Cynthia von Buhler

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Cynthia von Buhler
Magic Realism, Fluxus

Cynthia von Buhler (

performer, and producer.[2]

Early life

Cynthia von Buhler was born Cynthia Carrozza and raised in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, the middle child in an artistic family with six children. Of her childhood, she says "As soon as we could hold a scissor, we learned every kind of craft imaginable, and worked in three dimensions, not just two."[3] Creative from the start, she created large-scale papier-mâché floats for her hometown Halloween parades, and won her first art award while she was still in grammar school.[3] Growing up in the Berkshires, surrounded by world-class theater, von Buhler staged, performed and sang in plays at school and camp.[4] Her high school graduation was held at Tanglewood in Lenox, Massachusetts.[5]

Von Buhler studied art and children's books at

Richmond, The American International University in London.[7]

Royalty connection

Von Buhler claims her family is rumored to descend from the royal Italian

Torrone."[9] A friend began referring to the gothic Victorian house as Castle von Buhler and the name stuck—the press dubbed the artist Countess Cynthia von Buhler.[1][12][11]

Immersive theater

Bronx during Prohibition: one that masqueraded as a bakery, the other a secret nightclub. Shortly after Prohibition ended, her grandfather was shot and killed on the street in Manhattan. Her grandmother was pregnant with her mother at the time, and upon hearing the news of the murder she went into labor. Von Buhler's grandfather's body was laid out in one room of their small Bronx apartment while her mother was born in the room next to it. "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 dusting off a complicated, historically significant story," explains von Buhler.[13] To more thoroughly explore her grandfather's murder and events leading up to it, von Buhler created an elaborate speakeasy dollhouse set complete with handmade dolls in her art studio. The set includes a plush secret nightclub, a bakery, a pre-war apartment, a bootlegging bathroom, a morgue, and even Ellis Island.[2] The set contains crime scene details that can be examined from every angle. Von Buhler was featured in the "Gurney For Grandpa" episode of Oddities discussing this project.[14]

Taking it one step further, the artist created an immersive theatrical experience to go along with the sets and her own investigation. Speakeasy Dollhouse stages these events in a historic

John Waters, is a documentary about Francis Glessner Lee's crime scene investigation dollhouse dioramas. Marks created an Of Dolls and Murder sequel based on Speakeasy Dollhouse.[17]

Speakeasy Dollhouse became the brand name for all of Cynthia von Buhler's immersive theater productions. The original show was renamed The Bloody Beginning.

Immersive theater productions

Graphic novels

The Girl Who Handcuffed Houdini follows private investigator

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who believes Houdini is not merely a magician but has supernatural powers, and Bess Houdini, who suspects her husband is cheating on her. Von Buhler investigated the death of Houdini and based her story on true crime evidence.[18]

Evelyn Evelyn are a musical duo formed by Amanda Palmer (of The Dresden Dolls) and Jason Webley. According to the fictional backstory described by Palmer and Webley, the duo consists of conjoined twin sisters (aka "Eva" and "Lyn"), Evelyn and Evelyn Neville, who were discovered in 2007 by Palmer and Webley. The twins are actually portrayed by Palmer and Webley,[5] dressed in connected garments. Dark Horse Comics published a two book graphic novel encased in a hardcover sleeve, written by Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley and illustrated by von Buhler. The book had an afterword written by Neil Gaiman.

Graphic novel bibliography

Children's books

In 2001 von Buhler was asked by Steven Spielberg to illustrate Martha Stewart's story for Once Upon A Fairy Tale (Viking), a book produced to benefit The Starbright Foundation for seriously ill children.[19] In 2002, New York Public Library selected the "handsomely illustrated" (The New York Times)[20] They Called Her Molly Pitcher, written by Anne Rockwell and illustrated by von Buhler, as one of One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing.[21] In 2004, von Buhler went on to illustrate Nicolaus Copernicus: The Earth is a Planet. Reviews called her "dramatic oil-on-gesso artwork" (School Library Journal)[22] "handsome and effective" (Booklist). Publishers Weekly offered high praise for her work on the book: "Von Buhler's paintings exert a gravitational pull of their own."[23]

