Although I’d attended many opening receptions at Art on 5th, I’d always appreciated their Dr. Seuss collection. Now, I had the opportunity to celebrate the man himself.
This event highlighted the “taxidermy” collection, most of which has been a part of the gallery since I’d been visiting years ago.
Even The Grinch looked pleased with how well things turned out.
The Knotty Problem of Capitol Hill. I liked this piece since the bureaucrats have mad math going on.
Booby Trap. The simplicity of this message is genius.
Cuddle Fish. Even anthropomorphic animals easily conveyed universal emotion.
Controversy was another aspect of Dr. Seuss’ work. I’m not sure if this illustration was meant to depict the “Great White Hunter” since I was far more captivated by the this character:
Was this supposed to be a black man or just another anthropomorphic animal?
As many people who filed past and lingered at this “taxidermy” collection, I felt like a patient hunter, waiting to shoot–my camera, that is.
I vied through the crowd, smiled and gently persuaded other people out of my shot.
Unlike real preserved animals, these fictitious animals had both charm and smiles.
At one point, I was so taken in by them, I had to remind myself that no animals had actually been harmed.
Yet, luring in the observer with features that seem so lifelike was definitely part of the artist’s intention.
These animals looked as if they could have existed. Or they could have been some extinct predecessor that gave rise to a more biologically successful species.
Yet, there was a distinct lack of fantastical plants and insects, two of the most biologically successful organisms.
Perhaps I’m reading too much into the Dr. Seuss-inspired taxidermic collection of mammals, birds and fish.