Curator's tour of Starry Messengers exhibition at Houghton Library
posted March 12, 2015 4:23 PM RSS | iCal | +googleCal
Sat April 4 at 3:30 PM, Houghton Library, Harvard University
Houghton Library, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA (Map & Directions)
The last time I put on a show in our main exhibition space, I invited MetaFilter to come see it. It was a lot of fun, so I'd like to do so once again, to see "Starry Messengers: Signs and Science from the Skies."
As last time, the plan is to start with a tour of the exhibition on the main floor, plus a visit upstairs where I'll have some great books from the history of astronomy that I didn't have room for (have some favorites? let me know). Afterward, we can head to John Harvard's for beers and/or dinner. All ages welcome!
Will there be Starry Wisdom?
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:20 AM on March 13, 2015
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:20 AM on March 13, 2015
This looks awesome, and it's been way too long since we've made it to a meetup. We need to arrange for a babysitter for our kid before we can commit, but I think we'll be there.
posted by banjo_and_the_pork at 5:51 AM on March 13, 2015
posted by banjo_and_the_pork at 5:51 AM on March 13, 2015
This sounds fantastic! Thanks!
posted by acridrabbit at 5:52 AM on March 13, 2015
posted by acridrabbit at 5:52 AM on March 13, 2015
I will gladly look at your Johnson, good sir, but if you think I'm going to survey your black holes...
...$20 SAIT cash or paypal
posted by not_on_display at 7:44 AM on March 13, 2015 [5 favorites]
...$20 SAIT cash or paypal
posted by not_on_display at 7:44 AM on March 13, 2015 [5 favorites]
I'll be there. Thanks!
posted by Jasper Fnorde at 8:55 AM on March 13, 2015
posted by Jasper Fnorde at 8:55 AM on March 13, 2015
Ooo I this sounds amazing - it will be my first meetup if I can make it!
posted by danapiper at 9:02 AM on March 13, 2015
posted by danapiper at 9:02 AM on March 13, 2015
That sounds terrific. I will try to make it (it's a workday for me but I bet I can skip out!)
posted by Miko at 9:25 AM on March 13, 2015
posted by Miko at 9:25 AM on March 13, 2015
This looks cool. Gonna put me and Mrs. Bondcliff down as maybes.
Actually, she kept her maiden name so maybe I'll refer to her as Ms. Not Yet A Member.
posted by bondcliff at 11:40 AM on March 13, 2015
Actually, she kept her maiden name so maybe I'll refer to her as Ms. Not Yet A Member.
posted by bondcliff at 11:40 AM on March 13, 2015
I loved the last tour! Is "baby in carrier" ok under "all ages" or should I arrange for a babysitter?
posted by nonane at 4:07 PM on March 13, 2015
posted by nonane at 4:07 PM on March 13, 2015
Baby in carrier is totally fine, but I probably won't invite him/her to turn any pages in the rare books.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 4:51 PM on March 13, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Horace Rumpole at 4:51 PM on March 13, 2015 [2 favorites]
Yes!
posted by initapplette at 8:16 AM on March 18, 2015
posted by initapplette at 8:16 AM on March 18, 2015
You can get a nice preview of the exhibition in this article that just came out in Hyperallergic.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 8:20 AM on March 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Horace Rumpole at 8:20 AM on March 20, 2015 [1 favorite]
This is mightily relevant to my interests. The Stars are right and I have seen the professional yellowish-brown background.
posted by ursus_comiter at 5:20 PM on March 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by ursus_comiter at 5:20 PM on March 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
Presenting Starry Messengers: The Trailer! This conversation with two renowned astronomy historians was filmed for a forthcoming HarvardX class, but they were kind enough to cut together this trailer to promote the exhibition during its run.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 2:55 PM on March 27, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by Horace Rumpole at 2:55 PM on March 27, 2015 [4 favorites]
Hey Horace, I know it's unlikely but since this is probably the closest I'll get I had to ask: You wouldn't have anything like the Hans Glaser woodcut, would you? It's a woodcut, not a book, and the Wikipedia article makes it sound like the only remaining copy is in Zurich, but it's one of my favorite images.
posted by benito.strauss at 11:08 PM on March 30, 2015
posted by benito.strauss at 11:08 PM on March 30, 2015
No, I think the Zurich copy is the only surviving one. I'll see if we have anything similar, but 16th century broadsides are pretty hard to come by.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 12:16 PM on March 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Horace Rumpole at 12:16 PM on March 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
Whoa, I had missed this. I have an appointment at the optometrist's that morning, but I'll definitely attend, even if I have to show up late.
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 7:26 AM on April 1, 2015
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 7:26 AM on April 1, 2015
I can't resist.
