Join Me at at the Public Dissection This Friday. Because Art.

The 1790s will never come again. Childhood was big.
People would take walks to the very tops of hills
and write down what they saw in their journals without speaking.
Our collars were high and our hats were extremely soft.
We would surprise each other with alphabets made of twigs.
It was a wonderful time to be alive, or even dead. 
-- Billy Collins, "Nostalgia"

In the 19th century (which is basically the 1790s), human dissections were showcased to the public. They were featured as an evening highlight of education mixed with entertainment. 

For artists, familiarity with internal anatomy is indescribably helpful when drawing bodies, whether they are animals, clothed people, or video-game monsters. Enter Patreon.

For those who don't know, Patreon is kind of like an online tip jar for digital artists, and it was co-founded by Sam Yam, one of my best friends EVER, and Jack Conte, musician and songwriter. (If you haven't, check out his band, Pomplamoose.)

And in the name of Art, Patreon is hosting a Live Anatomical Drawing & Public Dissection this Friday, Sept. 4, 2015.

In other words... Patreon has built a time machine and opened it to the public. Other event details: 

While Stephanie Stewart-Bailey leads a public dissection of a to-be-determined animal specimen (died naturally), drawing instructor and Eisner nominated graphic novelist Dax Tran-Caffee will describe, in words and in charcoal, how these internal structures relate to artistic anatomy in humans.

The audience is encouraged to bring sketchpads to make their own anatomical studies, or just sit back and watch the dissection. The evening will consist of a 45-minute dissection/lecture (with Q&A), followed by an hour to continue drawing the anatomical subject and hang out.

Original pages from the Failing Sky graphic novel, and other artwork by Dax Tran-Caffee, will be on display in the Patreon office gallery.

Tickets are free, but please RSVP via Eventbrite. 

So check it out! And, obviously, check ME out on Patreon.