I went with the NIU Art Museum Studies class for a behind the scenes look at the specimens lab at the Chicago Field Museum last week. It was very interesting viewing the bird specimens and the labs were the Field Museum staff prepare them. We even got a tour of the "bug room" where aquariums full of beetles eat the meat off the skeletons. Although the smell was a bit nauseating, it was fascinating to witness the process.
We also went on a tour of the Joel Oppenheimer Natural History Art Gallery and Restoration Lab. The owner took us through the gallery, explaining many of Audubon's Bird of America prints in his collection, and described the various methods by which they were printed. He then took us to the restoration lab where they bring old prints back to life.
No comments:
Post a Comment