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A tribute to two cherished individuals ~

I began gilding preserved animals in the early 1990s while earning my BFA at the Minneapolis College of Art & Design and they remain my favorite things to create. Out of all of them, this is my very favorite. This was a commission from 7 years ago but I have waited until now to post it because of the emotional nature of this piece and the meaning it has to its owner. The client originally commissioned it to memorialize her deceased black cat, named “Muse”. Then, only several months after having the sculpture in her possession, my client’s daughter died unexpectedly. As a result, this piece took on additional layers of meaning for her because she saw it also representing her child passing to the other side. I haven’t spoken with her since she relayed the tragic news to me, but I hope her memories have brought her comfort with the passage of time, and that this piece is among the things that evokes them.

TITLE: Musings of an Afterlife MATERIALS: Taxidermy kitten, gold leaf, vintage ormolu mirror with opaque black glass insert.

More of my work at www.Sarina-Brewer.com ~ The philosophical foundation of my work dictates no animal should die for the sake of art. Throughout the course of my career I have exclusively used humanely-sourced animals. Roadkill and natural deaths are my staples. Each sculpture is an hommage to the animal and a celebration of their enduring beauty in life and in death. Google me for more about the no-kill ethics platform I introduced and my role in its popularization.

#Art #Sculpture #Afterlife

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Monkeying around this weekend. Hope you’re having a good one too #PartyOn 🍸

#Mood #MonkeyingAround #MonkeyBusiness #FlyingMonkeys #Taxidermy

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Flashback Friday ~ A hard copy article that ran this month 19 years ago in the San Francisco Chronicle/SFGate.

This was part of a larger article titled “Oddly It’s Art” that featured two artists in addition to myself whose work was also considered outside the mainstream. I have spent the majority of my career fighting to have taxidermy seen as a valid medium to create contemporary art. This article is just one of many from back then that questioned the legitimacy of my work as true art. Fortunately that’s no longer in question and taxidermy-based art is now proliferating in galleries and art museums alike. But sadly, after all of this time, I’m still fighting the way my work is presented by the press. 99% of everyone who has ever written about my work has attempted to put a dark spin on something that comes from a place of light. But, as we all know, sensationalism sells. The very first question in this article goes down in history as the dumbest thing I have ever been asked during an interview – “So, are you goth or something?” (2 decades later I still remember the sound of crickets playing in my head when I read that question the first time LOL) Whatevs. The remaining line of questioning was standard fare and I was able to use a little humor to turn any of the uninformed questions into fun answers. It actually turned out to be a decent little piece for what it was. Ultimately I was just grateful they didn’t run the article around Halloween, a slot I continue to be reserved for to this day🤦🏻‍♀️ #ThanksTypecasting #GottaRollWithIt

Link here to read the archived article which is tragically sans photos of work by the other two people featured in the piece – “Toothpick Guy” and “The Barbie Mutilator” (I rest my case)

#FBF

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Wolpertinger Wednesday ~

A lighthearted and whimsical commission from many moons ago. The infamous “wolpertinger” of Bavarian folklore, only this time with a Northern Minnesota twist. The internet fell in love with this piece back in 2009. Over the years it has appeared on a number of news and entertainment sites across the globe including locales as far away as Brazil, Japan, and Russia. Fifteen years later this charming little character is still popping up in Google searches and warming people’s hearts.

Wolpertingers are a long-standing tradition in German folklore, particularly in Bavaria. These fictional creatures are said to inhabit the deepest, darkest parts of the forest and stories about them have circulated for centuries. Akin to the flying Jackalope of the American Great West, wolpertingers are purportedly the hybrid offspring resulting from the ‘ungodly’ mating of a hare and a deer. Taxidermy mounts of wolpertingers are a big part of the tradition. Mounts served as mascots in German taverns as far back as the early 1800’s, and still do to this day. There is also a long tradition of these mounts being sold as souvenirs in Bavaria. Originally locals sold stuffed wolpertingers to gullible tourists, claiming the mounts were hunting trophies of real animals. These days they are a popular gift shoppe novelty in the region.

