$300.00
In this class, we will learn about the fascinating anatomy of mammals and the oxidation process of skeleton cleaning. This class is designed for beginners with an interest in small mammal preservation and skeletal preparation. No matter the experience level, all are welcome!
Students will learn everything they need to clean and articulate their very own rat skeleton, have the option to create a display on a simple wood base, or in a glass dome. Skeletons will be provided, and students will be able to modify, articulate, and position them to their liking, and mount them onto bases of their choice. Students will also create a naturalistic or fantasy habitat customized to their rat, and go home with a piece of osteological art that is ready to display.
These rat skeletons have been cleaned using the oxidation process, which involves a series of chemical soaks, and manual cleaning, that leaves a delicate layer of ligaments intact. As this process requires a few days, students will be working with skeletons that have already been cleaned, but will be given a demonstration, instruction, and a detailed e-booklet on how to safely and effectively clean skeletons on their own.
Our subject will be the domestic rat. Rats are iconic city dwellers! Though they may be reviled by most people, they play an important role in our ecology. They are very intelligent animals who have also been bred to be loving companions. These rats are domestic rats that have legally and sustainably sourced, no animals are harmed for the sake of taxidermy.
Students will go home with their custom made creations on a simple wood base, an emailed PDF on small mammal oxidation, instructions for maintaining their pieces, and newfound or nourished love of taxidermy and preservation.
About the instructor-
A unique combination of science and style, Divya Anantharaman is an award winning licensed professional preserving animals with honor and compassion for clients ranging from museums, designers, collectors, and everyday naturalists. Her specialties are birds, small mammals, and anatomic anomalies, with a select number of commissions open for pets. Her work seeks to combine the demonstrative aspect of scientific presentation with the symbolic, introspective nature of art, using taxidermy to engage diverse audiences with conservation. She is passionately curious about the untapped potential of this scientific art, and sharing it with others. Her classes seek to demystify the taxidermy process, and make the field more accessible and engaging. She has recently starred in the Emmy winning documentary short, "Rearranging Skin". In her commitment to conservation, she regularly volunteers with various ornithological organizations (such as NYC Plover Project and NYC Bird Alliance). You can learn more at https://www.gothamtaxidermy.com/