Stuffed Documentary Showing
Q&A with Allis Markham and Taxidermy Show & Tell
Friday, May 31, 2024 | 6:30 – 9 pm
Old City Hall Rotunda
PLUS: Enjoy a special craft cocktail made just for film guests at Storia Cucina! Ticketholders receive a coupon to enjoy a drink before or after the event.
On Friday, May 31, the Whatcom Museum invites you to a screening of the award-winning film Stuffed, which premiered to acclaim at SXSW in Austin. It features Prey Taxidermy’s Allis Markham and documents the surprising and unique world of taxidermy through the eyes of the newest generation of artists, sculptors, and scientists who are keenly intent on preserving the natural world they love.
Considered one of the world’s leading bird taxidermists, Prey Taxidermy owner and educator Allis Markham got her start apprenticing at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles under the legendary Tim Bovard, one of the last remaining dedicated museum taxidermists in the country. Since opening her studio in 2011, her clients have included the Smithsonian, the Getty Research Institute, multiple natural history and nature & science centers around the country, and even TV production studios and international brands like Gucci. With Allis will be avian biologist and award-winning taxidermist Paloma Strong, who has studied at Prey Taxidermy under Allis’ guidance for 10 years.
Today, Allis and Paloma continue to focus on museum preservation while teaching the craft to students in the US and abroad. 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, humor, and stories (so many stories!) to Bellingham.
Craving a cocktail to top off your evening? We’ve got you covered!
Thanks to our long-time partner and favorite restaurateur, Jonathan Cicotti, we’re excited to give Friday’s film ticketholders a drink discount at both Bar Cicotti and sister restaurant Storia Cucina. Try the event-exclusive “Preserved Perfection” craft cocktail at Storia, or savor a “Stuffed Glass of Montepulciano” at Bar Cicotti. Plus, enjoy 10% off these drinks with your coupon!
Ticketholders will receive a coupon, good at both Storia Cucina and Bar Cicotti, to enjoy a glass of wine or specially named craft cocktail before or after the film!
Tickets also include admission to Old City Hall exhibition galleries. Seating for the film is first come, first served in the rotunda or in the Hall of Birds mezzanine.
Taxidermy Lab 101
with Allis Markham & Paloma Strong
Saturday, June 1, 2024 | 10 am – 12:30 pm
Old City Hall Rotunda
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. Now is your chance to learn from two of the country’s leading preservationists.
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.
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.
