To me, Nature is God. Without it, we simply would not exist. Conserving the world’s natural spaces and the creatures that live there is paramount to the survival of humans as a species, and I have therefore dedicated my life to studying environmentalism in order to help people co-exist more successfully and sustainably with the natural world.
All natural materials I use in my creations are either sourced from roadkill, Fish and Game, secondhand sources such as fellow artists and estate sales, or are antique. In this way, I'm ensuring that no animals were needlessly killed for the sake of the artwork I produce. I fully believe that no part of any creature should go to waste if a purpose can be found for it, but I do NOT support trophy hunters or overseas fur farms by buying 'byproducts' like bones, skulls, or claws directly from them. The only exception I make for this rule is for parts from animals legally culled for population control programs approved by Fish and Wildlife.
As a photographer and wildlife enthusiast, I've been involved with many fantastic organizations such as Images4Life and Wild Tiger, as well as the Sierra Club and many smaller, local groups.
I've been published, interviewed, and even featured on Rainn Wilson (Dwight from “The Office”)'s personal networking website, SoulPancake.com.
I’ve also been blessed with the opportunity to visit many of the world’s most amazing wild places, like Komodo Island, Bali, Lombok, Malaysia, and the Cayman Islands, and have even documented entirely new species previously unknown to science.
Other interests include: Wilderness survival, primitive skills, backpacking, fishing, kayaking, boffing, airsoft, snowboarding, meandering around town, and caving.
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
Glad you asked! I’m not actually anti-fur altogether; I’m a taxidermist, after all, and fur is part of my everyday life.
But the parts I use are recycled, meaning that they’re often destined to be thrown away if no alternative use can be found for them. I do so because I believe that letting parts of any animal go to waste is disrespectful to that animal. That said, I do not purchased from fur farms or trophy hunters, as I don’t believe in supporting either of these groups with my money.
Fur farms and trapping/hunting are both bad, in my opinion; I don’t believe that wild animals belong in captivity outside of AZA accredited zoos, nor do I believe in killing an animal unless it’s a member of an invasive species, or a species which has become too populous for the good of the environment as a whole.
The post about Faux Vs. Real, despite what Fur Free LA may claim, has little to do with the fact that I’m a taxidermist. I merely see the fact that faux fur supports real fur, and wanted to get the message out there for animal-friendly, eco-conscious consumers to consider. I’d have done it even if I were a firetruck driver instead of an artist.
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