Stuffed Animals
A Modern Guide to Taxidermy
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- $16.99
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
A quirky, timely, and disturbingly beautiful how-to taxidermy guide, emphasizing ethical sourcing and personal expression
Whether inspiration came from an exhibition at an edgy art gallery, a visit to the Natural History Museum, or the sight of your crazy uncle’s jackalope, more and more people are opening up to the fun and wonder of taxidermy. A mix of art, science, and a touch of alchemy, taxidermy lets you engage with the natural world in ways most other people don’t. In Stuffed Animals, Divya Anantharaman and Katie Innamorato demystify the practice, shatter the gross stereotypes, and make taxidermy accessible to anyone, anywhere. Committed to ethical and sustainable sourcing, Anantharaman and Innamorato are part of the vanguard of young taxidermists who bring a sense of fun and experimentation to this old-school hobby. In their sold-out classes in Brooklyn, they teach hundreds of taxidermy novices how to create mantle-worthy pieces out of small birds and mammals. Both a helpful how-to manual and a strangely captivating gift book, Stuffed Animals is the definitive guide to a growing movement.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Artists Anantharaman and Innamorato capture the ins and outs of do-it-yourself taxidermy in this eccentric guide to the off-kilter art of preserving animals. Bursting at the seams with stunning often explicit color photographs, this comprehensive manual begins with a brief history of the practice from the 17th century to the present, profiling famous taxidermists including James Audubon, Charles Darwin, Queen Victoria, and Theodore Roosevelt. The authors then cover the modern ethics of the practice (sourcing animals from roadkill, for example) and review terms and tools of the trade, complete with a lively FAQ (questions include "do I need to tan bird?" and "HELP! It's slipping!!!!?!"). After urging readers to refer to myriad sources before embarking on their projects, Anantharaman and Innamorato provide chapters with detailed steps on the taxidermy of mammals and birds, covering all the nuances of forms and pelts. Also included are an amusing chapter on gaff making (the creation of fantasy animals such as a jackalope or parakeet with two heads) and a kooky final chapter of recipes for woodchuck tacos and Parmesan squirrel. The writing is deeply knowledgeable, bright, hip, and fun.
