The Archives of the Strange & Unusual

08/31/2026

ARTIST CALL, Y'ALL! Please share with your friends.

Hey, Besties! The Archives of the Strange & Unusual always has room for Strange and Unusual art! That means if you make ANYTHING in the gothic, cottagecore, circus/sideshow/carnival, steampunk, rockabilly, magikal, witchy, fae, etc. aesthetic, shoot us a message or come by and talk to us- we want you at The Archives!

Space rental and commission available. If you are an artist but need help figuring out how to market your art and get prints and stickers, we may be able to help. Don't let that prevent you from getting your art out there!

Handmade toys by Possum Hands

08/31/2026

Spooky season is practically upon us! (For some of us that is 24/7/365, lol.) If you are planning on coming to Pumpkin Fest (Oct. 17) and Krampusnacht (Dec. 5), it's time to start thinking about costumes!

What is everyone going to be?

08/31/2026

"What she taught me is to feel that you are part of this place. Not a visitor."

-Craig Foster, My Octopus Teacher

Just a reminder today that we are all Home, and we are all in this together.

Sculpture by Laurie Beegle

08/27/2026

OMG!!!
THIS FRIDAY!
TOYBOX THEATRE is hosting Asheville Vaudeville!!!
And as always, at every Vaudeville show, I will be presenting a BRAND NEW!! WORLD PREMIER PUPPET SHOW!!!
This is gonna be a good one.
DO NOT MISS IT!!

08/27/2026

"She sees the little lost one everywhere,
eyes on the dead moths

across her ceiling. In ten years’ time she will
remind me of this. How could I forget?

Rosy maple moths the colour of
Battenbergs perched on a fingertip.

House moths she always preserved in the most
gothic ways, carrying them with her.

A weaver’s wave moth, with an arrhythmic
flutter. The one that found her in the

countryside, the day she finally cried
and I wasn’t there.

The moth tattoo on her arm will be thick, bold,
macabre and feminine. Warm eyes

like hers on its wings. The ink line
bumps will feel like scars, something

we both know well.
I will trace it

in this imaginary future, on her baby’s
would-be anniversary

thinking how the word moth is
half mother,

motherhood a scar on her chest
she’s had as long as she can remember,

And how we always said things in halves,
leaving the rest up to interpretation.

Moths always scared me.
Now I think of them often.

Souls take many shapes, and what a privilege
for them to be drawn to her.

Always a bold, strong,
lovely thing."

-Kayleigh Jayshree

New work by Laurie Beegle, available at The Archives of the Strange & Unusual.

08/24/2026

"There is a girl inside.
She is randy as a wolf.
She will not walk away and leave these bones
to an old woman.
She is a green tree in a forest of kindling.
She is a green girl in a used poet.

She has waited patient as a nun
for the second coming,
when she can break through gray hairs
into blossom

and her lovers will harvest
honey and thyme
and the woods will be wild
with the damn wonder of it."
- Lucille Clifton

Adorn yourself in magic and poetry- new jewelry by Kristina Gray, available at The Archives of the Strange & Unusual.

08/24/2026

Congratulations Kalab Klass !

Congratulations to Mr. Sylva Pride 2026: Kalab Klass
Thank you to all of our absolutely lovely contestants: Charlie London, Liam Scott, Robert! Thank you to our distinguished panel of judges: Ida Carolina, Viv Wildcatt, Sya Cox Ohara, Ethan Lane Fletcher, Logan Glamoure Scott! And thank you to our community partner Calliope Stage! Full results in the morning!

Contestant 1 - Kalab Klass | 183
Contestant 2 - McKenzie Taylor | 122
Contestant 3 - Liam Scott | 149
Contestant 4 - Charlie London | 168

08/24/2026

08/24/2026

UP NEXT - World Oddities Expo
September 5-6 in Savannah, GA
September 12-13 in Atlanta, GA

Got some special things to debut at these shows, so stay tuned!

08/22/2026

Please do us a favor and report the copycat account. The real Rick StrongBack has no space between Strong and Back. Thank you for supporting artists!

ALERT, there is an impersonator account stealing my content. Go report their page
https://www.facebook.com/share/1DMNoH1Noh/