Bears laid bare

Whether it’s morbid curiosity or a propensity for legitimate scientific inquisitiveness, I’ve always had a thing for taxidermy-filled museums. If nothing else, the enormous stuffed elephants, giraffes and whales offer a chance to experience their grandeur up close without the guilt-inducing trip to the zoo (or wiping out my bank account to fund a real safari or Alaskan cruise).

As a mere civilian, I’ve only had access to the fully-realized displays that are open for public viewing: penguins walking on glass “ice” with bait fish in suspended animation below; buffalo roaming a 1000 square foot prairie in the foreground of a cowboys and Indians mural. That’s why Richard Barnes’ photos (via Flavorwire) are so appealing. They reveal the mechanations  behind a well-constructed display, and they appeal to my inner 5 year-old (pre- Night at the Museum craze), who would have loved to see what goes on behind the scenes after the crowds go home. Visit Barnes’ website for more photos from his Animal Logic series.