Historical illustrations and paintings of wolpertingers traditionally depict them as a hare/rabbit with antlers and wings, sometimes with bird talons replacing their paws. In addition to rabbits, fox were often used to create the taxidermied tavern mascots. Modern mass-produced taxidermy mounts of wolpertingers are usually made with the comparatively inexpensive pelts of muskrats and ground squirrels. I decided my version of a wolpertinger needed a humorous twist that would set it apart from traditional interpretations so I utilized a grey tree squirrel, a species not found in old-school wolpertinger mounts. The remaining animals I used to create my version are traditional components, in this case game bird wings, duck feet, roe deer antlers, and fox fangs.

See more of my work at www.Sarina-Brewer.com

#Folklore #Wolpertinger #Cryptozoology #RogueTaxidermy #Jackalope #wacky wednesday #taxidermy

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💘 For Valentine’s Day ~ An oldie but goodie from 15 years ago. Titled "Forever Yours", this #TaxidermySculpture was commissioned by a gentleman as a gift for his fiancé on her birthday. The entire exterior is rabbit skin, including the heads and faces. The fur is dyed and the bare skin is painted. This type of work was unprecedented at the time and my unorthodox use of taxidermy materials landed this sculpture in a few mags back in the day, including the feminist lifestyle magazine BUST in 2009. Garishly colored animals continue to be some of my favorite things to create and remain among my signature works. Another one will be moving from the sketchbook to the workbench soon so stay tuned ~

#pop surrealism #popsurrealist #ContemporaryArt #lowbrowart #rogue taxidermy

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#TaxidermyTipTuesday ~

I employ, and enjoy, a lot of the old-school taxidermy techniques. Making wrapped wire tails is one of them. If the species you’re working with doesn’t have a fluffy tail that conceals inconsistencies in the diameter of your wrapped tail then it’s a job you can’t rush. Luckily I find the slow repetitive winding of the fibers meditative even though it can sometimes be monotonous as well. Back in the late 1990’s when I was learning taxidermy I bought my tail wrapping fiber from VanDyke's Taxidermy Supplies and they called it “jeweler’s tow” in their catalog. I don’t hear it called that anymore but I think it was simply combed jute or hemp(?) But that’s neither here nor there because my go-to these days is combed flax tow. I think it sticks to itself better and is easier to control than spun hemp or jute. The first layer inside a big thick tail like this one is cotton batting. Then I wrap the flax over the cotton. In many situations I find it beneficial to draw a midline onto the finished wrapped tail so I stay on track as I sew the hide onto it. (Make sure to use a marker that isn’t water water-soluble or it will bleed and could stain your fur) As mentioned, wrapping a tail is an old-school taxidermy technique. These days, for most larger species, you can buy flexible prefab molded urethane tails with a wire center. I still prefer to wrap my own tails because I find it easier to remove excess fiber from a wrapped tail versus shaving down a prefab tail if I find the skin is fitting too tightly once I’m in the process of sewing the skin over my tail. Just a personal preference. I know a lot of people prefer prefab because of the time they can save, but to each their own.

#TaxidermyTips #Taxidermist #FemaleTaxidermist #WomanTaxidermist #TaxidermyInstruction #TaxidermyLessons

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And when you buy AI “art” this is what is being stolen

#artistlife #supportthearts #buyart

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Specially priced for the holidays, this and many other works ~ Link here for selection and pricing. Featured in this post is a taxidermy sculpture I created for the themed exhibition “Genesis and Genius” at Lovetts Gallery in Tulsa. Scroll down to read the story behind it ~

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TITLE: Aquinairia MATERIALS: Dove, duck, rooster and sea bass components over a sculpted clay armature on a vintage metal stand with 24K gold leaf and Austrian crystals

Like all of the shows at this gallery, the enigmatic open-ended themes are merely a springboard for brainstorming and are designed to induce wildly varied interpretations. I decided to tie my piece to the word ‘genesis’. I’m not religious but some Bible stories piqued my interest as a child, specifically some of the stories in the Book of Genesis. Among them was a story about God creating the Universe in 6 days. The concept for this piece came from day 5 of the Creation Story ~ “And God said, ‘Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky’. So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm, and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good”.

