Preparing a museum group

This film depicts the various stages of the preparation of a diorama in the AMNH Hall of North American Mammals. First, the background is done by museum artist James Perry Wilson, who uses a chalked plumb line and ruler to draw a grid on the concave background for the group. From a smaller corresponding grid on which a preliminary drawing has been made, Wilson then does a charcoal sketch on the wall grid, and color is applied until the background painting is complete. Next, display artist Charles B. Tornell provides the three-dimensional aspect to the display, creating rocks by dipping burlap in a plaster and water mixture which is draped over a wire frame. He also is seen constructing a tree. Once these are complete, taxidermist George Adams drills holes into a log into which rods extending from the mounted fisher's feet are placed. Once installed the animal is combed.