burlesque poetess
Papusza In Birdland

Photographers:
Paul Weiner
Mark Hoffman
Kyle Cassidy
Krys Fox
Clif Stoltz
Betsy Bird
Ali Luminescent
TJ Horn
Scott Dakota
Justin Moore

Click on the Freaks icon above to view a slideshow of additional photographs from the party.

Sadie Has Been Found!

2010-09-09T12:03:00.001-07:00

UPDATE: Sadie has been found and is now back at home with Cari! Thank you to Raul and his dog Hyena. Hyena befriended Sadie and brought her back to Raul's cabinet factory where she lived and was cared for this past month. Raul saw one of their posters and called Cari. Sadie was missing for six weeks in Brooklyn. This is truly a happy ending!

New Yorkers: Please Help Us Find Sadie!
My friend Cathie Bleck's daughter has lost her dog in Brooklyn. Cathie explains what happened in an email below. I cannot imagine how hard it would be to deal with this if it was my lost dog. Please be on the lookout for Sadie. She was lost in the Bushwick neighborhood in Brooklyn. She is an Australian Cattle dog, 50 lbs. There is a reward.

Molly Crabapple Interviews Me For China Shop

2010-09-03T01:14:00.001-07:00

I love China Shop's slogan. YOU BREAK IT, YOU BUY IT.

When I first met Cynthia von Buhler, I was topless and covered in white paint. As a cash strapped nineteen-year-old, I stumbled upon her ad on Craigslist hunting for human statues, and soon I was posing as Pauline Borghese at the most debauched absinthe ball of my life. In many ways, Cynthia von Buhler could be credited as setting me down the road of Professional Naked.

Raven haired von Buhler has had a career so broad, and glamorous, as to defy description. While von Buhler is best known as an award winning fine artist and illustrator, she has also danced in music videos as Bettie Page, ran experimental record labels, run galleries, and sold pieces of herself (literally) in a fine art vending machine that has toured the globe. Most recently, she’s been hard at work doing the art for Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley’s “Evelyn Evelyn” book project, as well as focusing on her own children’s book series “Who Will Bell the Cats?”

Von Buhler was kind enough to share insights on technique, career diversity, and how she came to live in a castle.
-Molly Crabapple

The article on China Shop can be found HERE.

Death of Capitol Records - Their Hollywood Tower Is Up For Sale

2010-09-02T13:42:00.000-07:00

Countess was my one year project about the major label music industry. In the late nineties I formed and managed a band called Splashdown, and got them signed to Capitol Records. Please note: I was not the singer of Splashdown, I was the "singer" for Countess. Splashdown were amazing. We toured with The Lilith Fair and the band wrote songs for Titan A.E. and the TV show Charmed. Download the Blueshift album for free HERE. You will LOVE them. Oddly enough, my Countess CD and project was funded by MCA Records through a demo deal. It's interesting seeing this video again now as the major label record industry is dying a slow and painful death. The Capitol Records tower mentioned in this album and in the CD artwork is now up for SALE. We practically lived on the top floor for a year while we were embroiled in our label nightmare. I'm very happy to see that tower fall.

A Countess video featuring live footage from The Paradise in Boston:

And here are some fan posted YouTube "videos" for Splashdown:

Life Imitating Art

2010-08-04T16:03:00.001-07:00

Last night my cats caught a bat. I rescued it and it flew out a window. It had a little hole in one wing, but it seemed to be flying well. This is a perfect example of life imitating art. See my display window at Books of Wonder which features cats trying to catch bats.8

And The Car Recipient is...

2010-08-03T01:50:00.000-07:00

The person chosen to receive my old car for $1 (2005 Black Cherry Scion) is Claudia DeHaven Ciampi-Biddle. Claudia has been struggling with illness for years. Her partner Fred has cancer. Claudia helps people control pain through yoga. A great lover of animals, Claudia feeds squirrels and brings her amazing cat Lulu around to hospitals to cheer up sick patients. Read more about the car giveaway HERE. Follow Cynthia von Buhler on Twitter.
Read more about the car giveaway HERE.

Twitter Car Giveaway - 2005 Black Cherry Pearl Scion XB, Only 44K Miles

2010-07-12T13:35:00.000-07:00

I'm giving away a beautiful 44,000 miles, 2005 Black Cherry Pearl Scion on Twitter for only $1.

I'm not marketing on giveaway sites. I don't want those kinds of Twitter followers. I really want this car to go to someone needy otherwise I wouldn't give it away. You should only follow me if you also like the idea of people helping others by using Twitter as a tool (or you find me interesting).

Here is a similar car being offered for a little over $10,000 on Auto Trader.

Why am I giving away a CAR?

I paid $12,000 when I bought it three years ago. It has held its value well because I don't drive too much, they don't make this type of Scion anymore, and they are damn cool. The car will be fully paid off in December. I could sell it, trade it in, or give it to one of those organizations for a tax break, but everyday I drive by people waiting for the bus because they cannot afford a car and I feel their pain. My recent children's book, But Who Will Bell the Cats? is about kindness. In the spirit of my book I am offering my car to a person in need for $1.

Finally, the solution to Aesop's age-old question: Who will bell the cats?
Mouse and his friend, Brown Bat, are determined to get out of the basement and into the banquet hall to join the fun and frolicking there. But escape won't be easy with the cats blocking their efforts...It will take many attempts and a surprising solution for Mouse and Bat to succeed. Cynthia von Buhler's enchanted upstairs/downstairs world shows readers the rewards of determination, bravery, and creativity and reminds them of the uncomplicated power of kindness.

I worry about disabled people and people with cancer or debilitating illnesses. I'm concerned for single moms and dads or immigrants who are supporting their families back home. And what about those poor, starving artists who aren't as fortunate as me?

The car is a great size. It's a four seater with plenty of storage space. For new drivers (like me) the car has excellent visibility and it is an automatic. It has a dark interior. Despite a couple of little dents and scratches, the car runs well. I have never had any trouble with it.

Tell me why you need it on Twitter or Facebook.

I'm twitter.com/CynthVonBuhler

By the way, I'll also throw in an older Garmin GPS.

Cheers, Cynthia

PS: If I accidentally crash the car between now and December the deal is off. Wish me luck!

A Video of my Books of Wonder Animatronic Window Display

2010-07-08T10:24:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Carl Divito for shooting this video and placing it on YouTube.

Time Out Kids Feature by Elizabeth Bird

2010-07-08T10:23:00.000-07:00

Cat fancy
An artist brings her latest feline-centric story to life at Books of Wonder.

Note: The slideshow is now up on the Time Out Kids website. See it HERE.

Called “one of the top contemporary surrealists” by Art & Antiques magazine, Cynthia von Buhler boasts a résumé that includes painting, sculpture, performance and video projection, for which she uses materials and media such as living fauna, collage, and electronic audio. Her art has been published everywhere from The New Yorker to Rolling Stone, but she’s also become renowned for her children’s books.

After working on titles for other authors, beginning with 1998’s Little Girl in a Red Dress with Cat and Dog, Von Buhler—who lives in a castle-like home on Staten Island—has gone on to write and illustrate her own stories. The first, The Cat Who Wouldn’t Come Inside (Houghton Mifflin, 2006), was based on the artist’s encounter with a stray; she created the scenes by photographing dioramas in her childhood dollhouse.

For her next book, But Who Will Bell the Cats? (Houghton Mifflin, 2009), a riff on Aesop’s fable, Von Buhler acted as set builder, painter, sculptor, gardener, plumber and mason. An elaborate concoction of sumptuous interiors photographed in a model castle, the book is impressive in every detail, from the chateau’s real stone walls to the floors she crafted from inlaid wood, mother-of-pearl and plaster.

City kids can visit the world of Bell the Cats this summer, when Von Buhler re-creates the story in Books of Wonder’s storefront, using sets that appear in the book.
Life-size animated characters from the tale, among them a kitty maid in Alice-in-Wonderland garb, will play with the paper dolls and furniture—like children decorating a dollhouse.

DIY types have a chance to work with the artist on their own mini sets. The rest of us can consider the display a summertime version of NYC’s opulent holiday windows—and there’s no reason such a glorious tradition should be confined to the winter.
Books of Wonder, 18 W 18 St between Fifth and Sixth Aves (212-989-3270, booksofwonder.com). Display will be on view July1–Aug 30. - EB

See the Time Out NY Kids article HERE. Coming soon: Pictures and a video of the actual window display.

My Evelyn Evelyn Weekend

2010-06-14T13:13:00.000-07:00

Book cover for Evelyn Evelyn: A Terrible Tale in Two Tomes.
I have been so busy drawing the Evelyn Evelyn graphic novel I haven't had a chance to see them perform their show. Sketches for the book line my studio floor.One Friday I added real blood drips to some of the the pages. Blood on my hands.On Saturday I uploaded the art for book one to Dark Horse Comic's FTP site. My conjoined parasitic twin Cynthia Cynthia and I decided to head to the West Village to see the girls in action. Cynthia Cynthia is extremely shy, but she was inspired by Evelyn Evelyn to come out from her shell and be seen. Usually she hides under my armpit.Cynthia Cynthia, my parasitic twin.Author extraordinaire Adele Griffin (Picture the Dead, Vampire Island, Where I Want to Be) was our date.

