Category: projects

Posted on

I am Starry eyed for taxidermists

… made explicitly poetic by two visits I had in the last week with taxidermy artists.

First was Emily Mayer, an amazing animal artist in Norwich. She lives + works in an old workhouse infirmary, and makes exquisite sculptures – some taxidermy, some found materials like scrap metal and plastic bits and downed wood (see the recent exhibit at Campden Gallery here). She’s also taxidermist to the (art) stars.

Emily Mayers beautiful clean exhibit space upstairs form the workshop
Emily Mayer's beautiful clean exhibit space upstairs from the workshop
Emily Mayer, my godchild Susan OFlynn, and Violet
Emily Mayer, my godchild Susan O'Flynn, and Violet

Second was my morning visit to the temporary workspace of Eric Morton, taxidermist for the Great North Museum (née Hancock Museum) here in Newcastle on Tyne. When I spoke to him on the phone he said he was in the process of moving his workspace and there wasn’t much around. Right. He’s genius. I asked him if he has animals festooning his home, and he said “no! that’s like bringing work home. I collect clocks.” I can only imagine.

Eric Morton at his workspace at Newcastle University
Eric Morton at his workspace at Newcastle University

Exhibit A
Exhibit A

Moving Day
Moving Day

It is no mean thing to be able to pet animals–  albeit dead ones —  like owls, foxes, and moles.

More photos here chez my flickr zone.

Posted on

Fairy Cattle

Wild Chillingham Cattle are known as “fairy cattle” for their small size and tufted red fur in their ears; they are genetically distinct from any other (including their relatives the White Park Cattle, who have black ear fur).

Fairy Cattle
Fairy Cattle (uncredited/undated on the Chillingham Castle web site) portrayed as a bloody pre-Raphaelite floral
Posted on

Chillingham Cattle are Clones

chillingham_park_470x294

Nice overview of the cattle- history and genetics found at the BBC web site.
The cattle, who live in northern Northumberland, have been inbred for 700 years; in the 13th century the park around Chillingham Castle was enclosed to protect the cattle from the Border Reiver rustlers. These are wild cattle that have never been herded or driven, and have the status of wild animals. They are also genetically linked to the  prehistoric Aurochs, extinct for 2500 years. And because of their long inbreeding, Chillingham cattle are all clones:

In recent years DNA samples have been prepared from hair roots collected from dead animals and this work, at the Roslin Institute and Edinburgh University, has revealed that the Wild Cattle are a natural clone.

Not only are all the cattle genetically identical, each animal has also received identical genes from its sire as from its dam (the Y chromosome, which determines masculinity, is not possessed by female mammals, but again the likelihood is that all Y chromosomes in the Chillingham herd are identical).

“Nowhere in the world are there any mammals more inbred than these – yet they continue to survive and thrive.” – The Chillingham Wild Cattle Association

This is unique among animals, and arises from their very long history of inbreeding, together with occasional periods of very low numbers (genetic bottlenecks).

In spite of this genetic identity, it would be difficult to point out two animals that could be said to be identical.

This is because the visible characteristics of any animal (the phenotype) are partly determined by the environment and minor differences between individuals in patterns of development in the womb and afterwards can be expected.

Nowhere in the world are there any mammals more inbred than these – yet they continue to survive and thrive.

The Chillingham Bull. All engravings by Thomas Bewick
The Chillingham Bull. Both engravings by Thomas Bewick
Posted on

“Red squirrels,” she said, “are rather like quiet, well-behaved people.”

The article “The Squirrel Wars,” by D.T. Max, that ran in the NY Times in 2007 on the Red vs Gray struggle has a wonderful mid-section devoted to the House of Lords discussion on the subject. As a perhaps-important underscore, the House has cut hereditary peers’ membership  by 90% in the recent decade.

Lady Saltoun of Abernethy, the 21st to hold that title in Scotland…spoke to point out the inherent superiority of the red over the gray squirrel: “Red squirrels,” she said, “are rather like quiet, well-behaved people who do not make a nuisance or an exhibition of themselves or commit crimes and so do not get themselves into the papers in the vulgar way gray squirrels do.” She continued: “Red squirrels do not strip bark from trees; damage arable crops, market gardens and garden plants; dig up bulb and corms from recently sown seed; eat birds’ eggs; or eat telephone wires and electricity cables, as gray squirrels do.” Lady Saltoun suggested some research be done on whether gray squirrels tasted good. She foresaw a fight at the dinner table: “I have a nasty feeling that . . . children in particular would say, ‘Oh, no, I couldn’t possibly eat that,’ just as they say they cannot eat dear little bunny rabbits. But this is worth having a look at.”

The Rt Hon. The Lady Saltoun (née Ms. Flora Fraser, me being a vulgar American) is the only female holder of a lordship of Parliament who has a seat in the House of Lords as an elected hereditary peer. She is the head of the Frasers of Philorth. (thanks Wikipedia). But her comments, while perhaps more focused on etiquette, are not anomalous among the peerage.

Here is Lady Saltoun’s web site.
She has a fantastic genealogy and has written the books  “Clan Fraser,” “Lady Saltoun’s Favourite Fish Dishes,” and  “Lady Saltoun’s Favourite Puddings.”

Posted on

A Nationalist takes red squirrel as mascot

Well! Sad but inevitable use of animals as symbols. The squirrel of course is cute and wonderful, and was at one time well-adapted and in balance with its native habitat. But  c’mon – I’ve been keeping quiet and recording “just the facts” about the critters –  and it wasn’t hard to find this unsurprising (lock)step:

from the blog, Nationalism in Our Times of Need
from the blog, Nationalism in Our Times of Need

The author of this blog, code name Red Squirrel, writes,

I am proud to be a member of The British National Party. This photograph replaces the image of the Red Squirrel I used to conceal my identity from the disgusting hammer wielding fascist scum, that threaten to burn people alive! But I hide NO More!These people are reprobates, paid by the government and the Islamists to intimidate, silence or even kill freedom loving people who dare to raise their voices in protest. Please wake up Britain and vote For the only party able to halt this madness! We are descending into the horror of a repressive and totalitarian regime. I love my Nation. Do You? Our Civilisation once gone would be irreplaceable!

and this is quite a surprising profile photo (nice rainbow; is this mythic Britain?):

profile-valhalla