Oracles of June

Happy June! We are all back in the studio after a wild whirlwind of April and May events and travel. All three of us are back in the studio together and hard at work on lots of projects. We have been putting together a ton of Animal Guide and Entomology Kits to send out to shops across the country! Oracle-made work can now be found in brick-and-mortar small businesses in 12 states and 14 cities across the US! Check out our list of stockists to see if there’s one near you.

Speaking of our Entomology Kits… they got an upgrade!!! Now every Mini-Ento Kit and Double-Feature DIY Bug Kit include a pocket-sized copy of The Bare Basics of Bug Pinning book. This means the kits truly come with everything you need to pin the specimen; a self-contained DIY at-home project kit. We are so thrilled with these kits as they truly fulfill our mission of empowering the at-home learner with the information and tools to deepen their knowledge and connection to the natural world.

And because we also believe in the power of group learning and hands-on workshops, Alessandra is planning more classes! First up will be two insect-pinning classes: Butterfly (Friday the 21st) and Cicada (Saturday the 22nd)! Details aren’t out yet… you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled on our email newsletter when it comes out. That’s where you’ll get all of the info and be able to sign up with priority access!

Animal Guide Kit

$30.00

Mini-Ento Kit

$44.00

The Bare Basics of Insect Pinning Zine

$20.00

By now it’s hard to escape talk about the 2024 cicada emergence (sounds so wonderfully dramatic, doesn’t it?) But actually it is pretty dramatic… the predicted numbers of cicada which will emerge from the ground per square foot is truly mind boggling. As a Midwesterner the sound of cicadas and summer are so inextricably linked. The massive numbers that will be calling out nightly these next few months will just be like summer amplified! You may wanna carry a pair of earplugs with you this season.

In the studio we’ve been making sure to highlight some cicada love and honor this fascinating insect as a symbol of summer, transition, and song. Melissa’s been creating lovely spread cicada domes and small frames. Laura made a cicada-themed fortune scratch card. We’ve been framing cicada specimen, making cicada ento-kits, and of course planning the cicada pinning class with Alessandra. So please do come in and geek out with us about these noisy wild-eyed summer visitors and tell us all about your cicada encounters!

Enjoy your Summer, friends! Whether you’re off on adventures or soaking in some sun on your own porch… let the sounds, smells, and sights of the season bring you joy! If you’re in KC during our shop hours (Wednesday through Sunday 11am to 6pm*) *We will be closed for vacation on July 3rd and 4th.

— Laura

{ Upcoming Taxidermy Classes x2!!}

We are so excited to announce... We had to add more classes because the classes below sold out within 48hours! So exciting guys! Glad to see so many people are as excited about these classes and for the talented Mickey Alice Kwapis coming to Oracle! So, what did we add??:

Raccoon class with some exciting techniques on how to professionally taxidermy your own shoulder mount... skinning, fleshing, the whole deal... learning how to do mammal taxidermy can be hard, but Mickey will talk us through it (and once you learn how to do raccoon, it is pretty easy to bring that knowledge to other taxidermy projects)! Then her final class is a Cabinet of Curiosities class, where students will learn a little of everything; starting with wet specimens, botany with pressing flowers, and then finish off by identifying and dissecting an owl pellet. This is a great classes for anyone who has been fascinated with a little bit of everything... and you get two great specimens for your curio collection ;)

Raccoon Taxidermy
Saturday, July 7th from 12 pm to 3 pm
Deposit $200 (total $400)

Cabinet of Curiosities
Sunday, July 8th from 12pm to 2pm
Deposit $50 (total $150)

 

{ Upcoming Taxidermy Classes at Oracle! }

We are so excited to announce… Mickey Alice Kwapis coming to Oracle:
 

Mickey has taught classes here at Oracle before, a beautifully thought out workshop that she has taught for years all around North America. Last time we saw her here in Kansas City, she taught us how to press and preserve flowers, wet specimens, and an array of taxidermy classes... which was so inspiring to watch all the thoughtfully posed and well preserved wet specimens our students went home with! But for those of you who don't know her just yet, here is a little quick peak from her website about this lovely talented lady; 

"Hey there! I'm Mickey. I'm a Midwestern taxidermist and craftsperson. Born and raised in Michigan, I took an interest in nature and biology from an early age. My obsession with animals, coupled with a desire to hold onto tangible memories, led to an unexpected intersection. My passion for taxidermy was discovered one night with a dead squirrel, a bottle of wine, and an old biology textbook. I have been working in the taxidermy industry since March of 2012 and I'm recognized internationally for my pop-up taxidermy workshops for beginners. Additionally, I have practiced metalsmithing since 2004 and create handmade, one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces inspired by natural history and the occult.

I practice sustainable taxidermy methods, am a member of the National Taxidermists Association, and have worked, volunteered, and taught at museums and universities all over the world. Last year I won a third-place ribbon for my peacock (his name is Kevin) at the NTA National Championships. I have also served as a consultant to novelist Lauren Beukes for the award-winning book Broken Monsters. You can read a bunch of articles and watch a bunch of short documentaries about my work here. My lectures are primarily targeted towards those with an interest in biology, science, and natural history and focus on the role taxidermy plays in understanding the past, present, and future of our ecosystem. I reside in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago with four living pets and a whole lot of dead ones.

Want to know more? Read my FAQ. Interested in seeing photos of the taxidermy process? Follow along on Instagram."

*Also stick around for July First Friday - Mickey will be showing off and selling her work and her jewelry during our First Friday Crossroads Artwalk! Join us Friday July 6th, 6-9pm for some beverages, art, and a good time!