Imagine if every baseball player could compete in the World Series, or if every golfer had a shot at the Masters. In most fields, only a select few get the chance to vie for top honors. However, in the world of taxidermy, anyone with the passion and skill can compete against the best. Welcome to the 2017 World Taxidermy and Fish Carving Championships, where creativity knows no bounds!
Since its inception in 1983 by Breakthrough magazine, the World Taxidermy Championships have become a hub for wildlife artists. Larry Blomquist, the magazine’s publisher and the event’s chairman, has witnessed significant changes over the past few decades. Advances in technology and education have transformed taxidermy, making high-quality instruction more accessible to aspiring artists.
Many people associate taxidermy with outdated practices or humorous mishaps. However, Larry emphasizes that modern taxidermy is a form of contemporary art. The pieces displayed at the championships showcase artistic merit, composition, and design, rivaling exhibits in renowned museums. Artists from around the globe bring their creations to compete in various categories, from small mammals to game animals and fish.
The competition features eight main divisions, including master, professional, novice, and youth categories. Each division is further divided into specific categories, such as small and large mammals, game and non-game animals, and even recreations. For instance, a fisher transformed to resemble a red panda falls under the recreation category. The professional division includes a freeze-dry category, though this technique is restricted in the masters division, except for turkey heads.
Judging at the World Taxidermy Championships is a serious affair. Wendy Christensen, a seasoned taxidermist, explains that judges assess technical aspects, anatomical accuracy, and artistic expression. They use photo references to ensure the taxidermy pieces accurately reflect the animals’ natural characteristics, such as ear shape and hair patterns.
The competition floor is a vibrant display of creativity and humor. From a freeze-dried fish swimming through a lit-up reef to wolverines captured mid-fight, the exhibits defy expectations. One standout piece features a raccoon breaking into a chicken coop, complete with yolk dripping from its whiskers, showcasing the playful side of taxidermy.
For many participants, the World Taxidermy Championships offer more than just prize money. The recognition and prestige of placing or winning in this international event are invaluable. Larry, a veteran taxidermist, expresses his awe at the dedication and skill displayed by the competitors. The event not only celebrates the art of taxidermy but also fosters a global community of wildlife artists.
In conclusion, the World Taxidermy and Fish Carving Championships are a testament to the artistry and innovation within the field. Whether you’re a seasoned taxidermist or a curious observer, this event offers a unique glimpse into a world where creativity and nature intertwine.
Research the history and evolution of taxidermy from its inception to the present day. Prepare a presentation that highlights key technological advancements and educational developments in the field. Share your findings with the class, focusing on how these changes have influenced modern taxidermy practices.
Design a concept for a taxidermy piece that could be entered into the World Taxidermy Championships. Consider artistic merit, composition, and design. Create sketches or digital renderings of your concept and present them to your peers, explaining the inspiration and creative process behind your design.
Participate in a workshop where you will learn about the judging criteria used at the World Taxidermy Championships. Analyze sample taxidermy pieces and practice assessing them based on technical aspects, anatomical accuracy, and artistic expression. Discuss how these criteria ensure high standards in the competition.
Explore the concept of taxidermy as a form of contemporary art. Visit a local museum or gallery that features taxidermy exhibits, or research online collections. Write a reflective essay on how taxidermy pieces rival traditional art forms in terms of creativity and expression.
Engage in a group discussion about the global community of wildlife artists fostered by events like the World Taxidermy Championships. Discuss the impact of such events on the participants’ careers and the broader perception of taxidermy. Consider how these gatherings promote cultural exchange and innovation in the field.
**Sanitized Transcript:**
Emily: Imagine if all baseball players were allowed to play in the World Series, if all golfers were invited to the Masters, if every tennis player could make it to the clay courts of Wimbledon. In most human endeavors, only a tiny percentage of participants are fortunate enough to compete directly for the highest honors. But in taxidermy, there are no barriers. There are no semifinals, there’s no club to join or dues to pay. Any person who has the desire can compete directly against the best taxidermists in the world. That’s right, we’re at the 2017 World Taxidermy and Fish Carving Championships! Even before I started working at the Field Museum in Chicago, I had wanted to visit the World Taxidermy Championships. It was started in 1983 by the taxidermy magazine, Breakthrough, which devotes itself to “the serious wildlife artist.” I’m so excited to be here! I was honored to be invited by Larry Blomquist, the magazine’s publisher, and producer and chairman of the World Taxidermy Championships.
Emily: How have you seen this field and this competition change in the last 20 or 25 years?
Larry: It’s been a tremendous change, and a lot of it has to do with new technology that’s come into the field. There’s also been education in the industry. More taxidermists have the availability of good instruction.
Emily: When people think about taxidermy, they either think of bad taxidermy because they find it funny, or they think about how taxidermy is an old-school thing. What are your thoughts about that in terms of taxidermy being seen and appreciated as a form of contemporary art?
Larry: If you look at the pieces in here, and there are actually hundreds, they express artistic merit, composition, and design. Not only the accuracy of replicating the animals, but the artistic thoughts that went into doing it. You can walk through this venue and see taxidermy comparable to any museum you go into, if not better. Artists from all around the world bring in mounts they have been working on for the chance to place in different competitive categories of various levels of expertise. There are eight main divisions: master, professional, novice, youth, collective artists, interpretive taxidermy, pre-sculpted taxidermy, and live taxidermy sculpture. Each of these divisions breaks down into further categories, like the masters division, which has sixteen different categories. Categories range from small to large mammals, game animals like pheasants, and non-game animals like raptors, as well as categories for largemouth bass, turkeys, warmwater fish, and coldwater fish. There are also categories for recreations.
