Animal Logic 2007
Richard Barnes
Richard Barnes' Animal Logic collection depicts natural history museums in a state of after-hours undress. Half-installed dioramas, partially wrapped specimens, taxidermy animals in shipping crates. . . each photo has an illicit From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler feeling.
Barnes' work is a reminder that, all our suspension of disbelief aside, there's nothing natural about natural history museums. Context is everything - stick a dinosaur across the firepit from a Neanderthal, and you'll get a generation of kids who think "The Flintstones" qualifies as "educational television." In Barnes' photos, the deliberate nature of those choices are made obvious.
Animal Logic, 2007
Richard Barnes
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Word around town and just tweeted by local hero, Ayse, is that the great Ernie Barnes passed away yesterday at the age of 70.
Dahmen Art Barn, Uniontown, WA
But he's not willing to let the rest of us know what this vital information is:
I want that as a coffee table book.