The show was wonderful. Sxip Shirey started the night performing with a variety of musical instruments made from found objects. My favorite song was played with an instrument made from several wind-up music boxes. I tried to play his bicycle bell instrument (made for him by Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer), but it sounded like out-of-tune bicycle bells. When Sxip plays it, it sounds like magic!Sxip cuddling with Cynthia CynthiaNext up were the Evelyn Evelyn twins. They were shy, but once they got going they were transformed into true performers. I loved the old-timey style of their songs. My favorite part was the puppet show where Sxip, their manager, moved shadow puppets behind a screen while the twins explained their unusual and grisly birth. My iPhone couldn't take any good pictures of the show so instead here's a sneak peek of this same narration from the graphic novel.The Birth by Cynthia von Buhler from Evelyn Evelyn: A Terrible Tale in Two TomesThe Death of Samuel Neville by Cynthia von Buhler from Evelyn Evelyn: A Terrible Tale in Two TomesThe Car Accident by Cynthia von Buhler from Evelyn Evelyn: A Terrible Tale in Two TomesThe type above is all for position only. I drew a beautiful new typeface and Dark Horse Comics had it made into an official font for me.The Cynthia von Buhler font. Soon to be available from a variety of font companies.Then came Jason Webley. I have never seen Jason perform. He was intense and wanted the audience to perform with him. He sectioned the audience into string and horn sections and we all sung along as he conducted us. I was amazed at how he made his hat moonwalk around his head without falling off.Jason and John Cameron Mitchell with Cynthia Cynthia (and I'm smiling in the background), Photo by Katie Sokoler for Gothamist.Amanda Palmer then appeared powerfully onstage as though she was entering an arena. She played an intense, personal set. The highlights of which were a song about her family and another song (on ukelele) about how she is happy to do what she wants now because she is sick of doing what other people want her to do. I loved this song. You can download it for free HERE.Amanda and Cynthia von Buhler after she accidentally smashed Cynthia Cynthia's head in. You can see how bad Amanda felt about crushing Cynthia Cynthia's head. Cropped version of the photo by Katie Sokoler for Gothamist.Here is another picture of Amanda. When she isn't making a scary face she looks like this. Photo by Katie Sokoler for Gothamist.Don't worry about Cynthia Cynthia! Now that she has come out of her shell, we have been medically separated, and her head is smashed wide open, she has plans to star in a Brother's Quay film.After that Amanda, Sxip, and Jason performed together and brought the audience in for a sing-a-long.

Adele and I went backstage afterwards and drank Brooklyn Lager. Then we all headed out to the Gothamist after party for Evelyn Evelyn in Williamsburg. I met Adele's darling husband, and many other interesting, talented people like John Cameron Mitchell, Corn Mo, Sean Francis, Rachel, and many more.Jason Webley, Cynthia von Buhler, Cynthia Cynthia, and John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Inch), Photo by Katie Sokoler for Gothamist.Corn Mo and Cynthia CynthiaSean Francis and Cynthia Cynthia

A group of us decided to cab it to my castle on Staten Island for the night. Sxip slept on the round bed in the purple tower room and Jason slept in the master bedroom. The next day, wearing the same clothes from the night before, Jason, Rachel, and I headed to chinatown for young coconut juice which we drank from straws stuck into the actual coconuts. Jason, Cynthia, and Rachel.

I picked up my car in the West Village and headed back to my lake house in Connecticut because Land's End was beginning to shoot their catalog there on Monday morning.

Whew! I'm tired. Now I must go back to work on my Books of Wonder But Who Will Bell the Cats? animated window display and the rest of the Evelyn Evelyn graphic novel.

The Evelyn Evelyn Trailer

2010-05-24T21:44:00.001-07:00

Jason's friends Max and Nicolle decorated the band trailer, with my art, while the band was touring. I just saw it today for the first time. Aw, it's so cute.

Cynthia von Buhler Presents an Animated Window Display & Dollhouse Diorama Workshop at Manhattan’s Books of Wonder.

2010-05-24T21:10:00.000-07:00

Meet Cynthia, get your books signed, and have your picture taken
with characters from the book.

Children’s book author and illustrator Cynthia von Buhler is creating an animated window display featuring handmade sets and painted characters from her children’s book But Who Will Bell the Cats? for Books of Wonder bookstore in Manhattan. The elaborate window will be on display from July 1 through August 30, 2010.

Dollhouse Diorama and Paper Doll Workshops – Free (with book purchase)!
Sunday, July 25, 2010 from 12 NOON – 2PM.
Monday, July 26, 2010 from 12 NOON – 2PM
Tuesday, July 27, 2010 from 6PM – 8PM

Come to Books of Wonder and learn to how to make a dollhouse room from a shoebox. Cynthia von Buhler’s characters and castle rooms will be available as pre-printed full-color sheets for children to cut out and make into their own dollhouse diorama. Please bring a standard shoebox with you to the workshop. The author/illustrator will also be signing books. Characters from But Who Will Bell the Cats will make an appearance at the events and will give away free bells on ribbon for children to wear around their necks (as supplies last).

The workshop is free for anyone who purchases Cynthia von Buhler’s books, But Who Will Bell the Cats? or The Cat Who Wouldn’t Come Inside, from Books of Wonder the day of the event(s). Space is limited. Please R.S.V.P. by emailing hannah@drawbridge.com. The events are limited to 30 children per day. Children are required to bring a shoebox and a parent or guardian to assist them. Books of Wonder, 18 West 18th Street, NY, NY, 10011, (212)989-3270, www.booksofwonder.com
Recent reviews from But Who Will Bell the Cats?
"My library’s secret weapon from here on in…Beautiful and haunting with the kinds of images kids will pore over." - Betsy Bird, Children's Librarian at The New York Public Library

"Destined to earn the ‘classic’ label." - Urban Baby

"this story of an indefatigable mouse should find a welcome place on the shelves of any castle...or library."- Horn Book

"Children will find a lot to discover in the details, even after repeated readings". - School Library Journal

“Young readers will pore over this one again and again." – Kirkus

Johnny Cash Music Video Art For "Ain't No Grave"

2010-04-24T00:10:00.000-07:00

Rick Rubin and Chris Milk are creating a cutting-edge video for Johnny Cash's final studio album.

I'm going to be a featured artist in animated video. Once added, my video will come up every time the animation is played. I hear that Shepard Fairey is going to be a featured artist as well.

"Through this interactive website, participants may draw their own portrait of Johnny Cash to be integrated into a collective whole. As people all over the world contribute, the project will continue to evolve and grow, one frame at a time."

One thing that I really like about this is you can watch how each frame was created in separate mini animations.

You can make a frame too. Watch mine HERE.

Tattoo Of My Evelyn Evelyn Art

2010-04-01T23:25:00.000-07:00

This tattoo of my cute little Bimba and Kimba drawing is on Kevin Mercury's body, forever.

Trailer for But Who Will Bell the Cats?

2010-03-22T13:36:00.001-07:00

Click HERE to go to YouTube to watch it. Blogger seems to want to cut it off on the right.

Unofficial Evelyn Evelyn Video

2010-03-19T13:15:00.000-07:00

I found this on YouTube. It's pretty cute even though The Evelyns are blonde.

Modeling For Time Out New York - "Some of New York's most fashionable denizens model the best looks of the season".

2010-03-17T18:01:00.000-07:00

Mercedes Duff (gallery assistant), Countess Cynthia von Buhler (artist and co-founder), and Theo Dorian (co-founder, curator, and director)
Read the article and see the pictures HERE Click the arrows for more pictures.

Countess Cynthia von Buhler wearing Tracy Reese

Some of New York's most fashionable denizens model the best looks of the season.

Show Gallery
156 Stuyvesant Pl between Hyatt and Wall Sts, Staten Island (718-524-0855, showhownyc.com)
Say what you will about Staten Island, but there’s all kinds of radness going on just a (free!) ferry ride away—and this nearly two-year-old gallery and performance space is in the heart of the maligned isle’s vibrant artistic community. Check out its current show to see what we mean: “GLAM! Photographs by Mick Rock,” running through April 17, features some of the photog’s greatest hits (Bowie, Blondie, Syd Barrett, etc.). Even the vintage jukebox is loaded with glammy rock & roll.

On Mercedes Duff, gallery assistant:
Cynthia Rowley Graffiti dress, $259, at Cynthia Rowley, 376 Bleecker St between Charles and Perry Sts (212-242-3803). Steve Madden Trinitie heels, $80, at Steve Madden, locations throughout the city; visit stevemadden.com. MCM Alda Tambourine purse, $380, at MCM, 1 W 58th St at Fifth Ave (212-832-2626). Mango Nautico bracelet, $25, at Mango, locations throughout the city; visit mangoshop.com.
Countess Cynthia von Buhler wearing Tracy Reese
On “Countess” Cynthia von Buhler, artist and gallery cofounder:
Frock! by Tracy Reese Vivian dress, $275, at Tracy Reese, 641 Hudson St between Gansevoort and Horatio Sts (212-807-0505). Nine West Bonfire cork heels, $89, at Nine West, locations throughout the city; visit ninewest.com. Moyna Ikat hand-beaded clutch, $162 (reg. $190), at moynabags.com. (Enter code TIME OUT in the coupon code section during checkout to receive this discount through Mar 31.) Forever 21 Dimpled Arrowhead earrings, $3, at Forever 21, locations throughout the city; visit forever21.com.

