The Owlery

By Madison Hall

Maxine Kramer’s piece “The Night is Dark and Full of Tarots”, stands out among the somber style of artwork on the café walls. Featuring brightly colored tarot cards, each card represents power, strength, family and death.

Kramer’s piece was part of Milk and Honey’s second themed-art show, “The Night is Dark and Full of Terrors,” based on “Game of Thrones,” transforming the quiet, urban café into a medieval fantasy land.

Kate Eagle, a 2011 University of the Arts illustration alumna, hosted the event and displayed her artwork, “Damaged Survivors.” Based on the novels by George R.R. Martin, “Game of Thrones” centers on nine noble families trying to overthrow each other in order to claim the throne. There’s power, betrayal, sex and violence.

“It’s everything you want in a show,” Eagle said. “With everything uncensored, it ends up being a screwed-up series, but that’s what makes it appealing. Your entire world will turn upside down.”

After the success of the first themed exhibit based on “Harry Potter,” Eagle decided to host a similar show, and the “Game of Thrones” exhibit was born. She invited artists from the previous exhibit, along with friends she had made during her time at the University of the Arts.

The only guidelines for artists was staying with the “Game of Thrones” theme and creating work under 16 inches. From paper-cut to water color, the show featured work from Annebelle Buck, Maria DiLeva and Alex Eckman-Lawn.

Eckman-Lawn, a friend of Eagle, featured his work in the Harry Potter exhibit and saw “The Night is Dark” as an opportunity to showcase his work to a broad audience.

Based on the theme of impending doom, Eckman-Lawn created his paper cut design “Doom Fortold.” Encased in a small, black frame, the piece features six dire wolves and a three-eyed crow, imagery relating to both the theme and Eckman-Lawn’s artistic aesthetic.

Buck, a 2011 English alumna, featured her watercolor work, “The Death of Lady Stark” and helped coordinate the event with Eagle. While Eagle created a social media platform for the event and corresponded with artists, Buck repainted the cafe walls, hung the artwork and shared her ideas.

The pair also created artwork on the windows, using shades of grey and white paint to depict a dire wolf and a dragon.

The exhibit will be on display until January. Artwork is available for purchase online at the Milk and Honey Facebook page. The cafe plans to hold their third themed art show in late spring based on “Alice in Wonderland.”

Madison Hall can be reached at madison.hall@temple.edu