Here are a few quick sketches I made today at the American Museum of Natural History. I was in a bit of a rush as we had an appointment with Butterflies:
This was a unique experience and though a bit pricey, as is the case with all special exhibits at the Natural History Museum, it was worth it. An artificial jungle, with 500+ butterflies while adults and children alike, giddy with delight at the rainbow clouds of flapping creatures, attempt to coax a gaudy moth onto their arm. To be honest it felt a bit like this:
We spoke with one of the Museum specialists in charge of raising the pupae. As butterflies only live for a few short weeks, the museum receives shipments of pupae from all over the world on a weekly basis to keep the exhibit fully stocked at all times. On a grimmer note, rather than preserving the dead fallen specimens, they must follow a rigorous protocol to destroy all the bodies involving apparently both freezing and incineration, by order of the Dept. of Health. Something about infectious disease… a bit discomforting.
Less frivolity to follow… ahem.
