Put a Bird on It! Finley, Feathers, & Fashion
Put a Bird on It! Finley, Feathers, & Fashion
Put a Bird on It! Finley, Feathers, & Fashion
Utilizing many of the taxidermy birds from the Horner Collection…
…this exhibit will look at the intersections between conservation, the fashion industry, women’s suffrage, and more! Explore these through the lens of photographs by William L. and Irene Finley, a painting by John Byrne (former President of OSU), hats and hat decorations made of feathers, and a contemporary work of art by Andrew Myers. This piece is ephemeral in nature, most of it being created directly on the gallery wall. And of course, a multitude of taxidermy birds.
Images Courtesy of Oregon Historical Society.
Finley
William L. Finley developed a passion for birds as a child, which grew during nature adventures with his friend Herman Bohlman. He later married Irene Barnhart, who shared his interest, and together they traveled and worked as partners in ornithology.
Explore the impact of William and Irene Finley on wildlife conservation and education.
Feathers
The Horner Collection still has significant natural history holdings. The birds featured in this exhibit are all from the Horner Collection; most of them were donated to the Horner Museum by two people, William T. Shaw and Dr. J. Linsey Hill.
Explore the variety of bird specimens collected by the Horner Museum and Oregon Agricultural College (OSU) over the years.
Fashion
Feathers became a popular fashion trend, especially on hats, during the mid-1800s. Hats often featured extravagant decorations, including bird parts or entire birds, which became highly valuable.
Explore the impacts of the fashion industry on ecosystems, conservation efforts, and social engineering.
