Fashion Designer Turns Roadkill Into Hats

James Faulkner, an aspiring fashion designer, has used the wings, feathers and furs of animals killed on roads to create an entire range of headgear. Mr Faulkner, 27, of Edinburgh, will exhibit his 36 animal hats under the spotlight rather than the headlights at a fashion show in May.The feathers or furs of foxes, magpies, rabbits, wood pigeons, pheasants, mallards, crows and peacocks make up the centrepiece of his creations.

The show on May 14 will mark the end of his 18-week milliners course at Edinburgh’s Telford College, and will display his range of hats along with those of other students.Mr Faulkner, who originally started making the hats in May 2009, said: “It sounds very sinister, but I find it very satisfying to make something beautiful from something gruesome.”It started when my friend wanted to buy a hat for her wedding. Without thinking, I said I’d make one, then I instantly panicked, but one day I was walking along the road and I spotted a magpie in quite a sorry state.

Chimp Artists Make A Colorful Splash In A Louisiana Art Exhibit

As an artist, Gay believes that less is more. Her minimalist paintings are often made up of small, bright dabs of color. When she finishes a piece, she is just as meticulous about cleaning her brushes. Her friend Brent is her opposite. He prefers to fill his canvas with a palate of primarily blues and greens, which he blends with his tongue! He finds clean-up time quite delicious.

Gay, 42, and Brent, 33, are chimpanzees and residents of Chimp Haven in Keithville, La. Along with six other chimp artists, they have contributed their paintings to INSTINCT: The Art of Chimpanzees, an exhibition which makes its debut Aug. 20 at the Barnwell Garden and Art Center in nearby Shreveport. After a one-month stay, the exhibition will move to New Orleans before beginning a national tour in 2010.

“Most people don’t realize how similar chimpanzees are to us,” explains Dr. Linda Brent, president and director of Chimp Haven, which is home to 128 chimps who have been retired from entertainment jobs, biomedical research or who are no longer wanted as pets. “Some enjoy painting, some don’t. For the ones who like it, we use drawing and painting to give them some fun and stimulation.”