On Theo Dorian, gallery cofounder, director and curator:
Company of We Captains sports blazer, $295, and Solid Crinkle Day shirt, $225, both at Saks Fifth Avenue, 611 Fifth Ave at 49th St (212-753-4000, saksfifthavenue.com). H&M plain-front cotton pants, $25, at H&M, locations throughout the city; visit hm.com. Florsheim by Duckie Brown Cap Toe shoes, $295, at Odin, 199 Lafayette St between Broome and Kenmare Sts (212-966-0026, odinnewyork.com). Paul Smith Accessories silk tie, $135, at Paul Smith, 142 Greene St between W Houston and Prince Sts (646-613-3060, paulsmith.co.uk). David Bowie watch, $40, at Show Gallery, 156 Stuyvesant Pl between Hyatt and Wall Sts, Staten Island (718-524-0855). Borghese reading glasses from CVS, model’s own.

Styled by Ann Binlot
Edited by Ashlea Halpern and Rachel LeWinter
Hair & Makeup Arist: Misuzu Miyake

And The Interns Are Fin, Meghann and Ammre

2010-03-17T10:52:00.000-07:00

This is my own blackened and colored version. The color was just a quickie test. It needs to match the facing page. We won't choose actually color until the whole book is drawn. I was thinking that a purple/yellow/red combination like the book cover might also be good, so those who did that were more accurate to my style. I did want the organs filled in as they are important to the story. The girls have two hearts, three lungs, and one liver.
This was a hard decision. I made my choice based upon those who matched my own blackening style the closest. I also took accuracy of filling color into consideration. We don't want to have any white spots in the printed book, do we? I chose the top three: Meghann, Ammre and Fin. I asked them how many pieces they could do in one week. While Meghann was the most like my own in style, she is still in school and can only do 5 a week. Ammre had a computer accident and couldn't finish her second test. Ammre and Meghann will split the overflow. Chris and Mr. J had great color choices. Michael filled in color well. Kerrie, Lauren, and Kelly were also great. They were all just as good as those chosen, but the other three were faster getting their tests in. Meghann did hers in one night. All of the A girls: Ashleigh, Alexandra, and Annette did a good job, but they could have filled in the black shadows darker. Kudos to all! I'm sure that you will do well in your art careers. I'll keep every sample on file and if I get overloaded on future books you may hear from me. Thanks so much for your hard work! Cynthia
PS: Good news! My interns will get credited in the book - on the copyright page.
Here is the drawing that everyone was given to color in. As you can see from all of the tests, almost all of them look the same. That is because coloring isn't making art. It's assisting as a second set of hands.

Test by Meghann Pardee. Shading expert. Good color, perfect shading, good filling, and good questions.
Test by Ammre. Color expert. Good shading, great color, good filling.
Test by Fin. Filling expert. Best at filling, good color, decent shading (shading great on second test - a bit harsh here). He didn't fill the line on right as requested, but he did mention that he could remove it easily, if necessary.

The Evelyn Evelyn Website Has Launched

2010-03-08T19:19:00.000-08:00

I drew this Evelyn Evelyn optical illusion. I plan to cut it out of black paper as a silhouette. We will be using it across the book spines. When one of the two hardcover books are pulled out of the slipcase the twins are separated.
The Evelyn Evelyn website is up! I drew all of the pictures. Sean Francis even made a font from my lettering for the website. It is called Cynthia von Buhler and we will be making it available to everyone soon.
Is there anyone out there who will buy me the Evelyn Evelyn around-the-world-package for 11 million dollars? How about the trip to the moon with Evelyn Evelyn? Pretty please! I already got the $11,000 dinner with the Evelyns for free (and the wonderful authors Neil Gaiman and Peter Straub were there as well)! See the pictures below. Cynthia von Buhler, Jason Webley, and Amanda Palmer. Photograph by Kyle Cassidy (another guest at our dinner). Kyle named the dinner "Table of Awesome."Cynthia von Buhler and Peter Straub. Photograph by Kyle Cassidy.
Jason Webley and Amanda Palmer. Photograph by Kyle Cassidy.
Neil Gaiman looking at Peter Straub's brand new book, A Dark Matter. Photograph by Kyle Cassidy.
Amanda Palmer and Neil Gaiman. Photograph by Kyle Cassidy.
Peter Straub. Photograph by Kyle Cassidy.Amanda Palmer and Neil Gaiman. Photograph by Kyle Cassidy.Look at all of this great merch (featuring my artwork) you can buy at evelynevelyn.com:

Behind The Scenes at the Time Out NY Fashion Photo Shoot

2010-03-07T19:49:00.000-08:00

I will be appearing in a Time Out NY spring fashion spread featuring SHOW gallery. I founded the gallery, exhibit my art there on occasion, and help them out with promotions. Here are some outtakes of Theo Dorian (gallery owner, curator, and photographer), and Mercedes (gallery assistant) from the shoot. The issue will be on newsstands on March 18th. Please forgive the blurriness, these were taken with my iPhone (by Michael Harwood). Let's hope that the photo they choose looks better than these. If you are a friend of mine on Facebook you can see many more of these outtakes. -CvB

All This Talk About Conjoined Twins Reminds Me Of Frank & Louie

2010-02-17T19:01:00.000-08:00

Conjoined twins are beautiful and unique. A 2 headed cat? 2 faces to kiss! Yay!

Actual picture of the Evelyn Evelyn Twins.

2010-02-10T10:25:00.000-08:00

Evelyn and Evelyn. Photo by Scott Irvine. Dress by Kambriel.
As you may know, I'm working on a graphic novel about the life story of the Evelyn Evelyn conjoined twins for Dark Horse Books. Here is an actual photo of the girls. I'll post a few sneak peek sketches from the book here while I work. I have two months to complete the project. I'm listing a few press links if you'd like more information.

Spin Magazine Interview The Twins
Boston Phoenix - On The Download
Music Remedy Article
Spin Magazine - Francis Bean Cobain Debut
EvelynEvelyn Wiki Page
Evelyn Evelyn MySpace Page

Ladies and Gentlemen! Critics and hipsters!

2010-02-04T19:21:00.000-08:00

Evelyn Evelyn: A Terrible Tale in Two Tomes. To be published by Dark Horse Comics. Click to see the detail. I'm drawing these to look dirty and you can only see that up close.
Yup, I'm drawing the Evelyn Evelyn graphic novel for Dark Horse Comics. It will be out in October (2010). I'm not painting. I'm not sculpting. I'm not photographing. I'M DRAWING (and smudging and staining). It's been a while since I drew a large series of images; it makes my hand hurt. Painting is less stressy on thee hands. The graphic novel will be a hardcover, two book set slipped into a box sleeve. It's not going to be illustrated in a typical graphic novel style. I'm changing things up a bit. We are also hoping to make a workable font from my hand lettering. I'm keeping a detailed private web blog of my progress with the book art. I'll open it to the public after the book has been released. Here's a sneak peek of the album art - oh, yes, I did that as well. Some of you may remember my rock opera (Countess) about the music industry where I played Alicia, a doomed pop singer. This reminds me of that. With a suicide, a murder, and an earthquake things didn't go very well for anyone there either. You can hear some of that HERE. Countess was paid for by MCA Records. Go figure. Countess albums are given away for free. Want one? Send my assistant an email. hannah@drawbridge.com--CvB

This press release, which was sent to me by the Evelyn Evelyn handlers, explains the Evelyn Evelyn musical project:

Ladies and Gentlemen! Critics and hipsters!

We are proud to introduce "Evelyn Evelyn" - the world's only conjoined-twin singer-songwriter duo.

Discovered and launched by punk-cabaret queen Amanda Palmer (The Dresden Dolls) and endless minstrel Jason Webley, Evelyn Evelyn is one of the most anticipated acts of 2010. After three full years in the studio, the Evelyn sisters are gearing up for a world tour in support of their debut album which hits the shelves on March 30th.

Epic in scope and production, the twelve tracks on "Evelyn Evelyn" showcase the twins' uncanny talent and versatility as musicians. With a background in circus performance and a wide, bizarre range of influences, the twins compose original timeless songs full of humor, sadness, and double entendre.

Rather than being limited by their unique physical condition, the Evelyn sisters prove that two heads are indeed better than one. Audiences will marvel at the twins as they dexterously perform their original compositions on piano, guitar, ukulele, accordion and even drums.

"When I first heard their songs, I was astounded at the sheer, raw talent and super-clever songwriting," says Palmer. "But when I found out they were actually conjoined twins who had spent their lives trapped in the circus industry, I wanted to help them reach a new audience."

These songs, which could be at home in a lost Tim Burton movie or a warped sequel to the Rocky Horror Picture Show, flash seamlessly through styles, eras, and genres. With lyrics that hearken back to simpler times, the twins' vocals are reminiscent of a ghostly counterpart to the Andrews Sisters. Encompassing everything from old-school dancehall to new-school indie show tunes, their songs range from the country-tinged "You Only Want Me 'Cause You Want My Sister" to an utterly heartbreaking ukulele rendition of Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart."