Emily: This red panda is in the recreation category, which means that it’s a red panda, but it’s not a red panda. It’s a fisher that has been made to look like a red panda. That’s amazing! The professional division even has a freeze-dry category, even though there’s no freeze-drying allowed in the masters category, except for the use of turkey heads. There’s prize money in this competition too; sponsors donated around $36,000 to be given out to winners of each category. But perhaps more important than the money is the notoriety, and being able to say you placed or won in the World Taxidermy Championships is huge. Because the judging here is serious business. Wendy Christensen is one of the judges this year; she worked in Milwaukee Public Museum as a taxidermist for nearly 35 years.
Emily: What is it that we’re looking at here?
Wendy: This is a Chinese ferret badger. It’s an animal that we do not see very often in the United States, so in today’s modern world, we can look up and research an animal as we’re working on it.
Emily: So is this part of the judging process, where you’ll actually go to photo references to learn more about the organism?
Wendy: Absolutely. What we’re doing is we’re trying to weigh ourselves and compare ourselves against nature. We’re looking at technical aspects of the taxidermy, besides the anatomical accuracy. One of the other things I’m looking at right now too is shrinkage, ear shape – they’ve rebuilt the inner ear anatomy – and the hair patterns are straight, and that the attitude captures the essence of that animal.
Emily: That’s so exciting that something like this can be in the World Taxidermy Championships.
Wendy: It’s so cool that we have all these wonderful foreign competitors. That’s what’s beautiful and wonderful about the World Show; it truly is international.
Emily: I spent most of the first day just running around the competition floor, totally overwhelmed by all of the amazing taxidermy I was seeing. Look at this beautiful fish! That’s amazing, this is in the professional reproduction category. It’s swimming after all the other fish. What is it doing? Where is it going? This is a freeze-dried fish! And they put it on a reef with lights and it’s moving! This king eider collection is beautiful; this guy’s eating an octopus. You only see the surface here, and then you lean down and there’s so much more going on underneath the water. You can see the division, you can see the movement of the feet changes when they’re underwater versus when they’re just going to land, and the moment of impact. What I love about all of this is that they’re a moment in time, like there’s something happening.
Emily: Who says taxidermists don’t have a sense of humor? Nature. It’s two wolverines, they’re fighting wolverines. Look at it! They’re mounted in mid-air! This is just totally mind-blowing! These sculptures defy physics. Look at that little rascal! Rascally raccoon! He’s breaking into the chicken coop. They have yolk on the whiskers, it’s like dripping off the side.
Emily: I overheard the judges were talking; I think this might be one of the winners. You didn’t hear it from me. I think what I love most about this is that it absolutely acknowledges human-wildlife interaction. I’ve seen this in my life – I’ve walked in my backyard with a fire pit going. This is a taxidermy mount of worms. They make the worms look so real.
Larry: I’ve been doing taxidermy for over 50 years. I’ve won a lot of national titles, and I get chills. I know how difficult it is, how much effort and time it takes. To see some of the pieces I’ve seen in this exhibition, I’m very humbled by it. I had no idea what I was getting into. I know I’ve hyped this up for myself for years, but this has completely blown all of my own expectations. I might actually start crying; I’m so overwhelmed by how awesome this is. I love taxidermy.
Taxidermy – The art and science of preserving animal bodies by stuffing and mounting them for display or study. – The university’s natural history museum features an impressive taxidermy collection that aids in the study of animal anatomy.
Creativity – The use of imagination or original ideas to create something; inventiveness, especially in artistic and scientific endeavors. – The art students’ creativity was evident in their innovative use of recycled materials for their final projects.
Art – The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power. – The art department hosted an exhibition showcasing the diverse talents of its students, ranging from abstract paintings to intricate sculptures.
Technology – The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry, and its influence on art and design. – The integration of technology in the art curriculum has enabled students to explore digital media and interactive installations.
Education – The process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university, and its role in fostering artistic and scientific skills. – The university’s education program emphasizes interdisciplinary studies, allowing students to combine art and science in their research projects.
Competition – A contest or rivalry between individuals or groups, often used to inspire innovation and excellence in art and science. – The annual design competition challenges students to create sustainable solutions using both artistic and scientific principles.
Design – The creation of a plan or convention for the construction of an object, system, or measurable human interaction, often blending art and science. – The design course encourages students to explore the intersection of aesthetics and functionality in their projects.
Anatomy – The branch of science concerned with the bodily structure of humans, animals, and other living organisms, often used in art to enhance realism. – Understanding anatomy is crucial for art students who wish to accurately depict the human form in their drawings and sculptures.
Expression – The process of making known one’s thoughts or feelings, often through art, and its significance in scientific communication. – Artistic expression can convey complex scientific concepts in a way that is accessible and engaging to a broader audience.
Community – A group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common, often fostering collaboration in art and science. – The university’s art and science community frequently collaborates on projects that address local environmental issues through creative solutions.
