Taxidermy in Joshua Tree.
tax·i·der·my
/ˈtaksəˌdərmē/
noun
the art of preparing, stuffing, and mounting the skins of animalsThe word taxidermy is derived from the Greek words taxis and derma. Taxis means "arrangement", and derma means "skin" (the dermis). The word taxidermy translates to "arrangement of skin".
The word taxidermy is derived from the Greek words taxis and derma. Taxis means "arrangement", and derma means "skin" (the dermis). The word taxidermy translates to "arrangement of skin".
Having met Reno through their partner CW a few times , imagine the delight I got when I found out that they have been doing taxidermy up in the Joshua tree area for a number of years under the handle of Roadkill Reno. They agreed to have their portrait taken as part of a ongoing personal project about the high desert and communities and good odd ball folks. The chance to visit the work place of creatives is one I cant often pass up, documenting the process and ephemera is as interesting to me as the final portrait. If manners maketh the man, then the process maketh the artist. Maybe . Possibly. Joshua tree has long been a place for artists and outcasts long before Bono and his mates turned up to talk about streets with no names and trying to find what they were looking for, the outsiders were coming here for the dry climate , mine for silver and create art. People like Graham Parsons and Noah Purifoy were tapping into the oddness to create art and that can be seen to contuine easily when the Highway 62 tours happen.
Visiting their studio down the dirt roads and trails of the mountains for tea and scouting, the late desert light coming in through the window as i discovered that bone art and articulation art separate from taxidermy which is more the use of the skin stretched over a blank form , gone were the thoughts of Miss Spink and Miss Forcible keeping their dead Scotty dogs so that they can vaguely resemble their pets while alive. Bone art is a much more intimate way of remembering an animal , as shown, the bones are cleaned over a period of time then painstakingly rejoined into the original form, creating an unique art piece that stays true to a loved one.
“ Roadkill Reno : a non binary taxidermy artist based in the Mojave desert. Fell in love with roadkill during their time in living in their van and has since dedicated their life to honouring and studying the dead. practicies on legal specimens that are ethically sourced ( natural death, not harmed for the purpose of taxidermy ) “
You can find Reno at https://roadkillreno.wixsite.com/roadkillreno , and on instagram @roadkillreno