Celebrating ‘Eraserhead’ in Eraserhood

The Philadelphia Mausoleum of Contemporary Art, better known as PhilaMOCA, is hosting a David Lynch party.
Credit: Laura Jane Brubaker

If you’re going to throw a party that celebrates the oddities of David Lynch through film, stage and gallery, PhilaMOCA — i.e., The Philadelphia Mausoleum of Contemporary Art —would be just the spot to do it. The art venue was once a showroom for tombstones and the like. Not to mention the fact that it’s sitting in the heart of the Eraserhood — an area once home to Lynch himself, and an inspiration for his movie “Eraserhead.” PhilaMOCA’s Eraserhood Forever (and Ever) pays homage to the man and the city, and it’s attracting all the weirdos.

“This kind of programming is right up our alley, really. We kind of embrace that weirdness,” says Chip Schwartz, who is curating the art portion of the show. To up the bizarre factor, there will be live burlesque performances and Silencio and Weird Hot from Pittsburgh and Philly, respectively, playing covers of Lynch soundtracks.

“I came up with the idea for a David Lynch-themed celebration of the neighborhood and I always wanted it to be something other than a typical movie screening,” says PhilaMOCA director Eric Bresler. “The goal was to try to capture the ambiance of his films through interior decor and a variety of live performers.”

Last year was the first run of the Lynch fanatic’s dream party. But its popularity demanded a rerun. “Last year’s response was pretty unreal – which I suppose seems appropriate,” says Schwartz. “It was probably PhilaMOCA’s biggest single event to date and it really showed how much love for surreal cinema and art still pumps through the city’s veins.”

Based on last year’s turnout and the anticipation for the 2013 installment, it’s obvious that Lynch lovers, surrealists, and curious Philadelphians are into the idea of keeping the city weird. “I think the greatest success of last year’s event was how we managed to capture that very specific mixture of comedy/drama/creepiness that embodies Lynch’s films. That’s what I kept in mind when programming the entertainment for this second installment,” Bresler says.

Eraserhood Forever (and Ever)
Friday, 6-11:30 p.m.
PhilaMOCA
531 N. 12th St.
$10, 267-519-9651
www.philamoca.org