Post on 13-Apr-2018
F rom home-goods stores to hip bars, the Tate
Modern to the most conservative of décor
magazines, taxidermy is everywhere. And, a far cry
from traditional mounts, today’s “rogue” taxidermy
skews toward the stunning, provocative, and fanciful
(think a jewel-encrusted piglet, a bionic fawn, or a
polar bear balancing on a floating refrigerator). In
this collection of contemporary taxidermy art, author
Robert Marbury makes for a friendly (and often funny)
guide, addressing the three big questions people
have about taxidermy art: What is it all about? Can I
see some examples? and How can I make my own?
TAXIDERMY GONE
ROGUE
THE BOOK INCLUDES
• A brief history of taxidermy (and
what sets artistic taxidermy apart)
• Stunning pieces from the most
influential artists in the field
• Illustrated how-to lessons to get
readers started on their own work
• Sources for taxidermy materials and
resources for the budding taxidermist
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: La Fragilité, Les Deux Garçons; Fixed Fawn,
Lisa Black; L’Heure de Vérité, Les Deux Garçons; “Untitled” Female Bust 3, Kate
Clark; Crying Out Loud in the Age of Stupid, Rod McRae; Rattus, Julia deVille.
ROBERT MARBURY is the director and cofounder of the
Minnesota Association of Rogue
Taxidermists. He is a multidisciplinary
artist working in fabric, photography,
and fur. In addition to creating his
own art, he cohosts and judges the
annual Carnivorous Nights Taxidermy
Contest in Brooklyn and launched the
taxidermy biennial at La Luz de Jesus
Gallery in Los Angeles. Marbury lives in
Baltimore and lectures internationally
on Rogue Taxidermy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Wolfgang, Jessica Joslin
OPPOSITE, ABOVE: Canto & Silva, Jessica Joslin
OPPOSITE, BELOW: Aria & Sola, Jessica Joslin
12
13
For the budding Rogue Taxidermist, nothing compares with a
squirrel for your first taxidermy lesson. They are plentiful and
considered nuisance animals in most urban spaces, so they
are pretty readily available. In addition, they have more articulation
than other common small mammals, like mice and guinea pigs.
There are a variety of techniques for mounting a squirrel. You
might find that you prefer to do some of these steps out of order, or
to substitute materials.
SKINNING•Latexgloves•Cardboard,newspaper,orbutcher
paper•Rulerortapemeasure•Penorpencil•Scalpelwithno.22blades•Wirebrush•Borax(availableinmostgrocery
storesasanaturalwashingsoap)*•Clothespinorcommercialtailstripper•Fleshingbeam(optional)•Handheldbeam(optional)•Paintbrush(optional)•Leatherneedle(circularandsuture
workwell)•6-lb.fishinglineorstrongthread•Dishdetergent•Bucket•Hardwoodsawdustor
corncobgrit
*Note: If youareplanningonhavingadoublefeatureandwanttoeattheanimalyouskinned,donotuseborax.Anymeat that borax touches needsto be disposed of. Also, do not useboraxifyouplanontanningtheskin,sinceboraxraisesthepHintheskinandwillresultinlossofhair.
MOUNTING•Premadefoamform•Sandpaper•StrongknifeorDremeltool(optional)•Two-partepoxyclay•Air-dryclay•Latexgloves•Woodworkingtoolorsmall,sharp
screwdriver•Glasseyes•Scalpel•Wirecutters•Wire(16-gaugeisgoodforasquirrel)•Grinderorelectricaltape•Hidepaste,LiquidNails,orlatex
caulk(100percentlatexwithnosilicone)
•Pliers•Leatherneedle(circularandsuture
workwell)•6-lb.fishinglineorstrongthread•Cotton(optional)•Hairbrush•Toothpick(optional)•Insectoreuropins•Cardstock•Paperclips•Hairdryer•Touch-uppaintandpaintbrush
(optional)•Accessories,suchasamonocle/
banjo/porkpiehat(optional)•Baseformounting(premade,or
makeyourown)
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
SQUIRREL LESSON 1 When you’re ready to begin skinning your squirrel, prepare a clutter-free space that is more than twice your animal’s body length. Cover the work
surface in cardboard, newspapers, or butcher paper. It might be best to figure out your music mix and turn off your phone—squirrel guts and borax can do wonders to electronics, especially ones you put to your face.
SKINNING
2 Measure the squirrel’s body from head to base of tail and around the widest part of the ribs. These measurements will help you pick the proper
size form.
3 Decide if you would like to position the squirrel stomach down (with its four paws on a branch, for instance), or stomach out (like it’s reaching for a
piece of pizza). Cut on the side that is least visible (so if the stomach is visible, make an incision on its back; if not, make an incision across the stomach).
4 Create a guide for your cut by parting the fur down the center of the body with a wire brush. Be careful to retain as much of the fur as you can, since
this will hide the stitches.
To be published in October 2014
The copy in this brochure is not final. Please contact the publicist before running any image or excerpt.
PRESS CONTACTAllison McGeehon 212-614-7705 allisonm@artisanbooks.com
SPECIFICATIONS• More than 100 color photographs
and 60 illustrations • 240 pages, 6¼" x 8½"• Paper-over-board• $18.95 • ISBN 978-1-57965-558-7• No. 85558• ART / CRAFTS
TO ORDERPhone 1-800-722-7202Fax 1-800-521-1832
A division of Workman Publishing, Inc.225 Varick StreetNew York, NY 10014-4381artisanbooks.com
Front cover: Untitled, Peter GronquistBack cover: Hangjongeren, The Idiots
Design by Kara Strubel
Photographs by Robert Marbury except for Untitled (Ernest Stoddard), Rattus, Orcus, and Gâteau (Terence Bogue), La Fragilité (Sanne Linssen), Fixed Fawn (Daniel Gordon), L’Heure de Vérité (Marijn Vanderheijden), Crying Out Loud in the Age of Stupid (Grant Fraser), This Seat Is Taken and Hangjongeren (The Idiots), and Genetic Branding (YSL) (Jeremiah Alley).
Illustrations by Teagan White
Printed in Singapore
• National and regional feature coverage in art, decorating, and men’s magazines
• Social media buzz campaign focusing on Facebook and Instagram
• Cross-promotion with galleries and museums
MARKETING & PUBLICITY