But, as we all know, God wastes nothing. So at the end of day 5 she gathered up the leftovers and made herself a pet. And God saw that it was good; very, very good. And God named her new pet Aquinairia.

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Both fish and birds exist in seemingly weightless states. I wanted the lines of this piece to be fluid so it looked like it could be moving through the air, the water, or the heavens. And if it resides in Heaven, naturally it needed to be white and gold.

For the title (Aquinairia) I spliced together the words ‘aqua’, ‘air’, and ‘quinary’. The word ‘quinary' not only means ‘five’ but also refers to a historical zoological taxonomy system that was used during the early 19th century called the Quinarian system.

#fantasyart #taxidermyart #taxidermysculpture #fantasy taxidermy

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Playing with different angles of the piece in my previous post #SchlagmetalTaxidermy #SilverSquirrel

#ExperimentalTaxidermy

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Give a gift of galactic proportions. Art.

All work 10% now through December 24th

“Captain’s log, stardate 12.17.2023. Space… the final frontier… These are the voyages of rogue taxidermy. My 25-year-old mission: to explore strange new works. To seek out new life via new amalgamations. To boldly go where no man has gone before”

#FemaleTaxidermist #ExperimentalTaxidermy #OutOfThisWorldTaxidermy

TITLE: You Have a Wonderful Future Behind You MATERIALS: Tanned and dehaired squirrel hide covered with schlagmetal (body), recycled platinum mink remnants (tail), mirrored stainless steel marbles (eyes), nickel-plated bank pins (rivets), antique jewelry box feet, vintage Swarovski cut crystal acorn, deco-style black lacquer wood plinth, artificial turf

One of my taxidermy sculptures that recently landed at Lovetts Gallery in Tulsa. The theme for this particular exhibition was “Area 51”. I enjoy the challenge of coming up with concepts that fit into themed shows and one pushed taxidermy to the outer limits. This piece was inspired by a theory that suggests extraterrestrials are time traveling humans from Earth’s future. No one can predict the future, but there are inevitabilities in the foreseeable. More flora and fauna will go extinct. Technology will increasingly replace organic processes. Our world will slowly fill up with artificially created plants. Artificially created animals. Artificial environments. Artificial intelligence. Artificial everything. After we are gone, there will only be monuments to what once was. This piece is intended not only to evoke the feeling of a monument, but also to mimic a trophy; a satirical award for our stellar stewardship of the planet.

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Link here to see all work currently available

#EnvironmentalArt #EcologicalArt #EcoArt #TaxidermySculpture #TaxidermyArt #PopSurrealism #LowbrowArt #SquirrelArt #SquirrelSculpture #Squirrels

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UP FOR ADOPTION ~ The only thing better than a puppy under a Christmas tree is a unicorn under a Christmas tree. This is one of my early pieces that formerly resided in my personal collection. To free up space I recently sent it to a gallery to find it a new home. It’s priced what it would have sold for back when I first made it, thus it’s less expensive than my more recent works. This creates a unique opportunity for collectors working within a budget. Even better, this piece is also on sale right now through December 24th. Interested parties please contact Lovetts Gallery in Tulsa. Link here for pricing and to view all pieces I currently have available. Continue reading about this piece below.