Other notable tracks include a ragtime song called "Have You Seen My Sister, Evelyn?", the child-friendly "Elephant Elephant", and their commentary on the loneliness of online social networking - an anthemic 80's power ballad entitled "My Space". The latter features gang vocals recorded by many of the twins' supportive friends, including "Weird Al" Yankovic, Andrew W.K., Amanda's recent fiancé Neil Gaiman, twin comrades Tegan and Sara Quin, Gerard Way, Frances Bean Cobain, Sxip Shirey and many others.

All involved parties are crossing their fingers and toes in hopes that the world will not only accept these astonishingly unique young ladies, but embrace them with warm, open arms.

"We're all just really proud of them. I think people are going to love them, and we are excited to see how the twins react to performing in a climate where people are more receptive and respectful than they were in the circus," says Webley who co-produced the sisters' album.
Back cover of the Evelyn Evelyn album. Yes, the barcode will actually be scannable.
...................

ABOUT THE TWINS:
Lyn and Eva Neville were born in September of 1985 on a small farm in Western Kansas. The girls are Parapagus Tripus Dibrachius twins, conjoined at the side and sharing between them three legs, two arms, two hearts, three lungs, and a single liver. Orphaned when their mother died in labor, little is known about their early life until 1996 when they made their first public appearance with Dillard and Fullerton's Traveling Circus. It was here that the "Evelyn" sisters developed their love of song and performance.

Unsatisfied with the grind of circus life, at the age of nineteen the twins decided to explore a solo career. It was then that they were discovered by Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley, who heard the twins' music on MySpace. Webley and Palmer encouraged the twins and offered to help them record a proper album.

The album will be accompanied by a full US and European tour and - later this year - a graphic novel about the twins' inspiring life, illustrated by Cynthia von Buhler and published by Dark Horse Press.

Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley (along with their legion of supportive fans) will be traveling with and musically supporting the sisters on their ambitious world tour of Europe and North America.

TOUR DATES:
April 12 - Boston, MA - ART Theater
April 12 - Boston, MA - ART Theater
April 17 - Glasgow, UK - Òran Mór
April 19 - Dublin, IE - The Academy
April 22 - London, UK - Koko
April 23 - London, UK - Bush Hall
April 24 - London, UK - Bush Hall
April 25 - London, UK - Bush Hall
April 27 - Paris, FR - L’Européen
April 28 - Amsterdam, NL - Melkwag
April 29 - Hamburg, DE - Kampnagel
May 01 - Berline, DE - Babylon
May 03 - Cologne, DE - Gloria
May 04 - Antwerp, BE - Arenbergschouwburg

May 16 - June 25 - Full tour of US and Canada. Dates posted soon!

For CvB's Recent Children's Book Press Click...

2009-12-18T16:10:00.000-08:00

HERE

Cynthia von Buhler Signs With Eddie Gamarra & Hollywood Management Agency, The Gotham Group

2009-12-06T23:14:00.000-08:00

The author and artist plans to create concepts for animated films and children's television programs.

Cynthia von Buhler created this snow globe featuring characters from her children's book But Who Will Bell the Cats? for The Gotham Group's holiday card. The city in the background is their logo.

Cynthia von Buhler Partners with Amanda Palmer & Jason Webley on a Graphic Novel. The Afterword Will Be Written By Neil Gaiman.

2009-12-06T23:13:00.000-08:00

Dark Horse Comics Will Release The Two Book Set "Evelyn Evelyn: A Terrible Tale in Two Tomes" in Fall, 2010.

Von Buhler is illustrating the two book set which was written by the musicians Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley. The afterword will be written by Neil Gaiman. An Evelyn Evelyn album (produced by Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley), will be released this Spring. Von Buhler also created the album art.

Gala*: A Unique Industrial-Chic Dinner & Art Party

2009-09-29T09:09:00.000-07:00

A massive New York Container Terminal turns into a contemporary museum for a dinner and art party highlighting the work of ten borough artists (including moi and my CYNTH-O-MATIC installation).

Cynthia von Buhler's What I am Now You Will One Day Be at Gala

Press release:

Host:
The Council on the Arts & Humanities for Staten Island

Date:
Friday, October 2, 2009

Time:
7:00pm - 11:00pm

Location:
Warehouse 74/75, New York Container Terminal
241 Western Avenue
Staten Island, NY

Phone: 7184473329
Email: statenislandarts.org
The Council on the Arts & Humanities for Staten Island (COAHSI) will turn Staten Island’s massive New York Container Terminal into a contemporary museum for a special arts weekend highlighting the work of ten borough artists.

The exhibit, entitled “Mapping Staten Island,” explores these artists’ perceptions of their resident borough, through physical installations, video, light, and musical recordings, and will feature works by Nick Fevelo, John Foxell, Steven Lapcevic, Brendan Coyle, Paul Moakley, Robin Locke Monda, Mandy Morrison, Kala Pierson, Don Porcella, Mike Shane and Cynthia von Buhler.

The exhibit space – created by the newly established firm Archicorp -- will be a work of art in itself, as actual shipping pallets will be used to build walls, tables and other structures to display the artwork. After the exhibit, the pallets will be recycled and used for their original purpose of transporting consumer goods.

In “Mapping Staten Island,” the selected borough artists will play with ideas of psycho-geography, and other non-traditional ways of interpreting the theme. COAHSI Grants Director Ginger Shulick elaborates on the concept of “Mapping Staten Island”:

“The artists selected to participate in “Mapping Staten Island” are not only creating work that physically or conceptually represents the unique geography, history, or mythology of Staten Island, but they are also truly putting Staten Island ‘on the map’ artistically.”

The selection of the New York Container Terminal as the venue for the exhibit also builds on Staten Island’s specific geography and history. Each exhibition room will be constructed from shipping pallets and designed like a fort, 20x10 feet long. The pallets will literally be “branded” by hot iron brands, bearing the logo or tag line of each sponsor. Deconstructed after the gala, these branded pallets will then rejoin the flow of global trade, sharing with the world a small part of Staten Island. Artists will be on site both during the Gala and the public exhibit to discuss their installations with the public.

Gala tickets are available online at the COAHSI website: statenislandarts.org, starting at $125. A shuttle will be available to pick up attendees at the Staten Island ferry and transport them to the New York Container Terminal at 241 Western Avenue. For information about table sponsorships, please contact Frank Williams at COAHSI, 718-447-3329. BUY TICKETS HERE.

Cynthia von Buhler

Von Buhler will recreate the old-timey historical boardwalk of Staten Island’s South Beach, combining contemporary art criticism with a carnival motif to add a modern element to her installation – including a number of her animated sculptures. Von Buhler will be costumed in traditional carnival garb, wielding a microphone that samples pretentious artists statements mixed with the words “Step Right Up”.

Cynthia von Buhler is an internationally exhibiting visual artist, performer, and author. In March 2006, Art & Antiques named von Buhler as “one of the top contemporary surrealists”, and has been linked to the Fluxus and Lowbrow movements.

www.cynthiavonbuhler.com

About Archicorp:
Archicorp is a design research collaborative based in New York City. Archicorp operates in a methodology that is affirmatively social, and maintains an optimistic position about the role of design as a device for solving complex problems. The studio engages in a spectrum of work ranging from urban planning and building design to large scale public art, cultural analysis, industrial and fashion design.

About COAHSI:
The Council on the Arts & Humanities for Staten Island (COAHSI) works to foster, develop, and support the arts and humanities on Staten Island. We do this through professional development, technical assistance, and regrants to artists and arts organizations. COAHSI works hard to bring together artists, organizations, and the greater Staten Island community. For more information on the Council on the Arts & Humanities for Staten Island (COAHSI) visit www.statenislandarts.org.

Related link:

Von Buhler's Prize Capsule

Another packaging-related artwork from last weekend’s “Mapping Staten Island” show: Cynthia Von Buhler’s Cynth-O-Matic vending machine. This interactive sculpture caught me off guard and I was putting quarters into it before I had really sorted out my (art-consumer) choices carefully.

“This one has some color,” I thought to myself, “I’ll have one of those...” [turned the handle—made my first purchase] “Oh, it’s menstrual blood... hmmm, what were my other choices? Eyelashes, fingernail clippings, hair, pubic hair... OK, I’ll buy one more capsule, but I cannot be the guy who comes in here and buys only menstrual blood & pubic hair, so I guess I’ll have to go with the fingernails...”

Although the capsules’ labels claim that their contents are “100% Genuine” I do have some doubts about their authenticity. As a collector, I don’t want to open these capsules (thereby diminishing their resale value) but, to my eyes, the fingernails look a little plastic and the red seems too bright. (Doesn’t blood dry out and turn brown?) Plus, hair and fingernails take a while to grow. We covered another reliquary type fingernail artwork (here) and, in that case, it took the artist a long time to accumulate a quantity of fingernail clippings. Of course if the contents of Von Behler’s capsules turn out not to be genuine then what I lose as fetish object, I gain in commentary on truth-in-advertising. Her website has this to say about the project:

Have you ever noticed that when you go to an art opening, many people are more focused on the artist than the artwork? Frequently, art viewers do not seriously look at the art. Usually they drink the wine, eat the cheese, and show more interest in the artist than in their art. The Cynth-O-Matic is the answer to this troubling problem. For 25 cents, you can actually have a piece of the artist.