In 2006 von Buhler wrote and illustrated The Cat Who Wouldn't Come Inside with dual credits as author and illustrator. The book, based on a true story, featured painted clay characters in detailed architectural sets. Book Sense named the book as a Children's Pick for Winter/Spring 2006/2007 for its "beautiful story" and "extremely detailed sets."[24] Kirkus Reviews called the illustrations "unique" and "eye-popping," providing "a glimpse of a world beyond the frame" and pronounced the book "a sheer delight."[25] Publishers Weekly thought "readers ... may well be entranced" by the "considerable magic" of von Buhler's illustrations,[26] while Time Out New York called the book "beautifully ornate," and "the cat's meow." The book was also chosen as Teacher's Picks: Best of 2006 by Parent & Child magazine.[citation needed]

In 2009, von Buhler took a second turn as author and illustrator with But Who Will Bell The Cats?. The book's illustrations feature handmade architectural sets, cinematic lighting, and paper doll oil paintings of the characters in action. Kirkus Reviews stated that "young readers will pore over this one again and again,"[27] and School Library Journal agreed that "children will find a lot to discover in the details, even after repeated readings."[28] The Nassau County Museum of Art in New York exhibited the book's elaborate miniature sets in a solo exhibition between September 20, 2009 and January 3, 2010.[29] During the summer of 2010 Von Buhler exhibited the miniature sets in an animatronic window display that she created for Books of Wonder in Manhattan.[30] Time Out Kid's did a feature article on the window along with a slideshow showing von Buhler creating it.[31] Elizabeth Bird, a New York Public Librarian, posted a lengthy review of the book on her School Library Journal blog, "Is it wrong that I sometimes want to blow a four-year-old's mind? I've come to the decision that Cynthia von Buhler's But Who Will Bell the Cats? is going to be my library's secret weapon from here on in."[32]

Von Buhler has also illustrated dozens of young adult book covers including Queen's Own Fool by

Newbery medal winners, The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare[35] and The Perilous Guard by Elizabeth Marie Pope.[36]

Children's book bibliography

Children's book awards and honors

Fine art

Cynthia von Buhler on the cover of New York's Gallery Guide

In August 2001 she held an event at Castle von Buhler dubbed "The Great Purge" where she sold off most of her possessions.

bipartisan audio clips. The piece was created for "The Presidency" exhibit at Exit Art in Manhattan.[48] In 2005, von Buhler created a video for another exhibit at Exit Art, "The Studio Visit".[49] Her video was singled out by New York Times art critic Roberta Smith as one of the best.[50] She also was chosen by the art space to move her art studio to the gallery for a few months where she had to create her work in the window while people watched her through Exit Art's windows.[51] Her fine art appeared on TV in Law & Order SVU as the artwork of a serial killer, and in a fight scene of the show Kidnapped.[52] In March 2006, Art & Antiques named von Buhler as "one of the top contemporary surrealists."[53]
However, she has also been linked to the
Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and hundreds of personal collections.[37]

Solo exhibits

The Carrozzini von Buhler Gallery

The Carrozzini von Buhler Gallery, also known as CvB Space, an art gallery, film location, and event space in New York City's

Law & Order SVU, and Someone Like You (starring Ashley Judd, Hugh Jackman, and Greg Kinnear) and will be appearing in No Reservations (starring Catherine Zeta-Jones
). CvB Space has become CvB Spaces, a location leasing agency for film and photography shoots. Von Buhler is the president of CvB Spaces

Illustration

In the mid-nineties, she and Adam Buhler a.k.a. Adam von Buhler bought a large purple

Stratocaster guitar as the singer's spine and the piece was set on fire. Both paintings are now in the collection of Jann Wenner.[66]

Illustration awards and honors

Music

At the same time she changed her name, von Buhler became involved in the music industry. She started a

The Whitney Museum in New York City stopped by looking for artists to be featured in their Whitney Biennial exhibit.,[74] The house became well known for von Buhler's unique parties and art exhibits.[71]

Discography

  • 2001 Shooting Star, Countess, Castle von Buhler Records (Funded by MCA Records)
  • 1999 Nigh, art and music compilation, AIDS benefit, producer and contributor
  • 1997 Anon, art and music compilation, AIDS Action Committee benefit, producer and contributor
  • 1997 Boots, Women of Sodom, PussyKitty Records/Castle von Buhler Records
  • 1996 Soon, art and music compilation, AIDS Action Committee benefit, producer and contributor

Awards

Parties

Von Buhler is renowned for throwing lavish, circus-themed parties. These parties started in

