small worlds I

the diorama display at the Museum of Natural History is by far the most exciting section of the facility. These displays are truly masterfully done, at the hands of a legendary scene painter, James Perry Wilson, justifiably named the Raphael of the animal diorama. These were originally completed back in 1942 and just recently have undergone an extensive restoration. Upon viewing them from afar and up close, there is a great “tie in” between the beautifully executed 2d painted landscapes and the 3 dimensional mammals. Though the animal skins are all real, and usually taken from the very site depicted, the grasses and leaves and trees that surround them are made of plastics, plasters, paper, and beeswax, painstakingly molded and painted and pinned together. I’ve always wanted to do a series on these and so, last week, I went back along with my trusty hasselblad to do these great exhibits justice in a classic portrait style format.