I paid my first visit to that “Gallery of the Peculiar and the Bizarre,” the Oddporium, on Marsh Road in Arden. Wow! I happened to have my kids with me and we spent quite a while exploring the weird and wonderful finds that owners Ken Schuler and Beth Ann Busch have collected and displayed. Some of the unique oddities include:
vintage embalming fluid bottles • a one-eyed pig in a jar • mourning pins • cabinet cards • medical tools • creepy photographs • old dolls • a real human skeleton • an embalmed cobra • old skulls, bones, and teeth • insects mounted in shadowboxes
The Oddporium not only carries objects suitable for a cabinet of curiosities, but also sells original artwork from local artists. I quickly discovered my new favorite artist, Gus Fink. I took photos of my two favorite pieces, as seen below.

Gus Fink artwork at the Oddporium

Gus Fink artwork at the Oddporium
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While there, I asked Ken if he thought my painting, Memento Mori #1, would be suitable for consignment at his shop. He said yes so we started the paperwork.

Memento Mori #1, detail
Just as we were finishing up, an interesting fellow came in and bought the painting! I was so shocked. But I was also really happy that someone else in the world like this painting since my husband hates it. (When I asked him to hang it up on the wall he said, “You mean right here where someone can see it?!”)

Memento Mori #1, a mixed media painting by Karen Furst of Trilby Works
Now, off to create more in this series. Sorry, husband, you’ll be seeing more of these soon.