“Bite Me” Vampire Exhibit Featuring a Special Lecture by Dacre Stoker

Did you know there are descendants of Bram Stoker alive today? One of these family members is Dacre Stoker who is the great grandnephew of the notorious Dracula author. He’s taken up the mantle as overseer of the Stoker legacy and, together with his wife Jenne, manages the Bram Stoker Estate. For years, he’s been traveling worldwide, giving presentations on his ancestor and the creation of Dracula and his other literary works. The Menagerie Oddities Market sponsored his most recent tour across California, and he delivered a fascinating lecture at the SugarMynt Gallery in Pasadena. This was done in conjunction with the gallery’s latest art show, the “Bite Me” Vampire Exhibit. It was an evening fit for the undead, and I’m here to share it with you.

I was beyond thrilled for an opportunity to meet and witness the “Stoker on Stoker” lecture given by Dacre Stoker. There was no recording permitted during the talk, but guests were allowed to take photos of some of the slides being shown. Dacre let the audience in on intriguing details about his great granduncle. For instance, Bram was quite ill as a child and bedridden for the first seven years of his life, so he didn’t have a normal upbringing. Being Irish, he also grew up hearing tales of Irish folklore, which were filled with ghouls and goblins. In retrospect, it makes sense these would be a few of the experiences to fuel his imagination and inspire him to later write a story with death as a main theme.

Dacre also shared his assumption that Bram underwent hirudotherapy for his sickness, which consisted of bloodletting with leeches and was a common practice at the time for treating various ailments. His deduction is the experience with these bloodsucking parasites was a likely source of inspiration for the vampire Count Dracula. Dacre has spent years doing in-depth research on his predecessor, tracking down archives held at the London Library, going through family papers, reviewing Bram’s personal Dracula notes, and analyzing his great granduncle’s lost journal. The amount of investigating he’s done has been no easy feat, even as a direct descendant of Bram himself, but he’s managed to gain access to countless documents that aren’t widely available to the public.

A passion for investigative work runs in the Stoker bloodline. Dacre discussed Bram’s own exhaustive research into superstitions, vampire folktales, science and Eastern Europe while writing Dracula. He was on a mission to carefully construct his gothic horror tale. Other interesting facts our speaker revealed included mention of the deleted parts from the final novel and how Dracula was almost named Count Wampyr. Plus, we got to lay eyes on rare images of Bram Stoker.

As if the evening couldn’t get any more entertaining, Dacre Stoker along with actress Kim Farris delivered a delightful reenactment of a special interview between Bram Stoker and a reporter. Interestingly, Bram’s mother, Charlotte Mathilda, kept a journal where she wrote about witnessing the horrors of the cholera pandemic, and these recollections influenced Dracula. Farris read one of her entries, bringing to life Charlotte’s harrowing account.

At the conclusion of the presentation, I had the chance to speak with Dacre Stoker. He is such a gracious individual and truly passionate about keeping Bram Stoker’s legacy alive. He was doing book signings of his works, and I bought Dracul, a prequel to Dracula. He was kind enough to make out my copy to “Vamp Jenn!” I’m very much looking forward to reading the book.

After the lecture, I went into the gallery to view the “Bite Me!” exhibit. It was my first visit to SugarMynt, so it was a treat to check out the space. Pieces featuring bloodthirsty nocturnal beings filled every room. Many artists contributed works to the show inspired by vampire characters in literature, movies and TV. There were eye-catching illustrations of characters from Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles, What We Do in the Shadows, Blade, Nosferatu, The Lost Boys, and countless others. One area also housed original documents and memorabilia on loan from the Bram Stoker Estate. All of the artworks were a beauty to behold, but one I especially prized was an impressive triptych painting featuring The Count’s brides, Dracula and Mina, and Lucy Westenra from the Francis Ford Coppola film adaptation of Dracula.

What a marvelous vampire-filled night! Getting to attend a discourse given by a descendant of one of gothic literature’s most iconic authors is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Plus, being able to take in a vampire art exhibit in the same evening was magnificent for me.

The “Bite Me!” exhibit will be up at SugarMynt Gallery until March 18th. Dacre Stoker hosts his “Stoker on Stoker” lectures and tours at various times throughout the year, so make sure to follow him to find out where he’ll be next. Lastly, The Menagerie Oddities Market is also putting on several more events this year, so check them out as well. You’ll find links below.

Where to Stalk

Dacre Stoker official website

The Menagerie Oddities Market

SugarMynt Gallery