Little-Known ‘Collection of Unorthodox Taxidermy’ Unveils the World Premiere of His “Powerless Puffer”
Eighty years have passed since Dr. Seuss produced what he called his “Collection of Unorthodox Taxidermy,” an amazing menagerie of Seussian animals often constructed from real animal beaks, antlers, horns, lions teeth, rabbit ears, and turtle shells. In a long forgotten 1938 article featuring his extraordinary taxidermy sculptures, Look magazine dubbed Dr. Seuss “The World’s Most Eminent Authority on Unheard-Of Animals.”
Celebrating the release of Dr. Seuss’s Powerless Puffer—the final Marine Muggs cast-resin sculpture in the Collection of Unorthodox Taxidermy—a traveling exhibition is being launched to feature all 17 of these incomparable artworks. This new exhibition, If I Ran the Zoo, marks the first time all 17 sculptures have been presented together in an exhibition dedicated to Dr. Seuss’s sculptural heritage.
The exhibition highlights Dr. Seuss’s little-known sculptural legacy and spotlights the fascinating correlations between his two-dimensional artworks and three-dimensional sculpture. A featured example of this relationship will be presented as a special tour edition, re-created from Ted Geisel’s 1931 pen and ink drawing depicting two gentlemen in tuxedos and top hats, unsuccessfully attempting to hunt down more than 25 wonderfully Seussian animals.
The Art of Dr. Seuss Collection is relatively unknown by the general public, however, art aficionados have avidly followed and collected estate-authorized editions from the collection for nearly two decades. More than half of the collection’s 17 taxidermy sculptures are sold out, making the exhibit’s premiere of the Powerless Puffer an enormous event for art collectors and fine art galleries around the world.
At a recent exhibition dedicated to Theodor Seuss Geisel’s artwork, collection curator Bill Dreyer spoke directly about these artworks: “Originally created in the 1930s during Ted Geisel’s most prolific sculpting phase, Dr. Seuss’s little-known collection of taxidermy rivals some of the hippest postmodern sculpture on the art scene today. Without question, the Unorthodox Taxidermy is a gem of Dr. Seuss’s career, and the authorized estate editions have become one of the most exciting and collectible elements of his entire artistic legacy.
Kudos to those who have recognized these avant-garde creations as important and substantial artistic contributions from one of the world’s most important literary icons.” Event“The Wonderful World of Dr. Seuss,” Robert Cahn’s July 6, 1957 Saturday Evening Post article said it best, “Ted’s animals are the sort you’d like to take home to meet the family.”
Gallery Event Details:
WHAT: New exhibition celebrating Dr. Seuss’s Collection of Unorthodox Taxidermy
WHEN : Saturday March 4, 2017 –Saturday March 18, 2017
WHERE: Syd Entel Galleries 247 Main St. Safety Harbor, FL 34695
RSVP: Linda Gagliostro / [email protected] 727-725-1808
WEBSITE: www.sydentelgalleries.com