Weird and Wild: The Oddities & Curiosities Expo creeps into Pittsburgh’s David Lawrence Convention Center
The Oddities & Curiosities Expo will have people of all ages gawking in wide-eyed fascination at some of the weirder objects that will be for sale at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center on the weekend of Aug. 24.
Items run the gamut when it comes to creepy, so if you’re searching for a gift for that special someone who seems to have everything, you’re likely to discover something unique at the show. For instance, say you have friends who absolutely adore Halloween, they may enjoy a few funeral collectibles, or a craft constructed of skulls and bones. Squirrels stealing your birdseed? A taxidermized one might be just the thing to tickle your fancy.
Michelle Cozzaglio, co-owner and creator of The Oddities & Curiosities Expo, wants people to understand that no animals were hurt to make the items that are being sold.
“I’m a vegan and no animals were killed for our show. Our vendors give these animals another purpose in the afterlife, whether it is beauty preserved in a jar, or used in an art piece,” she said, adding that taxidermy mounts, along with skulls, and bones, for instance, are vintage and purchased from old collections.
“Vendors buy them and resell them; they also come from places like vet clinics and farms, and some are even roadkill,” she added, mentioning that larger pieces include giraffes and African animals like hyenas.
Michelle created The Oddities Expo with her husband Tony in Tulsa in 2017, and it has been going strong ever since.
“I’m a collector of strange and unusual items myself, so when it took off, we were inspired to hold more,” she said, reporting that their first show featured 25 vendors and attracted 2,000 people. “Now we attract about 20,000,” she said, adding that she usually attends all the shows with her small team to ensure that everything runs smoothly.
Vendor Impressions
Jeff Bertrand is a Pittsburgh vendor who makes folk art that he describes as “dark” and “spooky.”
“I use untraditional surfaces like Ouija boards, meat cleavers, axes and gas cans and focus on pop-art imagery,” he said, adding that he tries to inject a little humor in his pieces as well.
Bertrand said that it’s not just that he meets other vendors from all over the United States and Canada, but also that the organizers ensure a seamless experience.
“They really are top tier, and they take care of their vendors and attendees,” said Bertrand, adding that the variety of talented artists and makers is outstanding. “It’s hands-down my favorite event and I plan on attending as many as I can moving forward.”
Alexandra Milidrag of Blossom & Burr makes soy candles with organic herbs and crystals.
“We pour them into vintage silver plate vessels and beeswax ‘hand candles’ based on the Hand of Glory from European folklore,” said Milidrag. The Pittsburgh resident also sells electroformed jewelry and wands, constructed with insects, small bones, and other elements she finds in nature.
Milidrag said that when making one’s way through the expo, the best laid plans often go awry.
“Even if you set out to systematically work your way through the booths, something will catch your eye, like a taxidermized grouse elegantly adorned in Victorian mourning dress, or an antique, hand-beaded Mardi Gras mask made with real dog teeth. You’ll most likely abandon your plan and come away with a small haul of treasures from the various vendors,” she said.
Milidrag also praises Cozzaglio.
“She cares deeply for the event and the community of artists and vendors they’ve gathered. Because of this, we try to make each show a little bit better than the last,” she said.
Cozzaglio said that it’s all in a day’s work and that she hopes attendees will make a day of it.
“We always have open concessions so that if people are hungry, they can take a break and have a bite to eat,” she said, noting guests can also spend time watching what she calls a “cool, old-school style” sideshow.
Classes will also be held onsite for those who are interested in butterfly pinning and preservation, or taxidermy. The butterfly-pinning class will focus on pinning techniques, ethical considerations, drying, mounting, and displaying. The taxidermy class will teach students the history of taxidermy, its evolution as an art form and mounting, painting, and detailing techniques.
Cozzaglio said that the couple prides themselves on the expo being a safe place for anyone to come and discover new artists, meet new friends, and be surrounded by a community of like-minded people.
“We find so much joy in being able to provide a place where people can feel at home, surrounded by others who share the same interests,” she said.
If you go:
DATE: Saturday, Aug. 24 and Sunday, Aug. 25
TIME: Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
LOCATION: David L. Lawrence Convention Center
ENTRY COST: $10 advance / $15 days of
Kids 12 and under free (no ticket needed)
BUY TICKETS: https://www.showpass.com/pittsburgh-oddities-curiosities-expo-2024/