The Grotesque 10

The word "grotesque" has gathered quite a compelling connotation through the years. While it has come to mean something disgusting and horrifying, it would not be valid to use the word repellent in a list of synonyms. Like a car accident that is at once horrible yet holds our attention as we drive by, the word has intense negative yet alluring qualities. In architectural terms, a grotesque is a sculptural decoration on or in a building. This is not as horrifying as the colloquial definition but can be just as engaging. These sculptures can be focal points of humor, historic commentary, school spirit, lessons in morality as well as the hidden thoughts and desires of their creators. Grotesques occur in such variety that they are an unending source of fascination and inspiration for those persistent enough to seek them out. A place where grotesques are known to congregate is on certain college and university campuses. Mathew Duman been to ten such campuses where they can occur frequently as a feature of a historic architectural style known as Collegiate Gothic. What schools make up the Grotesque 10? Duke University Durham, North Carolina Northwestern University Evanston, Illinois Yale University New Haven, Connecticut Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis, Missouri Princeton University Princeton, New Jersey Trinity College Hartford, Connecticut The University of Chicago Chicago, Illinois The City College of New York New York City, New York Bryn Mawr College Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Throughout its 300 pages, this softcover book contains over 500 original black and white photographs. While some show examples of Collegiate Gothic architecture and its many interesting characteristics, most of the images in this book showcase the variety of grotesques you can find on a visit to these campuses.

Engineer, Baskerville Hall, The City College of New York

The astronomer who caught a falling star. Shepard Hall, The City College of New York

How could anyone skinny-dip in the fountain in this courtyard with HIM looking at you?? cloisters, The Old Library, Bryn Mawr College

When snakes fly!!! The Old Library cloisters, Bryn Mawr College

A first year medical student at his first cadaver dissection? Davison Building, Duke University

"Then he got an idea. An awful idea. The Grinch got a wonderful, AWFUL idea! " Few Quadrangle, Duke University

At sundown, listen for the Howler Cat's melodic yowl signaling the end of the day at Duke. Kilgo Quadrangle, Duke University

Aesop says: "Haste makes waste". Deering Library, Northwestern University

The armor of God, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Northwestern University

This professor is reputed to be lecturing on Darwin. Dillon Gymnasium, Princeton University

To those who served, Foulke Hall, Princeton University

Daredevil sweethearts, The Old Graduate College, Princeton University

Celebrating co-education at Trinity, Seabury Hall, Trinity College

A Trinity student, Chapel cloister, Trinity College

Sir 'Stache-a-lot, Wieboldt Hall, The University of Chicago

Irvine, auditorium, caricature, Pennsylvania, university

Party like its 1755! Residence Quadrangle, University of Pennsylvania

Medusa always needs an industrial grade hairnet, Residence Quadrangle, University of Pennsylvania.

Brookings Hall, Washington University in St. Louis

Pepe's and Sally's apizza, Pauli Murray College, Yale University

Icarus on Benjamin Franklin College, Yale University

Baskerville Hall, The City College of New York

New York City, New York

Shepard Hall, The City College of New York

New York City, New York

The Old Library, Bryn Mawr College

Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

The Old Library, Bryn Mawr College

Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

Davison Building, Duke University

Durham, North Carolina

Few Quadrangle, Duke University

Durham, North Carolina

Kilgo Quadrangle, Duke University

Durham, North Carolina

Deering Library, Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

Dillon Gymnasium, Princeton University

Princeton, New Jersey

Foulke Hall, Princeton University

Princeton, New Jersey

The Old Graduate College, Princeton University

Princeton, New Jersey

Seabury Hall, Trinity College

Hartford, Connecticut

Chapel cloister, Trinity College

Hartford, Connecticut

Culver Hall, The University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

Wieboldt Hall, The University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

Irvine Auditorium, University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Residence Quadrangle, University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Brookings Hall, Washington University in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri

Pauli Murray College, Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut

Benjamin Franklin College, Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut

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Mathew Duman tour outfit Yale University is a great place to spy a wide variety of types of grotesque in their natural habitat as well as an intriguing case study in Collegiate Gothic architecture. Mathew Duman leads walking tours of Yale’s campus located in New Haven, Connecticut. He prefers to call these tours "Grotesque Safaris”, so don’t be surprised to find him leading this trek in a safari outfit and pith helmet!

On his safaris, Mathew points out many of the grotesques and gargoyles that originally inspired him to explore this and other campuses. Those who have never been will find a visit to Yale’s campus to be a fascinating combination of academics, history, art and architecture. Even those who are familiar with the campus will find that there are still many discoveries yet to be made as many of these sculptures still go unnoticed by campus visitors and locals alike. Either way, searching out these works of art can be as much fun as appreciating them!

High Street entrance of the Sterling Law Building

The entrance to a cathedral? No, its Yale’s Sterling Memorial Library!

Yale Law School displays the vices of man, at street level!

Mathew continues his “grotesque safari” in the form of a lecture in which he highlights a variety of architectural sculpture from each school of the Grotesque 10. He also points out many curious aspects of the Collegiate Gothic style of architecture and shows how these features are meant to enhance an institution's identity both on and off the campus. His talk is accompanied by a slide presentation full of examples of his original photography which offer an up close look at this amazing sculpture.

Mathew Duman lectures on the Grotersque 10.

Mathew M. Duman is a photographer, graphic designer and writer who grew up in Bethany, Connecticut. He attended the grotesque-free campus of Central Connecticut State University but studied abroad in Italy and Britain as well. While in Europe, he developed a fascination with the features of medieval architecture. After graduation, Mathew continued exploring with photographic trips to Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Back in the United States Mathew began exploring the relationship between the medieval architecture of Europe and collegiate architecture in the United States.

Mathew possesses limitless curiosity as well as a appreciation of irony and the comedic. These concepts became key factors in shaping his perspective on this type of sculpture and are a driving force in his exploration of the grotesque.

For more information on Mathew's books, lectures, walking tours, etc.,
please email him at: mathew.duman@thegrotesque10.com.

Grotesque, gargoyle, photographer, designer or author? Take your pick!

An Education in the Grotesque: the Gargoyles of Yale University

Mathew began his foray into grotesque sculpture by wandering amidst the Collegiate Gothic buildings of Yale University. There he began photographing and researching these structures and their features, resulting in his first book: An Education in the Grotesque: The Gargoyles of Yale University, which is available at www.yalegargoyles.com.

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