TITLE: Zell’s Baby DIMENSIONS: 20”x 22"x 9” MATERIALS: Stillborn lamb, deer antler, handmade leather Celtic collar

This taxidermy sculpture is dedicated to a man named Oberon Zell-Ravenheart, a breeder of living unicorns. You read that right. They really do exist. He even owns a patent on them. If a real unicorn isn’t weird enough as it is, the process by which he created his man-made animals is even weirder. The single horn wasn’t achieved through selective breeding as you might be tempted to think. Truth is stranger than fiction, folks. I guarantee it will be worth your effort to visit this URL and read the interview with him and see photos of his babies. When you do, don’t forget to click on the link that the interview provides to his patent diagrams. They will having you leaning in for a closer look and scratching your chin. http://www.sideshowworld.com/9-ms-pi/interview-OZ.html...

When I was a small child I actually got to see one of his unicorns at the Renaissance Festival and even got to touch its horn. The experience was absolutely magical and made such an impression on me that it has stayed with me for my entire life. This taxidermy sculpture is a re-creation of that particular animal based on my childhood memories of it.

#FantasyTaxidermy #UnicornArt #TaxidermyUnicorn #SideshowTaxidermy #SideshowGaff #FantasyAnimals #MythologicalArt #MythologicalCreatures #Unicorns #Unicorn #Taxidermy #RenaissanceFestival

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Dear collectors ~ Put this on your mantel this holiday season. It’s among the pieces I have specially priced thru Dec 24th. Scroll to my previous post to see the entire selection of available work. Continue reading below to learn about this particular piece.

"I have always been captivated by Art Nouveau and Art Deco, which is where I drew my inspiration for the style of this griffin. The idea for the arched feather antennae came from stylized Deco-era renditions of gazelle with their exaggerated flowing horns, a popular motif at that time. Genuine pearl eyes and 24 karat gold are among the details that add to the elegance of this piece "

TITLE: Absinthe DIMENSIONS: 21” x 12” x 12” MATERIALS: Animal skins over a sculpted clay armature with genuine pearl eyes. 24K gold leafed hoop (repurposed vintage ormolu vanity mirror frame) affixed to a custom-made riser. Hand-blown cloche from Poland atop a Victorian-style footed wooden base

"The iridescent green undertones of the black feathers inspired the title – 'Absinthe'. The purported hallucinogenic effect of its green liquor namesake is said to conjure figments and fantasies, which earned the anise-flavored spirit the nickname “The Green Fairy”. I have always thought the way early glass windows distort objects looks like a wavy dream sequence, so I chose a vintage cloche for this piece because the circumferential rings rippling downward from its crown imparted an ethereal feel to the creature within it "

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This piece is available exclusively through Lovetts Fine Art in Tulsa. Purchase inquiries can be directed to www.LovettsGallery.com

#FantasyArt #TaxidermyArt #MythologicalCreatures #Griffin #Gryphon #ArtNouveau #ArtDeco #Taxidermy #BeautyInDeath #FantasyArtwork #VictorianTaxidermy #MythologicalArt

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No one cares if you were naughty or nice. Treat yourself to some art this year. All available works are 10% off for the holidays. Each strain of my work is represented right now so there is something for everyone ~ www.sarina-brewer.com/taxidermy-sculpture-for-sale.htmlml

#BuyArt

#CollectArt

#InvestInArt

#SupportTheArts

#SupportLivingArtists

#ArtForSale #BuyArt #CollectArt #InvestInArt #SupportTheArts #SupportLivingArtists #TaxidermyForSale #TaxidermyArtForSale #TaxidermySculptureForSale #DearSanta

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Be Thankful

Glazed in beguiling dark humor, this taxidermy sculpture has a serious message that rings even more true today than it did when I originally made the piece ten years ago. As most of you likely have heard, the population of Earth just reached 8 billion. In the span of a mere decade since this sculpture was created, an additional billion humans now live on the planet. Below is the statement that accompanied this sculpture the first time it was exhibited in 2014 in a themed exhibition titled Fruitful and Multiplying – The Overpopulation Exhibit. So much for progress.