Another package-related vending-machine artwork by Von Buhler, was her Andy Warhol-as-fortune-teller machine which dispensed Warhol aphorisms printed to look like Campbell’s Soup labels.

-Randy Ludacer
Read the full article HERE.

You are invited: Book Release Party & Museum Exhibit

2009-09-02T08:20:00.000-07:00

The MiniArtMuseum for Children at The Nassau County Museum of Art in on Long Island in New York will be featuring the miniature sets and characters from Cynthia von Buhler's But Who Will Bell the Cats? and The Cat Who Wouldn’t Come Inside in a solo exhibition from September 20, 2009 through January 3, 2010.

Join us for the book release party and the opening of the exhibit on Sunday, Oct 4, at 2PM. The author will be signing books and light refreshments will be served.

Also on view in the MiniArtMuseum will be the glorious Astolat Castle, a nine foot tall, 5 foot wide dollhouse castle. Children can also play and read in the small child's playhouse outside the museum. Norman Rockwell's paintings are on view at the main museum. Works by Gordon Cheung and Jonathan Seliger will be featured in the contemporary gallery.

Tickets: Free with museum admission: $10, seniors $8, children ages 4–12 $4, Cynthia's books will be on sale in the MiniArtMuseum gift shop.

Arrive early (at 1PM) to hear Peter and the Wolf performed by the South Shore Symphony Orchestra with guest narrator Matt Gallant of Animal Planet. Purchase tickets for the concert here: http://nassaumuseum.org/events.php.

Travel via train from NYC: LIRR to Greenvale, then take a cab to museum.

Visit the book’s website at www.butwhowillbellthecats.com for crafts, games, a behind-the-scenes look at the construction of the book, downloadable posters, and much more!

Date: Sunday, October 4, 2009
Time: 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: Long Island, NY
The Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor, NY, 5164849337
Email: fdiesu@nassaumuseum.org

Award-winning artist Cynthia von Buhler takes the reader on a whimsical journey in this visually stunning and innovative book. But Who Will Bell the Cats? (Houghton Mifflin Books for Children; September 2009) is an enchanting tale of determination, bravery, and creativity—and beautifully illustrates the rewards of the uncomplicated power of kindness.

In addition to having written this story, Cynthia von Buhler was also the painter, sculptor, interior decorator, mason, gardener, and plumber of the sets. The rooms were built by hand from wood. The stone walls were formed from plaster. The floors are handmade from inlaid wood, mother-of-pearl, and plaster. The characters were painted in oils on gessoed paper, then cut out and placed in the sets. The scenes were photographed by Cynthia with a Nikon D300. You can view photos of the sets and see the creation of the book from the beginning stages by visiting the book’s blog, www.butwhowillbellthecats.blogspot.com. The sets are currently on view at The Nassau County Museum of Art. The show will run until January 3, 2010.

Cynthia von Buhler’s work has been compared to a trip down an ornate rabbit hole. Her award-winning art has been displayed in galleries and museums around the world, as well as in books, magazines, and newspapers. She lives in Staten Island and Connecticut with her husband, eight cats, one dog, seven doves, and an unknown number of mice below the floorboards.

"Young readers will pore over this one again and again." - Kirkus Review

"This story of an indefatigable mouse should find a welcome place on the shelves of any castle...or library." - Horn Book

"Children will find a lot to discover in the details, even after repeated readings". - School Library Journal

"Beautiful and haunting with the kinds of images kids will pore over, there ain’t nothing like it out there today. A new fable in an all-new style." - A Fuse #8 Production, School Library Journal, and Publisher's Weekly

Art Exhibit in Dallas

2009-05-12T11:08:00.000-07:00

NOTED SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ART DEALER
BRINGS HIS PASSION AND HIS STABLE OF LOWBROW/POP CULTURE ARTISTS TO DALLAS

For Immediate Release

Dallas, TX—One of the most respected dealers of Lowbrow editorial and illustratrated art, Matthew Abramowitz, brings his renowned Los Angeles, Calif., establishments, The 4th Wall Gallery and The Gallery@Storyopolis, to Dallas.

Opening May 21st at 2925 Fairmount Street, The 4thWall Gallery brings its stable of popularly recognized artists from the Lowbrow movement (The underground visual art movement that began in LA in the late 1970’s and now is a widespread populist art movement that has been called pop surrealism.) to Dallas. The 4th Wall has been defined as “feeding one’s mind and soul through imaginative artists and is sure to tantalize and impress the minds of both the beginning and the experienced art collector.” With its unique and limited collection, The 4th Wall Gallery abolishes labels and celebrates artists breaking down the walls of conformity as home to an amazingly diverse group of world-renowned artists.

“We look forward to bringing to this vibrant City our one of kind pieces for families who seek to invest in collections they can share with their families for generations,” says Abramowitz. “The 4th Wall Gallery is the realization of a vision to make a home for art that pushes your mind’s eye. Kristine and I are proud to have Gallery Director, Jordan Roth as part of the 4th Wall team. He brings a unique understanding to both the local and global art scene.”

Three prominent artists will be featured in the opening exhibition: New York sculptor and painter CYNTHIA von BUHLER; New York and Miami painter MIGUEL PAREDES; and noted New York artist and illustrator SCOTT BAKAL. All three artists will be present for Gallery opening on May 21st.

CYNTHIA von BUHLER

Art & Antiques magazine, in March of 2006, named von Buhler “one of the top contemporary surrealists.” An internationally exhibiting visual artist, her work has been on the covers of New York’s Gallery Guide, Communication Arts, and New York Arts along with feature articles. Prior to moving to New York von Buhler was chosen by Boston Magazine as one of the “40 Bostonians We Love.” Von Buhler's work is in hundreds of personal collections all over the world; Howard Stern owns a portrait of himself painted by von Buhler, while Jann Wenner, the publisher of Rolling Stone, purchased von Buhler’s portraits of Madonna and Jimi Hendrix. In February, 2007, von Buhler and her interactive sculptures, were featured on television in Japan, Switzerland, and Germany as part of the exhibit, ‘Andy Warhol: In His Wake.” Her award-winning illustrations have been recognized as being among “the best and most cutting-edge” in the country. Von Buhler is the author of the popular children’s “The Cat Who Wouldn’t Come Inside,” published by Houghton Mifflin. In the Steven Spielberg celebrity-written benefit book Once Upon A Fairytale she illustrated a story by Martha Stewart. CVB Space, von Buhler’s art studio in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District, has been featured in Sex and the City, Law & Order SVU, Someone Like You (starring Ashley Judd, Hugh Jackman, and Greg Kinnear) and No Reservations (starring Catherine Zeta-Jones).

MIGUEL PAREDES

Paredes is a product of the explosion of street culture in New York City as he attended the prestigious La Guardia High School of Music & Art-- hip hop, rap, break-dancing and graffiti-- which greatly influenced him, as did the work of contemporary artists Andy Warhol and Keith Haring and the earlier works of Picasso, Chagall, and Miro. As talented at the stove as at the drawing board, Paredes also is known for his culinary skills at such Miami hot spots Delano Hotel, China Grill, and the Booking Table. The 4th Wall opening features the largest collection of Paredes works shown to date and will focus on his new Los Ninos series. (We need to add something more here about Los Ninos)

SOCTT BAKAL

Scott Bakal has been showing in galleries and doing commercial work for the likes of Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, The New Republic, Yoga Journal and Discover. Bakal’s work also can be found in private collections throughout the world and has recently been included in the permanent collection of the Museum of American Illustration in New York City. His illustration for Me +theDevil, which recounts the story of the short life of the revered Blues guitarist Robert Johnson, has received a total of 21 recognitions and two medals. Works from the Me +the Devil series will be featured at the Dallas opening. For this series, Bakal uses simple shapes and lines to build a part fact, part fictional little known world of Johnson into something tangible for the viewer. In both the color and black and white work, he creates glimpses of life and ghostly images of what could have happened all those years ago which helped create the legend of his life and death.

Abramowitz and his wife Kristine also bring to Dallas The Gallery @Storyopolis. Called “the capital of imagination where books feed the mind, art feeds the soul, events feed the imagination and stories come to life,” Storyopolis also will be at the Fairmount Street location and will have a grand opening in June. Its original illustrations from children’s books are said to lift the stories off the pages and onto the walls of children’s rooms…. or those of the nostalgic adult who never wants to grow up. The likes of Sara Ferguson, Julie Andrews, and Hayden Panettiere have done theatrical readings at the Gallery in Sherman Oaks.

“Brad Pitt, Denise Richards, Faith Hill, and Sharon Stone shop and marvel over our fabulous art unique to The Gallery@Storyopolis,” says, Kristine Abramowitz. “We are thrilled to bring our wonderful collection of original illustrations and art from famous children’s stories to Dallas where appreciation for the arts has energy unlike any other city.”

The 4th Wall Gallery is located at 2925 Fairmount Street, Dallas, TX 75201 and is open Monday through Saturday, 10:00 am-6:00 pm; evenings by appointment; and Sundays 2:00-6:00 pm. For more information call 214/740-9400.

