Postscript - Natural History Museum

3/8/2016

With the work safely installed, it was a pleasure to spend Saturday in the Museum talking to visitors about the project. Some very encouraging comments and reflections from people seeing the books for the first time. I appreciate all the support from friends and to visitors who took time to look at the work.
In the quieter moments during the day, I was fascinated - listening to the sounds around me,and inparticular various comments from children.
While it appeared some adults felt uneasy with the taxidermy displays, the reverse was true form the responses of children. They would peer in close to various animals, thoroughly delighted by the experience. Every now and then there would be gasps of surprise, and excited voices calling to family members to 'come and see this'.
While Museums continually have to balance exhibits that may often be perceived as controversial, the taxidermy displays certainly generated curiosity and excitement for the children. As I child I remember being enthralled by visits to the Natural History Museum, but as an adult now have a wider understanding of these issues. I still love visiting Museums, - they are and always will be places of discovery and wonder.