Slideshow: The art of taxidermy

Sunday, May 21, 2006

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Multimedia presentation by
Steve Mellon and Bob Batz Jr.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

More than a century ago, the founders of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History borrowed, then bought thousands of mounted creatures and hired a line of distinguished taxidermists who've had huge hands in shaping the institution into what it is today. That legacy is highlighted in "Stuffed Animals: The Art and Science of Taxidermy," which opens today at the Oakland institution.

"The idea is to show the progression from the era of stuffing ... to where they actually made art," says Stephen Rogers. He works as collection manager of the museum's Bird as well as Reptiles & Amphibians sections. But he is a leading expert in the field of taxidermy, which means "movement of the skin."

He coined his own term to personify his passion for it: "Taxidermologist."

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First published on May 21, 2006 at 12:00 am

Steve Mellon can be contacted at smellon@post-gazette.com. Bob Batz Jr. can be reached at bbatz@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1930.