Media contact:
Martha Tiller
214/521-6677
mtiller@marthatiller.com

But Who Will Bell The Cats? To Be Released By Houghton Mifflin, September 2009

2009-04-09T16:53:00.000-07:00

Cynthia says:

You haven't heard much from me lately because I was holed up in my studio for most of 2008. I was working on my upcoming children's book But Who Will Bell The Cats? In addition to having written this story, I was also the painter, sculptor, interior decorator, mason, gardener, and plumber of the sets. The rooms were built by hand from wood. The stone walls were formed from plaster. The floors are handmade from inlaid wood, mother-of-pearl, and plaster. The characters were painted in oils on gessoed paper, then cut out and placed in the sets. The scenes were then photographed with a Nikon D300. To see a sneak preview of this unique book being created go HERE.

-The book will be out this September and it can be pre-ordered now on Amazon.com by going HERE.

Forgotten NY Feature &Tour

2009-04-09T16:50:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, Cynthia is a promoter of Staten Island. Last month, on a bitter cold day, she gave a tour of her home there and some other magnificent locations in St. George, Staten Island, New York City for Forgotten NY. Forgotten NY is her favorite New York website. They also did a photo spread of her artwork (from SHOW Gallery and my house) to go along with pictures from the tour.
-Check it out HERE.

NY Japion Newspaper Interview
She was also recently interviewed by New York's top Japanese newspaper about living in NYC. (She also lives in Fairfield County, CT.)
-To read the article (in Japanese) and see pictures go HERE.

Art Revolution, A New Book Profiling Cutting-Edge Artists By Lisa Cyr, June 2009 by North Light Books

2009-04-09T16:48:00.000-07:00

Cynthia von Buhler is one of the featured artists in an exciting new book, Art Revolution, by Lisa Cyr. Artists featured include: Dave McKean, Marshall Arisman, Brad Holland, Barron Storey, David Mack, Kazuhiko Sano, Fred Otnes, Michael Mew, Kathleen Conover, Rudy Gutierrez, Lynne Foster, Lisa L. Cyr, Cynthia von Buhler, Robert Maloney, Susan Leopold, AE Ryan, Matt Manley, Stephanie Dalton Cowan, Richard Tuschman, Dorothy Simpson Krause and Camille Utterback. "Art Revolution is at the forefront in exploring alternative, innovative ways of conceptualizing and creating art that is on the cutting-edge. Throughout the highly visual book, insightful and thought-provoking profiles of leading artists and illustrators accompany stellar, multi-media work. The book also provides insight into the historical influences behind contemporary thinking and approaches, investigating the origins of alternative, unconventional picture making throughout the decades. In addition, exciting splash spreads featuring demonstrations and behind-the-scene looks at groundbreaking artists at work help shed light on signature processes and techniques."
-More information can be found HERE.

Art Revolution, To Be Featured In The June 2009 Issue Of The Artist's Magazine
The Artist’s Magazine will feature work from Art Revolution, taking an excerpt from one of the chapters. Many of the works from artists featured in the book will be shown. This four-page feature will be out on newsstands by June 2009, just in time for the release of the book. In addition, a special feature will also appear on the artistsnetwork.com in May 2009.

4th Wall Gallery, New Fine Art Representative & Gallery Dealer in Los Angeles

2009-03-27T14:37:00.000-07:00

Matthew Abramowitz, the owner of Storyopolis in Los Angeles, has opened a fine art gallery called 4th Wall Gallery. Cynthia von Buhler is one of the artists that he is representing. A few of the other artists are Dave McKean, Dr. Suess, Brain Froud, Nicoletta Ceccoli, Gary Kelly, Jody Hewgill, Anita Kunz, Arthur Rackham, Gary Taxali, Kinuko Craft, and many more.

-To view Cynthia von Buhler's work that is currently for sale from 4th Gallery please visit their website by clicking HERE.

Art For Cats

2009-02-08T21:48:00.000-08:00

Top illustrators and New Yorker cartoonists have contributed original art and limited edition prints to save cats and kittens from certain death. The auction will be on ebay, February 20-26. Starting bids for most pieces are set at $100 or less — well below their actual value. All proceeds go to Anjellicle Cat Rescue.

Click here on http://www.facebook.com/pages/Art-for-cats/46704559142to see the preview gallery on Facebook. Membership not required but if you're signed-in, you can "become a fan" for auction updates.

Curated by Kathy Osborn.

ARTISTS INCLUDE:
Victoria Roberts, Adam McCauley, Roz Chast, Kathy Osborn, George Booth, Greg Clarke, Julliette Borda, Sam Gross, Mark Ulriksen, Danny Shanahan, Mel Odom, Calef Brown, Susan Hunt Yule, Joe Ciardiello, Jean-Philippe Delhomme, Liza Donnelly, Cynthia Von Buhler, Nick Dewar, Tatsuro Kiuchi, Jordin Isip, Melinda Beck, Catherine Lazure, Jessie Hartland, Rutu Modan, Holly Roberts, Emiliano Ponzi, Maureen Burdock, Noah Woods, Scott Menchin, Robert Neubecker, Brad Mossman, Barbara Ensor, Marc Burckhardt, Valeria Petrone, and many more.

NY1 News Reporter Shawna Ryan Interviews Cynthia von Buhler

2008-07-14T21:34:00.000-07:00

Shawna Ryan, a NY1 News reporter, has a personal web vlog called NYC Loves... where she informally interviews Cynthia von Buhler in an utterly charming style that would never be allowed on NY1. You can watch the clip below.

2008-06-10T20:38:00.000-07:00

Come to St. George this weekend:

The new SHOW gallery will open its doors for the first time on Friday night, June 13th, at 8PM. Join us for the gallery sign illumination ceremony and an art preview. 8PM - 10PM. The new sign will be lighted at 9PM. Champagne will flow freely.

The preview will feature paintings by Lazarus Nazario and sculptures by Cynthia von Buhler.

SHOW will be a place for all the arts. Aside from exhibits of visual art, SHOW will present performances as well as demonstrations, workshops, when it will become HOW, as we turn off the S in the sign.

The sign is visible from The Staten Island Ferry Terminal. SHOW can be reached from the ferry terminal by crossing Richmond Terrace and climbing the stairs between Borough Hall and the Courthouse. SHOW is located on Stuyvesant Place.

Also, please stop by SHOW during Art By The Ferry:

Saturday, June 14th, 11AM - 5PM
Sunday, June 15th, 11AM - 5PM
Saturday, June 21st, 11AM - 5PM

Art By The Ferry is a three day art and performance event on Staten Island. For more information on Art By The Ferry see the previous post.

SHOW, 156 Stuyvesant Place, Staten Island, NYC, 718-442-0479

Take a tour guided (by a large bunny rabbit) through NYC artist Cynthia von Buhler's art studio in the Meatpacking district. This video was created for an Exit Art exhibition of homemade artist videos showcasing their studios. The bunny interacts with von Buhler's sculptures. Many of these interactive works are currently on exhibit at SHOW.

Art By The Ferry

2008-06-05T22:35:00.000-07:00

The new SHOW gallery sign will be officially illuminated on Friday night, June 13th before Art By The Ferry begins.
Saturday, June 14th, Sunday June15th, and Saturday, June 21st, from 11AM and 6PM

Enjoy art, music and performances against the backdrop of the NYC skyline in 15,000 sq. ft. of indoor exhibition and performance space and outdoors at The Lighthouse Museum Esplanade adjacent to the Ferry and venues from Fishs Eddy to the Staten Island Museum garden.

Over 125 visual artists will show at Fishs Eddy, 120 Stuyvesant Place and SHOW Gallery; three artists in restaurants ("Enoteca," "Cargo Café" and "Besso"); and five artists at the "Everything Goes Café." Over 100 musicians will be playing throughout the Festival in front of various restaurants, on Bay St. and in venues near the Greenmarket and the Staten Island Museum. Spoken word performances will be at the St. George Theater and the St. George library. The Festival will also include: Native American Dance, Drum and Storytelling; break dancers; a puppet workshop; a glass studio tour; African dancers; Ballroom dancers; Day De Dada street performers; hand made crafts and book sale; Greenmarket both Saturdays and nine restaurants. Cultural guides will hand out information on both sides of the Ferry as Bagpipers entice travelers off the Ferry.

SHOW will feature artwork by Lazarus Nazario and Cynthia von Buhler.

Workshops for the arts community will be run by COAHSI at 120 Stuyvesant. Times will be posted on the web site.

Sponsors: Staten Island Cultural Community, Staten Island Council on the Arts and Humanities, Art Lab, St. George Civic Association, Casandra Realty, Gateway Realty, SHOW Gallery.

Click on the headline to visit the Art By The Ferry website.

Cynthia von Buhler on NBC News

2008-03-27T10:13:00.000-07:00

Cynthia von Buhler was interviewed by NBC's Gabe Pressman about being an artist on Staten Island and how more artists are finding out that Staten Island is a unique place to live and work. A couple of von Buhler's paintings were featured in the clip. Gallery 6 and Staten Island painter Jenny Tango were also featured and interviewed. This clip focused on the artists who were the first to come and have been here for a long time and how they paved the way for the new crop of younger artists like Cynthia.

