Taxidermy Art: A Rogue’s Guide to the Work, the Culture, and How to Do It Yourself by Robert Marbury
Reviewed by: Laura Warren, Reference Assistant
Genre: Non-fiction, Art
Suggested Age: Teens, Adults
What is the book about?: We have all run across taxidermy in one form or another, whether it is on the wall at the local pub, in a hunter’s den, or at the Natural History Museum. This book is not necessarily about trophy or natural history taxidermy, rather Rogue Taxidermy. This subsect modifies traditional taxidermy, veering into a more creative representation. This book begins with a short explanation and history of Rogue Taxidermy, including traditional taxidermy history as well as pioneers, and their contribution to the field. Twenty one artists are then featured with a brief biography and beautiful color examples of their work. All of these artists are inspired by traditional taxidermy, but each has a unique interpretation. The next segment includes lessons aimed to teach readers to begin taxidermy at home, with step by step instructions and helpful illustrations. The final section includes additional resources for those who wish to learn both traditional taxidermy as well as Rogue Taxidermy.
My Review: The history and introduction to this book are intuitive and give you an insightful context through which to view this art. The artists are as different as the animals they choose to portray. Rogue Taxidermy has really begun to take off, and this book is a great way to understand just how diverse this art form has become. As a novice taxidermy collector, it is hard to pick just one of these pieces, or even a favorite of these artists. Some of those featured use just pelts, others use just bones, and still others use no organic matter at all, but are inspired by the medium. These artists all have abundant thoughts to portray, and the execution is beautiful. This art will not appeal to everyone, but these pieces are much more than just beautifully preserved specimens of nature. If Rogue Taxidermy, or traditional taxidermy appeal to you I highly recommend that you check out this title.
Rating: 5/5
About FDL Reads
Welcome to FDL Reads, weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library. Librarians (and possibly some other guest reviewers) review all types of books, from children’s picture books, young adult favorites, to the latest adult thriller, and share their thoughts each week at fondulaclibrary.org. If the book is owned by Fondulac District Library (or another local library), you’ll see a direct link to the catalog entry and whether or not it is available. If it is checked out or at another local library, you will be able to place a hold as long as you have your library card and PIN numbers. As with any book review, these are our opinions…we disagree amongst ourselves about books frequently. We all have different likes and dislikes, which is what makes the world an interesting place. Please enjoy, and keep on reading!