Unsung Heroes in the Background of the Wildlife Canvas: Part 2

Last month, in the first part of this topic, we honored photographers and videographers who brought us amazing footage of wildlife and nature. In Part 2 of the blog series, we will recognize wildlife and landscape artists, model makers, and taxidermists whose work decorates many museums and aquariums around the world.

When we visit museums and aquariums, we see incredible wildlife from the earth, sky, and water. Aquariums focus on water-based ecosystems. Natural History museums show the evolution of animals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish through their fossils, with lots of information about them. Our understanding of these creatures is even better because the fossils are not just displayed randomly. As shown in some of the pictures in this blog, all the exhibits are carefully arranged to show "action." Behind them, detailed murals are painted, transporting us back millions of years to when these creatures lived. These artworks are created by talented artists who also have a deep knowledge of animal anatomy.

Museums and aquariums also display many handmade models of wildlife by skilled taxidermists. Like the artists, they know a lot about animal anatomy and work closely with archeologists and scientists to ensure their models are lifelike and accurate. Taxidermists use either the real skin of dead animals or artificial fabrics. Model makers use materials like plaster of Paris, wood, fiberglass, or clay.

As mentioned, all the displays in these museums and aquariums are lifelike. They make the models more realistic and exciting by showing them in motion rather than just standing or sitting. All this work by these artists, taxidermists, and model makers takes a lot of planning and long hours of dedication.

We honor the taxidermists, model makers, and wildlife artists of the world! Enjoy this gallery of displays from history to present created by all the talented individuals:

American Scimitar Toothed Cat. Page museum, Lar Brea tar pits, Los Angeles,CA, USA. This cat was a longer limbed sabertooth cat species than the famous Smilodon.

Life-like model of Short-faced Bear in Page Museum, La Brea Tar Pits, Los Angeles, CA.

Pygmy Mammoth Model. Page Museum, Lar Brea Tar Pits, Los Angeles, CA.

A realistic potrayal through a wall mural. Page Museum, La Brea Tar Pits, Los Angeles, CA.

Audubon Society's Mission Statement: To preserve and provide a library of bird specimens to be used for education, research and inspiration. A bin of prepared local woodpeckers by taxidermy ready for display.Photo Credit: https://www.whidbeyaudubonsociety.org/bird-specimen-library

A Sea Lion sculpture by Washed Ashore. Washed Ashore's volunteers have gathered over 60,000 pounds of debris. Beach clean ups and the sculptures created from the debris are designed to inspire change.

The “Wyland Whale Wall,” as it is referred to by locals, is a fixture of Long Beach, CA, part of the Long Beach Convention Center Complex. As one of the largest murals in the world, it spans 116,000 square feet. The mural’s official name is “Planet Ocean” and was painted in 1992 by the world-renowned marine life artist Robert Wyland. He is so famous in the marine community that he is often referred to by just his last name. With the help of 200 volunteers, Wyland completed the mural in six weeks, which was given as a gift to the City of Long Beach upon completion. The mural is intended to ignite our childlike wonder and fascination with the sea. Photo Credit: https://www.lb908.com/post/2018/08/27/fun-fact-planet-ocean-mural

Did You Know?

USA’s First Museum

·      Founded in 1773 and commonly regarded as “America’s First Museum,” The Charleston Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.

·      First opened on August 18, 1904, the Belle Isle Aquarium in Detroit, MI, is the oldest public aquarium in the continental United States and, at the time of its opening, the third largest in the world.

#wildlifeart #murals #taxidermy #sculptures #anatomy #wildlife #ocean #LaBrea