BP Oil Spill victims von Buhler created an oil-slick mermaid installation featuring live models.[83] The party was attended by many literary luminaries: Lemony Snicket, Neil Gaiman, Jonathan Ames, Michael Chabon, Adele Griffin and others.[84] Scenes from the rooftop merry-go-round, von Buhler's art, and Empire Snafu Restoration Project art were used in Salman Rushdie's book trailer for Luka and the Fire of Life. A few of the party guests were also chosen as actors for the trailer.[85]

References

  1. ^ a b c Teaching Books (retrieved December 17, 2010)
  2. ^ a b Barron, James (7 June 2012). "Using a Dollhouse to Reconstruct a Murder, 77 Years Later". Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  3. ^ a b Carolyn Rogalsky (November 2006). "Come Inside, Kitty – Meet Cynthia von Buhler, artist, author, and animal lover". Scholastic Parent & Child. Scholastic Inc. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  4. ^ a b ArtBite, (February 14, 2012)
  5. ^ "Graduating to next stage". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  6. ^ Lesley University (retrieved December 17, 2010). Cynthia von Buhler Archived 2011-06-15 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "What Inequality?". 19 July 2011. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  8. ^ (Arcanalogue, November 2009).Interview: Cynthia von Buhler Revisits The Shakespeare Oracle
  9. ^ a b Cynthia von Buhler (June 2001).Royally F**ked Manifesto
  10. ^ Entertainment Today (October 1998).Down For The Countess Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ a b ""The Improper Bostonian", (June 1999)". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  12. ^ a b Entertainment Today (October 1998).Down For The Countess Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ a b c "Speakeasy Dollhouse". www.speakeasydollhouse.com. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  14. ^ Cvb (2012-04-03). "A Gurney For Grandpa". Cynthia von Buhler. Retrieved 2016-07-23.
  15. ^ "Speakeasy Dollhouse". Kickstarter. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  16. ^ "Brown Paper Tickets - Speakeasy Dollhouse". www.brownpapertickets.com. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  17. ^ "Of Dolls & Murder II - a Documentary Film Sequel". Kickstarter. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  18. ^ "EVIDENCE". THE GIRL WHO HANDCUFFED HOUDINI. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  19. ISBN 0670035009
  20. ^ The New York Times (Oct 20, 2002). Children's Books, Bookshelf
  21. ^ New York Public Library (2002)Children's Books, 2002: One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing
  22. ^ School Library Journal (2004).
  23. ^ Publishers Weekly (January 2004).
  24. ^ Book Sense Children's Picks (December 14, 2006).The Winter 2006/2007 Book Sense Children's Picks
  25. ^ "THE CAT WHO WOULDN'T COME INSIDE by Cynthia Von Buhler, Cynthia Von Buhler - Kirkus Reviews". Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  26. ^ Cvb (6 September 2006). "Extra! Extra!: The Reviews Are Coming!". Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  27. ^ "BUT WHO WILL BELL THE CATS? by Cynthia Von Buhler, Cynthia Von Buhler - Kirkus Reviews". Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  28. ^ School Library Journal (September 2009).
  29. ^ Jennifer Taber, Houghton Mifflin (August 2009).But Who Will Bell the Cats? Press Release
  30. ^ "Books of Wonder (July 1, 2010)". Archived from the original on 1 March 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  31. ^ Time Out Kids (July 2010). Illustrator Cynthia von Buhler's window displays An artist brings her latest feline-centric story to life at Chelsea's Books of Wonder. Archived 2010-08-09 at the Wayback Machine
  32. ^ School Library Journal (September 3, 2009).Review of the Day. Archived 2011-07-26 at the Wayback Machine
  33. ISBN 0-698-11918-5
    .
  34. ^ Scott O'Dell, The Road to Damietta, Graphia (October 25, 2004) [3],
    ISBN 0-618-49493-6
  35. ISBN 0-395-13719-5
    .
  36. ISBN 0-618-15073-0
    .
  37. ^ a b c d e f "The Curriculum Vitae of Von Buhler (retrieved December 17, 2010)". Archived from the original on 14 August 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  38. ^ The Boston Globe (August 2002). "Bras, bones, goth, all go" Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
  39. ^ The Boston Globe (July 2002). Go! Weekend Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
  40. ^ The Improper Bostonian (July 24 – August 6, 2002). Fond Farewell Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
  41. ^ "The Boston Phoenix (August 2002)". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  42. ^ The Boston Globe (July 2002).Go! Weekend Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