MetaFilter: 16th century broadsides are pretty hard to come by.
posted by benito.strauss at 9:39 AM on April 2, 2015
MetaFilter: 16th century broadsides are pretty hard to come by.
posted by benito.strauss at 9:39 AM on April 2, 2015
Demoted myself to 'maybe' as I'm sick today. I'm hoping to be better in time, but not laying odds on it. But I love the trailer! So cozy, like a PBS fireside chat.
posted by daisyace at 5:42 AM on April 3, 2015
posted by daisyace at 5:42 AM on April 3, 2015
Can't skin out of work. :( . I'll try to drop by and see when I"m on campus!
posted by Miko at 7:33 AM on April 3, 2015
posted by Miko at 7:33 AM on April 3, 2015
Hmm, this showed up on one of the blogs I visit:
interfector
n. a death-bringing planet
(It's apparently also known as anareta. Got a copy of William Lilly's Christian Astrology at the Houghton?)
posted by benito.strauss at 9:19 AM on April 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
interfector
n. a death-bringing planet
(It's apparently also known as anareta. Got a copy of William Lilly's Christian Astrology at the Houghton?)
posted by benito.strauss at 9:19 AM on April 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
Thread bump to remind everybody that this is tomorrow. FYI, since we'll be going upstairs to see books out of cases, if you're coming with any kind of bag or purse, it will need to get locked up in one of our lockers. DiscourseMarker and I will help you get set up with that when you arrive.
See you soon!
posted by Horace Rumpole at 6:06 PM on April 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
See you soon!
posted by Horace Rumpole at 6:06 PM on April 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
Oh, and Benito--I've got your hookup.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 6:07 PM on April 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Horace Rumpole at 6:07 PM on April 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
for some reason Benito I've got your hookup totally sounds like a MeFi username. I'm not even saying it would be a particularly good one. It just sounds like one.
posted by threeants at 9:30 PM on April 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by threeants at 9:30 PM on April 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
Hey, this looks like it's going to be a big crowd. Should we do a quick head count for the number of people planning on going on to John Harvards and make a reservation, or at least just call ahead?
Horace, do you have a rough idea when we'd be heading over?
Me, I'm 1 for John Harvard's.
posted by benito.strauss at 8:48 AM on April 4, 2015
Horace, do you have a rough idea when we'd be heading over?
Me, I'm 1 for John Harvard's.
posted by benito.strauss at 8:48 AM on April 4, 2015
I'm gonna un +1 myself since I'm feeling logey. Hope it's amazing and look forward to hearing all about it.
posted by jessamyn at 8:55 AM on April 4, 2015
posted by jessamyn at 8:55 AM on April 4, 2015
I made a reservation at John Harvard for ca. 25. I said we would do a headcount when people arrive to give them a more specific number to plan for.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 10:37 AM on April 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Horace Rumpole at 10:37 AM on April 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'll probably head over to John Harvard's with y'all but have to be somewhere at 8 so I might be more standing around and drinkingy than sitting and eatingy.
posted by threeants at 10:38 AM on April 4, 2015
posted by threeants at 10:38 AM on April 4, 2015
We are enroute but running a bit late due to mysterious slowdowns on 95 south.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 12:27 PM on April 4, 2015
posted by robocop is bleeding at 12:27 PM on April 4, 2015
Dang, wish I could be there. I'm on my way back east, hope to catch the next one.
posted by theora55 at 3:09 PM on April 4, 2015
posted by theora55 at 3:09 PM on April 4, 2015
Thanks for coming, everybody--great turnout! If you took pictures, please post them to the thread.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 4:23 PM on April 4, 2015
posted by Horace Rumpole at 4:23 PM on April 4, 2015
That was so fun, thanks for the tour!
posted by banjo_and_the_pork at 5:12 PM on April 4, 2015
posted by banjo_and_the_pork at 5:12 PM on April 4, 2015
Ugh, sorry we had to cut out early and didn't get to socialize. Really cool exhibition, though - awesome work, HR!
posted by Metroid Baby at 5:56 PM on April 4, 2015
posted by Metroid Baby at 5:56 PM on April 4, 2015
Thanks so much, Horace. Cool selection for the downstairs exhibition, loved the chance to get up close with the books upstairs, and I'm going to have to start finding ways to use interfector in my daily conversation.
posted by benito.strauss at 7:00 PM on April 4, 2015
posted by benito.strauss at 7:00 PM on April 4, 2015
As usual, Mr. HR put on a great presentation and slew the fatted biblio-calf for the guests. Thanks!
The Magnum Grimorium sive Calendarium Naturale Magicum Perpetuum Profundissimam Rerum Secretissimarum Contemplationem Totiusque Philosophiae Cognitionem Complectens is really something! Everyone should see it!
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:21 AM on April 5, 2015
The Magnum Grimorium sive Calendarium Naturale Magicum Perpetuum Profundissimam Rerum Secretissimarum Contemplationem Totiusque Philosophiae Cognitionem Complectens is really something! Everyone should see it!
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:21 AM on April 5, 2015
Thanks so much for letting my parents tag along, it really made their weekend.
posted by firechicago at 5:00 AM on April 6, 2015
posted by firechicago at 5:00 AM on April 6, 2015
Photos added! Thanks for a great enlightening time, HR and everyone!
posted by not_on_display at 9:52 PM on April 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by not_on_display at 9:52 PM on April 6, 2015 [2 favorites]
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by ignignokt at 4:46 PM on March 12, 2015 [2 favorites]