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The following
photographic-rich article features Takeshi Yamada’s recent
attendance at “The Great Autumnal Taxidermy Get Together” in
New York City produced by the Minnesota Association of Rogue
Taxidermists. MART had a taxidermy contest and Yamada won
the Grand Champion for his taxidermy artworks of 4-feet Fiji
mermaid and 3-feet Sea Rabbit. This manuscript was produced
by Dr. Eriko N. Bond, an active art critic and author in New
York City, as told by Yamada and edited by Diane M. Taros.
Most of the photographs were taken by Takeshi Yamada and
Eriko N. Bond.
Saturday, October 28th, 2006
5:30-6:30pm Master Class
7:00-8:00pm Game Feed
Contest to follow
Union
Hall,
702 Union street @5th
Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215
An
announcement card (front and back)
Exhibitions of living freak
animals and their taxidermies (whether they are authentic
specimens or gaffs) have been an essential part of the
time-honored traditional Dime Museum style American circus
sideshows. Examples of them are two-headed human baby, Fiji
mermaid, Jackalope, hairy trout, Jenny Haniver, two-headed
calf, two-headed snake, giant rat, etc. Major traveling
circus sideshow companies such as ones owned by Bobby
Raynolds (now closed) and Jack Constantine (Museum of World
Oddities) have a large collection of them. "The Funny farm:
Strange & Unusual Critters" by Jeff and Cheryl McIntyreas at
state fairs also has over 30 attractions of curious animals.
(http://sideshowworld.com/interviewFunnyFair.html)
MART
Minnesota Association of
Rogue Taxidermists (MART) was founded by Scott Bibus, Sarina
Brewer and Robert
Marbury in October 2004. MART is a veritable rout dedicated
to a shared mandate to advocate the showmanship of oddities;
espose the belief in natural adaptation and mutation; and
encourage the desire to create displays of curiosity.
(www.roguetaxidermy.com)
Last fall, in conjunction
with the publication of their book “Carnivorous Nights: On
the Trail of the Tasmanian Tiger,” the authors Margaret
Mittelbach and Michael Crewdson organized a taxidermy
contest at Pete’s Candy Store, a bar in Williamsburg area of
Brooklyn, New York. The Grand Champion of the previous year
was Union Hall's own "Rump Ape," a monkey-faced gaff created
by stretching a deer hind over a mannequin head and adding
eyes.
Following the last year’s
successful taxidermy event, MART produced the second
taxidermy get together at the “Union Hall” in New York City
(Park Slope area of Brooklyn,
New York). The three
founding members flew to New York City from Minnesota solely
for the purpose of producing this educational, cultural,
historical and entertaining event in Brooklyn.
Note: Union Hall is a 5,000
square foot bar, restaurant and live music venue in the
heart of Park Slope, Brooklyn. This rich entertaining bar
offers cozy firesides, a stately library, two indoor bocce
courts, outdoor garden seating, and a downstairs bar and
music venue. On the occasion of this year’s Halloween, MART
with the support of the Secret Science Club of the Union
Hall produced a truly unique and inspirational
history-making event for public. Admission was free.
(http://www.unionhallny.com/)
PR
Extensive news media
campaigns were conducted in New York City, and many
newspapers featured this upcoming MART event. Examples of
local newspapers are amNY.com (“Bar becomes animal house”,
October 25, 2006 issue), 24 Seven (“The witchinh Hour Is
Here, And It Is Time to Howl”, October 30, 2006 issue),
VillageVoice (“Stuffed Animals”, October 25-31, 2006 issue),
NYPRESS.COM (Taxidermy, Brooklyn-style, October 25-31, 2006
issue), etc. The MART event was perfect for the Halloween
week for New Yorkers.
The
event announcement in NYPRESS.COM newspaper. October 25-31
issue featuring
the
circus sideshow style high quality freak taxidermy artworks
created by Sarina Brewer.
Taxidermy Demonstration
During 5:30 pm and 6:30pm,
a live taxidermy demonstration by licensed taxidermist,
Scott Bibus was given for public at the Union Hall. About
100 curious and enthusiastic New Yorkers gathered and the
place was completely packed. For the live skinning
demonstration, a chicken (ready to be cooked) was obtained
from the Chinatown.
A very
entertaining live taxidermy demonstration and lecture of
skinning a chicken on the
stage by
licensed professional taxidermist Scott Bibus with the help
of Sarina Brewer.
Game
Feed
After the taxidermy live
demonstration, special hunter’s meal entitled “Game Feed”
was served for gathered enthusiasts.
It was a meal consisting of
the same animal featured in the demonstration.
It was a tasty but very
spicy chicken gumbo.
A vegan option was also
provided.
From the
left, Sarina Brewer with the “Game Feed” dish, Takeshi
Yamada,
Robyn Swank.
(photograph by Robyn Swank)
Annual Taxidermy Contest
The highlight of the MART’s
taxidermy event of the night in New York City was the second
annual juried taxidermy contest entitled "A very Carnivorous
Night Taxidermy Contest”. This contest is open to taxidermy
(homemade, purchased, found), preserved and jarred
specimens, articulated skeletons, skulls, pelts, gaffs ...
and beyond.
More than a dozen of local
taxidermy collectors, enthusiasts, and artists brought their
treasured taxidermy collections and
creations (about 20 entries) before the judges on the stage.
To the taxidermy contest, Takeshi Yamada brought his
home-made original gaffs - Fiji mermaid and Sea Rabbit.
A
bird-bodied Jackalope purchased in Europe by the collector.