  43. ^
    ISBN 0-9760851-1-9
    .
  44. ^ Gallery Guide New York (October 2005). Cynthia von Buhler
  45. ^ Communication Arts (March/April 2002). Cynthia von Buhler Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
  46. ^ NY Arts (January/February 2007).Cynthia von Buhler
  47. ^ Cynthia von Buhler's website (November 2004).Step Right Up Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
  48. ^ Exit Art (October 2 – November 21, 2004).The Presidency Archived 2011-07-23 at the Wayback Machine
  49. ^ YouTube (May 11, 2007). Studio Visit
  50. ^ The New York Times(February 24, 2006).Art in Review
  51. ^ Time Out New York (January 19, 2006).3 Questions for Cynthia von Buhler, Artist in the window
  52. ^ Kidnapped, NBC Episode: "Burn, Baby, Burn"
  53. ^ Art & Antiques (March 2006). What's New in the Surreal World
  54. ^ PR Newswire (May 12, 2009). [5] Archived 2012-10-22 at the Wayback Machine Noted Southern California Art Dealer Brings His Passion and His Stable of Lowbrow/Pop Culture Artists to Dallas
  55. ^ "Press Release Page". presspasspage.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2016-07-24.
  56. ^ hannahgoldstein (3 August 2007). "NYC Andy Warhol Event on Fuji Television Network in Japan". Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved 17 August 2018 – via YouTube.
  57. ^ "TeachingBooks.net Audio Name Pronunciation - Cynthia von Buhler". www.teachingbooks.net. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  58. ^ Communication Arts (March/April 2002). Cynthia von Buhler Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
  59. ^ NY Arts (January/February 2007). Cynthia von Buhler
  60. ^ The Lifetime Network (Premiered April 1995, DVD 2006).Mary Magdalen: An Intimate Portrait
  61. ISBN 0-670-87183-4
    .
  62. ^ "Cynthia von Buhler". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  63. ^ (Arcanalogue, November 2009).Interview: Cynthia von Buhler Revisits The Shakespeare Oracle
  64. ^ Spears, Britney (3 December 2010). "100 Greatest Artists: #36 Madonna". rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  65. ^ Mayer, John (3 December 2010). "100 Greatest Artists: #6 Jimi Hendrix". www.rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2012-08-17. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  66. ^ NY Arts (January/February 2007).Cynthia von Buhler
  67. ^ a b c "Welcome - SILA - The Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles". SILA - The Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  68. ^ American Illustration/American Photography Archived 2010-12-20 at the Wayback Machine (retrieved December 17, 2010)
  69. ^ (May 23, 1997). "Best Music Poll" Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine. The Boston Phoenix
  70. ^ "Boots". Retrieved 17 August 2018 – via Amazon.
  71. ^ a b The Boston Globe (October 7, 2004)Step Right Up Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
  72. ^ Entertainment Today (October 1998).Down For The Countess Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
  73. ^ Boston Magazine (June 2002). 40 Bostonians We Love, Cynthia von Buhler #26 Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
  74. ^ a b c The Boston Globe (March 30, 2000).Original Cynthia Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
  75. ^ a b c "The Boston Phoenix (October 26, 2001)". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  76. ^ The Improper Bostonian (December 1999). Meet The Countess Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
  77. ^ YouTube (May 4, 2007).Do The Devil
  78. ^ New York Arts (September 2001)Total Gonzo, The Countess Cynthia von Buhler Festival Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
  79. ^ "Countess Official Website". Archived from the original on 24 April 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  80. ^ The Boston Phoenix (May 23, 1997). Best Music Poll Archived 2011-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
  81. ISBN 1-59582-578-9
  82. ^ School Library Journal (October 12, 2010). "I’ve Been to a Marvelous Party" Archived 2010-10-19 at the Wayback Machine
  83. ^ hannahgoldstein (25 September 2010). "Oil Spill Mermaid by Cynthia Von Buhler". Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved 17 August 2018 – via YouTube.
  84. ^ Cvb (8 October 2010). "Cynthia von Buhler: The Theme was FREAKS! Which Really Means: Be Yourself". Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  85. ^ The New Yorker, November 11, 2010.Salman's Story[permanent dead link]

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cynthia Von Buhler.

Theater productions web sites

Graphic novels web sites

Children's books web sites

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