Originally Published on October 23rd, 2024. 
Dear Odd Salon Community,

We’d hoped we’d never have to write this, and I send this with profound sadness and disbelief. Last week, we lost our co-founder and curator, the heart, soul, and creative vision of our community, Annetta Black. Annetta passed peacefully in the arms of her partner Josh on the evening of October 16, with myself and her brother Oliver at her side, supported by a small group of friends. 

Annetta had an unmatched ability to galvanize our weird and nerdy corner of the world. From our humble early salons eleven years ago to the vibrant bicoastal community we are today, Annetta made space for all of us to get curious, build connections, and learn something weird. Beyond her friendship and love, her legacy includes our shows, our fellowship, our larger community, and a fierce collective fascination with the odd corners of history, science, art and adventure. And, not to mention, the relationships and Odd Salon babies that resulted.

Annetta’s impact is incalculable, and our grief immeasurable. As we made our community aware, favorite talks were played, stories were revisited. And alongside tears came laughs and smiles and memories and love. 

Looking forward, we say this plainly: Odd Salon will continue, as Annetta would have expected, and as we owe to her memory. We hope to see you at the vibrant Oddments SF on December 3 and in NYC on December 18th. We continue this beloved community project, continue to assemble experts and enthusiastic amateurs alike, continue to gather to tell stories and make space for each other. And we’ll continue to do so with the same spirit she brought to everything she did.

How unfathomably lucky we all are as a community to have had her for the time we did.

With love and hugs and affection and remembrance,

Tre Balchowsky, co-founder and manager
and the Odd Salon team