This Over That

Often in our practice as artists and museum professionals, we encounter materials that are not suitable for the task at hand. We may also be curious to  know what materials are made of, how they will react with each other and how they will age. In this workshop, conservators Bethany Palumbo and Fran Ritchie will introduce a range of museum-quality materials that can be used in the fabrication, restoration, and storage of taxidermy. 

The morning session introduces commonly-used conservation materials such as adhesives and bulked fill-materials. Students will get hands-on experience preparing these materials and will be able to test the handling and working properties. Note, this course does not cover conservation and restoration techniques on specimens. Rather, it presents museum quality materials that are durable and long-lasting, to use in the place of common, commercially available materials.

The afternoon session introduces packing and storage materials and methods that will ensure the safety of your taxidermy specimens for transport and storage. Students will also have the opportunity to pack taxidermy specimens using the recommended materials and techniques they have learnt during the session.

By the end of this course, students will have greater awareness of options when it comes to recommended materials to use in fabrication, restoration and storage of taxidermy. Information is aimed at taxidermists, taxidermy enthusiasts and early career museum professionals.

What INHA Will Provide:

• Private studio access with the use of all necessary tools and supplies needed for the class.

• Multiple mounts to practice techniques. These mounts are on loan from a local museum, providing students the experience of working on actual specimens.

  
  

About the Instructors:

Bethany Palumbo ACR is Head of Conservation Unit at the Natural History Museum of Denmark and is specialized in the conservation of Natural History collection types, foremost bone material and taxidermy. Previous to this, she was the Conservator of Life Collections at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History (OUMNH) from 2012-2019. She is accredited by the UK Institute for Conservation and has over a decade of conservation experience in the international museum field. Bethany has a BA (2010) and MA (2013) in conservation studies from the University of Lincoln, UK.

Fran Ritchie is an art conservator who specializes in the care and preservation of natural history collections. She has treated and restored taxidermy in museums across the United States, including the American Museum of Natural History, Zion National Park, Biltmore Estate, Buffalo Bill Center of the West, and the Alaska State Museum. A graduate of the art conservation program at Buffalo State College (M.A., C.A.S.), she has also taught graduate students at the Conservation Center of the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University and lead workshops at several meetings of the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections. She is a Professional Associate of the American Institute for Conservation

Class Policies:

• Please arrive 15m prior the class commencement. If you are running late, please call us at (973)-890-1516 and let us know.

• By signing up for our classes, you recognize the risks associated with these classes—working with sharp tools and practicing safe specimen handling.  

• You agree to follow the instructor’s advice and will not hold the instructor or venue liable for harm.

• For your safety and to accommodate studio policy, no food is allowed during classes. Drinks in a container with a lid are permitted.

• There is a break room available equipped with a microwave and coffee machine if you want to bring your own lunch and stay in the studio during lunch time. If you prefer to leave, there are many nearby restaurants and fast-food chains.

• Due to Covid 19 policies, social distance and the use of masks will be based on community guidelines.

• You will receive an email with a release form and a waiver. Documents must be signed and returned to INHA prior the class.

• No refunds unless the instructor reschedules or cancels the class. Please contact us if you cannot attend.

  
  

Cancellation Policies:

• Cancellations 15 days prior to your class date will incur a 25% service charge, and the remaining amount will be transferred as credit for the next event.

• Cancellations 8 to 14 days of your class date will incur a 50% service charge, and the remaining amount will be transferred as credit for the next event.

• Please note that cancellations within 7 days of the class are neither refundable nor transferable to another event.

• Refunds are only available

  if an event is postponed, rescheduled, or relocated by the Institute for Natural History Arts. In this case, your ticket(s) remain valid, and no further action is necessary. However, if you're unable to attend the event on the new date, you can request a refund to your original payment method or retain the amount as credit for future events.