Catacomb Hearts
HISTORY
In mid-May 2021, I traveled to Nyack, New York for a business meeting with Morgana Brennan. On my three hour flight, I began reading Heavenly Bodies by Dr. Paul Koudounaris. I had owned the book for a few months, but this was the first opportunity to actually tuck in to a good read. I was captivated. Ensorcelled. Wow, what an incredible, stranger-than-fiction true history, and a very illuminating look at the power of glamour, in both it’s ancient and modern meanings. I stayed with Morgana that weekend at her home, and I regaled her with stories of the catacomb saints……and her mother, her son, and pretty much anyone else that would listen to me ramble on. Everyone agreed that they were quite spectacular. At the end of my trip, Morgana suggested I create some catacomb saints. Not just jewelry inspired by the catacomb saints, but actual jeweled skeletons in full regalia. I sputtered excuses. “What do you mean? I have no idea how to make one of those!” etc etc. I finished Heavenly Bodies on the trip back to New Orleans. When I reached the last page, I knew the die had been cast. That was it; I was doing it. I was already planning the outfits. But of course, I had to put my own little spin on things. My two great passions in life are glamour and alternative rock and roll. So I couldn’t just create random, garden variety saints. My catacomb saints had to be from the Church of Rock and Roll. And thus, the idea for Catacomb Hearts was born. Three holy relics from the Church of Rock (Saint Fortissima, patron saint of Loud, Saint Sonic, patron saint of Audiophiles and Sound Engineers, and the sacred hand of Saint Axe, patron saint of guitarists) as an art installment, plus a catacomb saints inspired line of clothing, jewelry and accessories.
THE SAINTS
Saint Fortissma is the patron saint of Loud. Her hallowed Bejeweled Guitar transfigures the previously overlooked, the hidden, and the meek, making lions out of lamb. Pray unto her and sayest not that girls can’t rock.
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Saint Sonic is the patron saint of audiophiles and sound engineers. Saint Sonic, with his Sacred Cigarette and Holy Highball, rests eternally at the mixing board, rewarding supplicants with patience and purity of sound.
The sacred Hand of Saint Axe, patron saint of guitarists, holds aloft the gleaming Pick of Piety. Its beauty blinds evildoers and those who dare to replicate guitar tracks with a synthesizer. The Hand of Saint Axe blesses those about to rock, and salutes them.
THANKS AND PRAISE
The Catacomb Hearts Project was made possible by kind people enabling my madness and so massive thank yous to:
Morgana Brennan, Emery Zuk, Patricia Brennan, and the über-foxy team at Modern Druid, the sophisticated and urbane magical lifestyle store that has encouraged and facilitated all of this skullduggery.
Stephanie and Victor Furious of The Furious Design, the greatest web and design duo anyone could ask for.
Big, big gratitude to Rob Ward, my Union brother and pop-up interior designer, for his kindness and willingness to help me create this monster.
Shawn Hayden for the gift of her beautiful calligraphy on the “Holy Documents”.
Squid and Kaitie, my lovely and talented assistants who knock it out of the park on a weekly basis. Cheyenne Buchanan and Jessa for being my last minute Angels of the Needle.
Aries Photography New Orleans, for the stunning images, and the beautiful Gwendolyn Mann.
Derek Hirons, for the epic donation of his electric guitar.
Last, but not least, all my friends and acquaintances for the encouragement and love.