The clip aired on the March 18th 11PM news, Channel 4 (Tri-state area: NY, CT, NJ). It will also appear on some digital affiliates.

Cynthia von Buhler's Work at Art Now Fair / Miami Basel in Miami Beach, Florida

2007-11-26T15:23:00.000-08:00

"My Friend Dora Gray Has Mona Lisa Eyes" created for the KNOW exhibit, although 2-D, is interactive. No matter how you look at "Dora Gray" her eyes will move and look away from you. Click on the image above to view an enlarged version of the painting.

Curator and publisher, Mark Murphy invites you to discover emerging artistic talent at the "Know" art exhibition at Art Basel in Miami Beach.

The KNOW exhibition, takes place at this year's Art Now Fair (booth 215) and will be a unique display of more than 50 major works, 8" x 8" in size.

Murphy Design Website
Art Now Fair Website

featuring
Robert Bellm + Cathie Bleck + Marc Burckhardt + Cynthia von Buhler + William Buzzell + Luke Chueh + David Chung + Amy Crehore + Warren Dykeman + P-Jay Fidler + AJ Fosik + Keith Greiman + Matt Haber + Brent Harada + Ryan Heshka + Jody Hewgil + Jordin Isip + Pamela Jaeger + James Kirkpatrick + Travis Lampe + Lola + Daniel Lim + Tommi Limm + Anthony Lister + Jen Lobo + Jason Murphy + Mark Murphy + Joel Nakamura + Kathie Olivas + Brandt Peters + Chris Pyle + Luke Ramsey + Chris Ryniak + Erik Sandberg + Greg Simkins/Craola + Kim Scott + Keith Shore + Jeff Soto + Matt Stallings + Peter Taylor + Mark Todd + Jonathan Viner + Amanda Wachob + Esther Pearl Watson + Damien Weinkrantz + Gord Wiebe + John Yanok

Art Now Fair
December 6 - 9 : 2007
Thursday - Saturday : 10 am - 8 pm : Sunday : 10 am - 6 pm
***Opening Reception on Friday, Dec 7 at 7 pm
at
Claremont Hotel
Murphy Design : Booth 215
1700 Collins Avenue (17th St) : Miami Beach : FL

THE DESIGN BREAKFAST ROUNDTABLE: Cynthia von Buhler's catalog "Show & Tell" from her recent solo exhibition at The Staten Island Museum will be included in gift bags at The Design Breakfast Roundtable.

Friday, December 7, 2007: 9:30 am
at
The Design Miami Media Lounge at The Loft
3627 NE 1st Court, Wynwood Design District : Miami Beach : FL

The New York Times Features Cynthia von Buhler

2007-11-02T19:32:00.000-07:00

"Hipsters On Staten Island" video from The New York Times featuring Cynthia von Buhler. Watch it by clicking HERE.

"Bohemia By The Bay" a feature article from The New York Times quotes Cynthia von Buhler. Read it by clicking HERE.

Museum Closing Party Featured a Marching Band, Parade, A Merry-Go-Round, and More

2007-11-02T19:29:00.000-07:00

Photographs from Cynthia von Buhler and Russell Farhang's party at their home to celebrate the closing of Show & Tell at The Staten Island Museum. Click on the pictures to enlarge them.
The New York Times sent a photographer to my recent Staten Island Museum closing party at our house but they only printed one photo (without a credit, it was of The Hungry March Band) so here are some photos, by Paul Weiner, from the party. It attracted a ton of people from Manhattan and also from Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Boston, New Jersey, and the island. Thanks to: The Hungry March Band for leading a parade from the museum up to our house, Christoph and Trish (and Russell) for entertaining us with songs about Staten Island, Al Gori and his fabulous merry-go-round (a big hit with children and adults), Miwa (our lovely bartender), Dalia (who helped me clean up and prepare the house for a Latina magazine photoshoot that happened the next day at 8AM), and all of you who took the ferry over (and loved the ride).

Warhol: Factory Now in Chicago at Kasia Kay Art Projects

2007-08-08T16:02:00.000-07:00

Cynthia von Buhler interviewed on Japan's Fuji Television Network about her work in Andy Warhol: In His Wake. Von Buhler's works featured in this clip are Sir Reptitious (viewers are feeding the rats which live inside him), The Great Warhola Fortune Telling Machine, and It Can Happen To You (interactive legs with a viewmaster inset into the crotch).
Inspired by CvB's Andy Warhol: In His Wake exhibit,Warhol: Factory Now brings together works by well-known celebrity artists from Warhol's Factory: Ultra Violet, Steve Joester, William John Kennedy, Ivy Nicholson and Anton Perich, as well as a group of artists who have been influenced by Andy Warhol and the artist’s pop-oeuvre, including: Kristin Anderson, Sandra Bermudez, Cynthia von Buhler, Amy Cohen Banker, Cameron Crawford, T. R. Ericsson and Chris Wasko. The opening night reception will feature a gallery transformed to resemble Warhol’s Factory, Mylar Balloons Installation by Sandra Bermudez, Fortunes from The Great Warhola Machine by Cynthia von Buhler, as well as Electric Chair installations and signed memoirs by Ultra Violet.

Opening reception Friday September 7, 6-9PM.
Exhibition Dates: September 5 - October 6, 2007
Gallery hours: Wed - Sat, 11-5pm or by an appointment

Kasia Kay Art Projects Gallery
1044 W. Fulton Market
Chicago IL 60607
P. 312-492-8828
More information on this exhibit and Kasia Kay Art Projects can be found HERE.

Latest CvB Gallery & Studio

2007-08-08T15:56:00.000-07:00

Above: Computer sketches of the proposed illuminated sign for SHOW. The "S" will blink on and off so it can be read two ways. The sign will be visible from the ferry terminal.
SHOW will open this winter. The new gallery and studio allows for the art-making process to be viewed from the storefront windows. SHOW will feature the work of Cynthia von Buhler and other artists. SHOW will be located across from The Staten Island ferry terminal on Staten Island. Exit the ferry and walk up the steps between Borough Hall and The Courthouse. The address wil be 156 Stuyvesant Place.

Cynthia von Buhler's Solo Museum Exhibit Extended Until September 23, 2007

2007-06-18T19:53:00.000-07:00

Installation View. Click on the image for an enlarged view.
The Staten Island Museum. Click on the image for an enlarged view.
Installation View. Click on the image for an enlarged view.

Cynthia von Buhler's Show & Tell exhibit at The Staten Island Museum has been extended until September 23, 2007 due to popular demand.
The surreal three-dimensional works blend Renaissance inspired portraiture and messianic figures with natural objects. Cynthia von Buhler’s enigmatic paintings impart their meaning through symbol, design, and narrative. In von Buhler’s art, butterflies, snakes, birds, and plants are set into cages, boxes, and peepholes to serve as metaphors for the human condition. The layered gouache paintings and their sculptural, performance, and audio accoutrements are at once poignant and mischievous. Show and Tell is akin to a trip down an ornate rabbit hole. Also on view will be characters from von Buhler's recent children's book, The Cat Who Wouldn't Come Inside (Houghton Mifflin, 2006). The museum is easily accessible from Manhattan via the Staten Island ferry which is a free twenty-minute ride, and lands across the street from the museum. An exhibition catalog will be available. Books are available for sale in the museum gift shop. 75 Stuyvesant Place, Staten Island, New York 10301, 718.727.1135, Hours: Tuesdays - Fridays from 9AM to 5PM, Saturday 10AM - 5PM, Sunday 12PM- 5PM. Directions: If you are coming from Manhattan you can take the ferry from lower Manhattan to the island. It is a lovely 1/2 hour ride with outstanding views. Take the 1, R, W, 4, or 5 train to South Ferry. (If you take the 1 train make sure that you are in one of the first 5 subway cars). The museum is across the street from the ferry terminal. Installation View. Click on the image for an enlarged view.

Related Events at the museum:

August 11, 2007: Cynthia von Buhler Artist’s Talk will be held on Saturday, August 11th at 1:00 p.m. Von Buhler’s Renaissance inspired portraits hold hidden secrets, butterflies, snakes, and birds---while cages and peepholes serve as mischievous metaphors. The Artist’s Talk is part of the Artists/Ideas Series: Supported by JP Morgan Chase. Free with museum admission.

August 25, 2007: The Cat Who Wouldn’t Come Inside Family Workshop and Book Signing with Artist and author Cynthia von Buhler will be held on Saturday, August 25th at 2:00 p.m. Participants will meet the artist and find out how she created her new book with dollhouse charm and a message about patience and giving. A cat figurine workshop for children is included in the program. Admission is $5 per child. Admission is free for children under 12. Copies of the book will be available for sale at this event.

September 23, 2007: A closing reception will be held on Sunday, September 23rd at 2:00 p.m. Installation View. Click on the image for an enlarged view. Installation View. Click on the image for an enlarged view.

Read the museum press release and view close-up details of some of the paintings HERE

Directions: If you are coming from Manhattan you can take the ferry from lower Manhattan to the island. It is a lovely 1/2 hour ride with outstanding views. Take the 1, R, W, 4, or 5 train to South Ferry. (If you take the 1 train make sure that you are in one of the first 5 subway cars). The museum is across the street from the ferry terminal.