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TITLE: Turducken à la Monsanto MATERIALS: Domestic duck, turkey, and rooster skins

“This piece is a commentary on the absurdity and entitlement of gourmet foods, the privilege of being able to allocate food for the purpose of art, and the disconcerting technology of interspecies grafting performed by the bioengineering industry. The strain on our planet's resources has become immense as the population of Earth crests 7 billion. With a tipping point looming, genetic engineers are creating hybrid species of livestock and crops designed to produce the highest yield possible while using the least amount of resources. The reality is many developing countries do not have the means to utilize this controversial technology and only an elite portion of the Earth's population will profit from these so-called advances. We live in a country rich in all resources. It enables us to use food towards a myriad of frivolous ends, including our entertainment. We create designer cuisine that is more about status than it is about sustenance, and we feed human quality food to our pets. While we enjoy our luxury foods, for much of the world just having food is a luxury.” ~

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I recently culled a number of works from my personal collection to offer for sale. This sculpture is among a handful of others that are now available. Link here for price list

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#PopSurrealism #EnvironmentalArt #EcologicalArt #EcoArt #FactoryFarming #GeneticEngineering #Geoengineering #Bioengineering #Biotechnology #biotech #GeneSplicing #crispr #Chimera #FeedThePlanet #FeedTheWorld #PopulationGrowth #PopulationControl #Monsanto #Turducken #ThanksgivingArt #PopSurrealist

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#MonstrousMonday ~ Looking for ideas for your Thanksgiving dinner? Look no further. Behold the cockentrice (No, it’s not a piece of my art, it was somebody’s dinner) A feast for the eyes, and possibly your stomach. This bizarre creation was a popular luxury dish served at opulent medieval banquets. Creating a cockentrice requires sewing together a piglet and a capon filled with stuffing, then roasting it/them (the one pictured here is raw and still needs to go in the oven) A capon is a rooster that was castrated at a very young age to make its meat more tender. Sometimes they are fattened up via force-feeding in the same manner ducks and geese are force-fed to fatten them for making foie gras (an expensive pâté made from their livers). The cockentrice is traditionally constructed by sewing the torso of the piglet to the bottom half of the capon but sometimes a turkey is used instead of a capon. Alternately, the torso of the bird can be sewn to the rump of the piglet, a less common configuration. So, next time you need to "wow" your dinner guests, here is the gold standard. Or, perhaps better just to save the recipe for some interesting (and unappetizing) trivia to bring up over dinner. You’re welcome.

#BizarreFoods #Taxidermy #VultureCulture #Frankenstein #ThanksgivingDinner

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🍁 Some autumn colors seemed in order for this #ThrowbackThursday so I pulled these oldies but goodies from the vault.

(From left to right) Amber Griffin, 2006 Jabbercocky, 2016 Chernobyl Chicken, 2005 Freak Peep, 2004

More at www.Sarina-Brewer.com

#TaxidermyArt #RogueTaxidermy #TaxidermySculpture #FantasyTaxidermy #PopSurrealism

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A #FlashbackFriday post 'purrrr'fect for an October Friday the 13th ~

This is one of the very first examples of my work in print. The year was 2003. These were the pre rogue taxidermy days – my colleagues and I hadn't even invented the term yet. A tabloid named The Weekly World News bought rights to use an image of my winged kitten in one of their famously outrageous stories. The article was about flying black cats that were terrorizing Chicago and New York City. They stalked hapless vagrants and streetwalkers under the cover of darkness, then emitted shrill screeching sounds as they descended from the skies onto the throats of their victims. The Weekly World News published fictional articles and was renowned for its outlandish cover stories that were often based on supernatural or paranormal themes. It was published from 1979 to 2007 and was a staple on the racks of all grocery store checkout lines. Their imagery and stories have since become cult classics and live in infamy in the annals of American pop culture, often referenced and parodied in film, writing and art.

#PopCulture #Tabloid #RogueTaxidermy #UrbanLegends #CultClassic #FridayThe13th #BlackCat #BlackCats #Monsters #Horror #FBF #FlashbackFriday