A
breath-taking pangolin taxidermy by the collector.
Pickled
testicles of a pet puppy in a jar next to its framed
photograph,
and
varieties of small mummified animals in a shadow box by the
couple.
Yamada talked about Ningyo-shinko (religion of
worshipping mermaids as deity)
in Japan with his Mummified 4-feet Fiji Mermaid on the stage
for public.
Yamada talked about Henry Hudson’s adventure and discovery
of the Sea Rabbit
in New York City in 1609 with his animating taxidermy Sea
Rabbit on the stage for public.
Yamada’s
4-feet Fiji Mermaid and Sea Rabbit
A variety of awards were
bestowed to the competitors. Here are a few memorable ones.
Nate Hill, who got the Squirrel Scrotum won "You're friggin
Nuts" Award. AV Jones won a MART membership with his
Canceled Flight inspired 2-piece mounted taxidermy Pigeon.
Takeshi Yamada won a MART
membership and commemorative squirrel taxidermy head by
Sarina Brewer, and was crowned "Grand Champion" of the
annual taxidermy competition. Yamada also received the
official patch of The Minnesota Association of Rogue
Taxidermists and official patches of “Urban Beasts” project
by Robert Marbury.
The
certificate of the membership of MART signed by the three
co-founders for Yamada.
(left)
The Official patch of The Minnesota Association of Rogue
Taxidermists.
(right)
A skinned grey squirrel head taxidermy with refrigerator
magnet made by Sarina Brewer.
Official
patches of “Urban Beasts” by Robert Marbury.
From the
left, Robert Marbury, Takeshi Yamada, Sarina Brewer, Scott
Bibus.
Letters
The following day, Takeshi
Yamada sent e-mails to the three founders of The Minnesota
Association of Rogue Taxidermists. Followings are e-mails
Yamada received from them.
Hello
Takeshi,
I was very
pleased to meet you Saturday night. Your passion for
taxidermy, taxidermy-art and sideshow exhibits is
infectious and your two pieces defenitely helped make
the night a success. I just took a second to look
through some of your online gallery and was very
impressed. You are extremely talented. Hopefully, with
more enthusiastic champions like you, taxidermy art will
continue to grow in popularity and will not be
forgotten.
Thanks
again for coming and I hope to see you again.
Sincerely,
Scott a.
a. Bibus
October
31, 2006
Hey
Takeshi,
Thank you
again for coming out to our show. We were very happy to
have you present and it is always good to have a grand
champion.
We also
really enjoyed the taxidermy event and hope to have
another event in
new york
soon. please keep us in mind for other events in
Brooklyn
or NYC.
please
send along any photographs, since i am trying to collect
everything before making out gallery up. also, I have
made up a webpage for you on our site. You are listed as
a working member.
welcome to
the MART!
Robert
November
1, 2006
Hello
Takeshi,
Sorry for
my delayed reply. I was inundated with emails while in
NYC and have been diligently returning them for last
several days. It was a great honor to meet you in
person! Your work is absolutely amazing! You are truly a
renaissance man - so gifted in so many areas of the
arts. (your paintings are amazing as well! )
The get
together was loads of fun! I hope there will be similar
events in the future.
That
magnet is indeed the head of a squirrel. I dry them and
paint them. I hope it will enjoy a prominent new home on
the front of your refrigerator ;) Again, so nice to meet
you. Please stay in touch.
Take care,
Sarina
November
2, 2006
NYC
Newspaper Coverage
The Brooklyn Paper Vol.29,
No. 43, November 4, 2006 issue (page 1 and 14) featured the
MART event with color photographs as shown below. This
weekly free newspaper is distributed mainly in Brooklyn, New
York. The newspaper can be viewed (PDF) at following
website.
http://www.brooklynpapers.com/html/issues/_vol29/29_43/29_43guide.html
Takeshi
Yamada’s interview at the taxidermy contest was featured in
the page 14.
Takeshi Yamada was also
featured full-page article with photograph in the Village
Voice (weekly free newspaper), page 36, November 15-21, 2006
issue. It is based on the extensive 2-day interviews (Silke
Tudor) and an all-day photo-session (Leslie Van Stelten)
about Yamada’s creative taxidermy artworks.
Robert Marbury’s insightful
comments on Yamada and his Coney Island style freak
taxidermy artworks are also featured in it.
The newspaper can be viewed at following website.
http://www.villagevoice.com/nyclife/0646,tudor,75027,15.html
Following is
a website featuring the more comprehensive media coverage of
MART for years.
http://www.roguetaxidermy.com/press/
Following is
a mini webpage of Takeshi Yamada in MART website.
http://www.roguetaxidermy.com/members_detail.php?id=528
Followings
are major websites featuring art events and artworks of
Takeshi Yamada.
www.sideshowworld.com/SSA-15.html
www.takeshi.yamada.brooklynartist.com/
http://horseshoecrab.org/poem/feature/takeshi.html
Followings
are websites of MART and its co-founders.
www.roguetaxidermy.com
www.urbanbeast.com/home.html
www.scottbibus.com
www.CustomCreatureTaxidermy.com
http://sideshowworld.com/blowoffRogue.html
END
All rights
reserved by Takeshi Yamada, November 2006. Takeshi Yamada’s
Museum of World Wonders in Coney Island, 1405 Neptune
Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11224, USA.
Phone:
718.714.6434. E-mail: yamada108@aol.com
Special
thanks to Eriko N. Bond and Diane M. Taros for producing &
reviewing this manuscript.
Special
thanks to Eriko N. Bond and
Robyn Von Swank for featured photographs.
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