Taxidermy Lab 101 with Allis Markham and Paloma Strong

Explore the captivating world of taxidermy with Prey Taxidermy at the Whatcom Museum in Bellingham! Join us for two extraordinary days of events featuring renowned taxidermist Allis Markham and avian biologist Paloma Strong.

On Saturday, June 1, seize the opportunity to participate in Taxidermy Lab 101, a demonstration course led by Allis and Paloma. Witness firsthand the meticulous process of museum taxidermy, from skinning and mounting to grooming and posing, all while gaining insights into the preservation of natural history.

LIMITED AVAILABILITY
Welcome to Taxidermy Lab 101. This demonstration course will provide students with an on-site tutorial into the world of museum taxidermy. Students will work with acclaimed museum preservationists Allis Markham and Paloma Strong of Prey Taxidermy to discover how this 'dead art' is breathing life into conservation education. Classes at the Prey Taxidermy studio sell out quickly and require travel to Los Angeles, but for one weekend, Allis and Paloma will bring their expertise to Bellingham.

This is an introductory course where students will learn the basics of taxidermy through detailed presentations and demonstrations followed by a Q&A. This is not one of our hands-on workshops but is a demonstration and presentation course. While students will not participate or take home any pieces, they will be given a comprehensive overview of the craft of taxidermy. Students will also be sent a follow-up email with a PDF copy of the presentations and a list of resources discussed in the course. This is an excellent opportunity if you’ve ever wanted to learn taxidermy but didn’t know where to start, or if you’re exploring taxidermy already and have questions.

Allis was trained at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles and has a World Title from the World Taxidermy Championships. She is joined by her long-time apprentice, Paloma Strong, who holds a degree in biology with an emphasis in ornithology. Their clients include multiple Natural History Museums around the country, The Smithsonian, The Getty Research Institute, and even brands such as Gucci.

This course is open to students of all ages. Please be aware that we will be demonstrating on actual dead specimens.

Lab Curriculum:

· Welcome Slideshow – Intro to Taxidermy

· Bird Skinning Demonstration

· Bird Mounting Demonstration

· Bird Grooming and Posing Demonstration

· Touch Pieces and Q&A

· Tour of the John M. Edson Hall of Birds

Do not plan to miss any moment of class; i.e., arriving late or leaving early. There will be no video allowed during this course. Photos are allowed except for specimen demonstrations.

Come to both events and make it a weekend getaway in Bellingham! Very special thanks to our partners Hotel Leo and Heliotrope Hotel for offering Prey Taxidermy guests a 25% discount on rooms May 31 – June 2. You won’t find a better deal anywhere online. Please make hotel reservation as soon as possible. Rooms are not being held at this reduced rate (once they’re booked, they’re gone), and the discount is only valid on reservations made before April 30, 2024. On May 1, museum guest pricing returns to standard rates. Simply click on the links above to make a reservation at the reduced rate.

Host or Publisher Whatcom Museum