You’re unlikely to find airbrushed family portraits in Joel-Peter Witkin’s latest book of photographs, “The Bone House” (Twin Palms, 1998). The artist juxtaposes images of “unusual people” – hermaphrodites, dwarves, conjoined twins, elephant men, cadavers and their respective body parts – with religious and mythological symbolism. Some critics, including those who would deny him National Endowment for the Arts grants, call the images that fascinate Witkin “grotesque.” But in these disturbing tableaux, Witkin finds beauty and humanity. Witkin will sign copies of “The Bone House” at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Art Institute of Chicago’s Museum Shop, 111 S. Michigan Ave. 312-443-3583.
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