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Natural History Museum
This activity involved two performers grabbing children from the Darwin Centre at the Natural History Museum and their subsequent categorisation (ie: fossil / pterodactyl / fungus / gorilla).
Using a toolbelt of string, balloons, gaffatape and ping pong balls, along with an assortment of charity shop clothing and found objects, the specimen were constructed, followed by display in either a human-sized display case or display draw (as per the professional etymologists at the NHM). A massive pin was driven through the child’s thorax at which point the families were invited to photograph the strange creations as a keep-sake.
Specimen Preparation ran for a few consecutive half terms and holidays at the museum as it proved a popular offer and a hands-on activity.
(Specimen Preparation was initially created as part of ‘The Campsite’ take-over of the Natural History Museum for Autumn Half Term, 2012. ‘The Campsite’ was a pop up venue co-curated by Emma between 2012 - 2016 and also seen at the Cambridge Museum Consortium, Latitude Festival and The New Wolsey, Ipswich. The team also facilitated an artists retreat for two years in West Cornwall.