The Studio Visit, NYC

2007-05-11T16:39:00.001-07:00

Take a tour guided (by a large bunny rabbit) through NYC artist Cynthia von Buhler's art studio in the Meatpacking district. This video was created for an Exit Art exhibition of homemade artist videos showcasing their studios. Von Buhler also housed her studio in a window at Exit Art during the course of this exhibition. She worked on art in the art complex window while people on the street watched.

"Music always helps, as does high speed, stop action or high-speed stop action, combinations of which are used to good effect by Joyce Pensato, Cynthia von Buhler, Ida Applebroog, Bruce Pearson and Lance Wakeling" - The New York Times, Roberta Smith

Directed by Cynthia von Buhler
Video shot by Damian Kolodiy
Music by The Beat Circus
Text by Brian Azer

Cynthia von Buhler on NY1 News

2007-04-29T20:05:00.001-07:00

Cynthia von Buhler was interviewed by NY1 News about her art exhibit at The Staten Island Museum and her plans to start a gallery and studio on the island. View the news clip by clicking HERE.

Cynthia von Buhler: Show & Tell Solo Exhibit Opens at the Staten Island Museum

2007-04-29T20:03:00.000-07:00

Show & Tell by Cynthia von Buhler
April 26, 2007 – June 17, 2007, EXTENDED until September 23, 2007 due to popular demand
On Friday, April 27, The Staten Island Museum will unveil Cynthia von Buhler: Show & Tell. The surreal three-dimensional works blend Renaissance inspired portraiture and messianic figures with natural objects. Cynthia von Buhler’s enigmatic paintings impart their meaning through symbol, design, and narrative. In von Buhler’s art, butterflies, snakes, birds, and plants are set into cages, boxes, and peepholes to serve as metaphors for the human condition. The layered gouache paintings and their sculptural, performance, and audio accoutrements are at once poignant and mischievous. Show and Tell is akin to a trip down an ornate rabbit hole. Many New Yorkers are familiar with von Buhler's interactive sculptures which have been exhibited frequently in the city. But few have seen an exhibit of her 3-d paintings, since most of these works are in private collections. Also on view will be characters from von Buhler's recent children's book, The Cat Who Wouldn't Come Inside (Houghton Mifflin, 2006). The museum is easily accessible from Manhattan via the Staten Island ferry which is a free twenty-minute ride, and lands across the street from the museum. An exhibition catalog will be available. Books are available for sale in the museum gift shop. 75 Stuyvesant Place, Staten Island, New York 10301, 718.727.1135, Hours: Tuesdays - Fridays from 9AM to 5PM, Saturday 10AM - 5PM, Sunday 12PM- 5PM.

May 6, 2007: Cynthia von Buhler Artist’s Talk will be held on Sunday, May 6th at 2:00 p.m. Von Buhler’s Renaissance inspired portraits hold hidden secrets, butterflies, snakes, and birds---while cages and peepholes serve as mischievous metaphors. The Artist’s Talk is part of the Artists/Ideas Series: Supported by JP Morgan Chase.

May 19, 2007: The Cat Who Wouldn’t Come Inside Family Workshop and Book Signing with Artist and author Cynthia von Buhler will be held on Saturday, May 19th at 2:00 p.m. Participants will meet the artist and find out how she created her new book with dollhouse charm and a message about patience and giving. A cat figurine workshop for children is included in the program. Admission is $2 per child. Signed books will be available for sale at the event.

Miss Ann Thrope by Cynthia von Buhler

Purify by Cynthia von Buhler
Intimate Letters by Cynthia von Buhler
Fidelio by Cynthia von Buhler
Maestro Sartori Wants A Bit of Glory by Cynthia von Buhler

NY Arts Cover Feature

2007-04-29T20:02:00.000-07:00

NY Arts magazine cover art by Cynthia von Buhler, Christina Carrozza D'Alessandro, and Cleo (the cat who caught the mouse). Click the image for a larger view.
NY Arts magazine article art by Cynthia von Buhler. Click the image for a larger view.
NY Arts magazine article art by Cynthia von Buhler. Click the image for a larger view.
New York Arts Cover Feature:
January/February 2007. To A Mouse, an image by Cynthia von Buhler and her sister Christina Carrozza D'Alessandro, graces the January/February issue of New York Arts magazine. The artwork features a formerly live mouse (caught in real life by one of von Buhler's cats) who has kicked over a stool and hanged himself. The accompanying two-page article within was written by Kate Lowenstein, a staff writer at Time Out New York. Read the article HERE.

Andy Warhol: In His Wake Exhibit, Press & Photographs

2007-04-29T20:01:00.000-07:00

Collage of Warhol: In His Wake exhibit art by Cynthia von Buhler. Click the image for a larger view.
Warhol's Superstars at Von Buhler's CVB Space - Exhibit Extended Due To Popular Demand:
Andy Warhol: In His Wake, an exhibit/installation organized by von Buhler at her gallery and studio space in Manhattan, opened on Thursday, February 22 and has been extended until April 12, 2007. The closing reception will be held on Thursday, April 12, 2007 from 6 - 10PM. Warhol superstars in this exhibit are Taylor Mead (recently in the Whitney Biennial), Ultra Violet, Billy Name, and Ivy Nicholson. Also on view are works by artists who documented Warhol or who have been influenced by him. Von Buhler created an interactive fortune-telling machine named The Great Warhola for the show, and she and her assistant, Molly Weingart, have transformed the space into Warhol's silver factory for this exciting exhibit. For more information go The Carrozzini von Buhler Gallery website.
The Great Warhola fortune teller machine by Cynthia von Buhler. Click the image for a larger view.
Gallery installation view. Click the image for a larger view.
Gallery installation view. Click the image for a larger view.
Taylor Mead and Cynthia von Buhler. Click the image for a larger view.
Ivy Nicholson, Misha Sedgewick and Cynthia von Buhler. Click the image for a larger view.

CVB on German, Swedish, Finnish and Japanese Television:
Four major international networks filmed CVB's Andy Warhol: In His Wake exhibit and interviewed the Warhol superstars there. Three of the networks also interviewed von Buhler about her own work in the show. A New York production company also filmed the reception for a video installation featuring noteworthy Chelsea galleries.
For more information and links visit: The Carrozzini von Buhler Gallery website.

Gothamist Review of Andy Warhol: In His Wake:
"Cynthia von Buhler, who wore a silver strapless dress to the VIP preview and looked very Dita von Tesse with her black hair and pale skin, stole the show with her tongue-in-cheek work. If you crawl through a hole in the art space, you’ll discover her Cynth-O-Matic, a vending machine that celebrates celebrity and commerce by selling 100% Genuine menstrual blood, pubic hair, eyelashes, and nail clippings. Meanwhile, her Sir Repetitious features live rats that you, the viewer, can feed. The rats (which are her pets) crawl along pipes that figure as the spine in the transparent torso of what is a depiction of S&M author Gary Kadet. And yes, von Buhler depicted Warhol too, with the fortune-telling machine (like out of the movie Big) The Great Warhola." - Stephanie Nikolopoulos, Gothamist Read the whole review HERE.

Photograph of Cynthia von Buhler by Ed Hamilton.
Chelsea Now and The Villager Review of Andy Warhol: In His Wake:
“I looked at a lot of photos and then I improvised,” said artist and gallery owner Cynthia von Buhler, statuesque and futuristic in her silver vinyl mini-dress, like Jane Fonda from “Barbarella.” “Some of the details are very accurate, like the columns, and the legs.” She pointed to the bottom half of a silver-painted mannequin. “There were legs just like that in the original Factory. In some respects I’ve been faithful to the pictures I’ve seen, but I took some liberties, too. The foil-wrapped chandelier is an extrapolation. I was playing with the aesthetic a little bit there.” - Ed Hamilton, Chelsea Now & The Villager Read the whole article and see the photo of von Buhler with The Great Warhola HERE.

Photograph of Cynthia von Buhler by Melinda Maclean.
New York Cool Article of Andy Warhol: In His Wake:
By Janet Perisa and photographed by Melinda Maclean. Read the whole article and view the pictures HERE.

Time Out New York Home Feature

2007-04-29T20:00:00.001-07:00

Photograph of Fort Hill Castle by Russell Farhang
Time Out New York Home Feature:
Fort Hill Castle, Cynthia von Buhler and her husband Russell Farhang's home on Staten Island will being featured soon in Time Out New York. The interview is by Kate Lowenstein and photos are by Patrik Rytikangas. (above photo by Russell Farhang). When this issue comes out the article can be found HERE.

Cat FancyMagazine Feature Articles & Exclusives

2007-04-29T19:58:00.000-07:00

Cat Fancy Magazine Feature:
The April issue of Cat Fancy magazine (in stores now) features an interview with von Buhler, by Laura Lee Bloor, about her children's book, The Cat Who Wouldn't Come Inside. Available is pet stores everywhere.
Read a portion of the interview HERE.

CatChannel.com Exclusive Feature:
There is an exclusive now on CatChannel.com, featuring audio clips of von Buhler telling stories of her cat-rescue endeavors. Listen and comment HERE.