You know me, oddlings. I’m rather reclusive and shy. But the delightful Max Specht from the organization Mind Your Mind interviewed me on his blog and I am absolutely thrilled about it.
You can read the interview here: http://mindyourmind-ca.tumblr.com/post/11732805583/a-sit-down-with-the-odd-luminary
I have copied the bulk of the interview here. Do check out Mind Your Mind and Max’s blog, it’s a wonderful organization.
In my journeys across the web, I stumbled across The Odd Luminary. Which is a curio shop from Brooklyn that specializes in some of the finest art pieces. After taking a look around their website — which is something I would high recommend, it is filled with fantastic and unique pieces of art that you won’t find anywhere else — I decided to ask if The Luminary himself would partake in a few questions. He was kind enough to do so and here I present you with our conversation:
As The Odd Luminary it would be hard to define who you are without your help, how would you describe yourself?
I am an insufferably curious old gent. I revel in the odd and the eccentric. I often think the ugly is beautiful, that the creepy is the terrific, and I am constantly searching for things that are wondrous and strange. I love stories, history, and traveling. I’m a bit of a recluse and sometimes am rather grumpy.
At what point did you realize that you were so ‘odd’?
I think on some level I’ve always known that I’m rather against the grain. I’ve always been drawn to the odd and the off-kilter. And I think that’s wonderful! How boring would we be if we all liked the same things? It does make me feel awfully happy to know that there are so many other people who enjoy the weirdly wonderful things I enjoy.
Your pet owl Bubo, how did the two of you meet?
Bubo and I met one inky night in the Yukon Territory. I was late for a date with a Yeti and Bubo was dancing in the Aurora Borealis. Needless to say, we’ve not been apart since. She is my best friend and makes me laugh. She has a wicked sense of humor but is also incredibly sweet.
It’s no secret that your house is filled with odd creatures and curios, what’s one of your favorite encounters in your household?
One of the things that is so wonderful about my household is that every day is different. I might wake to find that Bubo has convinced all of the dragons in the Laboratory to fly backwards for the day. My brother Mordecai gave me wall paper that changes color depending on your mood, which is amazing, though I can not sleep in that room because of all the activity on the walls! I must say, though, the day that Bubo and I discovered the subterranean canal that runs beneath the house was an incredibly exciting day. The possibilities!
What do you do when you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed?
It’s so easy to get stressed out and overwhelmed these days, isn’t it? It sometimes feels like it’s impossible to just take a break and be quiet for a moment. There are two things that work well for me when I’m feeling out of control: I stop whatever I’m doing, turn off the television or radio (anything that’s making noise) and make myself a cup of tea. Even if I don’t drink the tea, the very ritual of boiling the water and selecting a tea bag calms me down and gives me some breathing space. Concentrating on something mindless helps calm my mind as well. The other thing that helps calm me is a simple totem that I keep in my pocket. I have a small stone that I drew a picture of Bubo on. When I get overwhelmed, I rub the stone. Nobody has to know it’s in my pocket and it calms me down. It’s comforting.
How would you describe your collection of art work? And what is exactly there?
The collection of art in my house is slightly off-kilter. It is dark, whimsical, and strange. There are sculptures, furry monsters, one-of-a-kind jewelry, museum-quality prints of photographs and paintings, pottery with faces, and gorgeous metal objects. My collection celebrates monsters both fearsome and fabulous and showcases artists from around the world who create the most amazing pieces by hand. Each object tells a story and that is what I love – strange and wondrous stories.
Given your fascination with definitions and terms, what are some of the best words to describe who you are and what you do?
I’m an explorer of the obscure, and my fascination with words is included in my explorations. Some of the best words to describe me might be are
Selcouth, which is an adjective meaning unusual, strange, rare, uncommon or wonderful and
Outre, which is an adjective meaning passing the bounds of what is usual or considered proper; unconventional; bizarre.
