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“If a customer says they’re afraid of bats, I encourage them to get up close and personal with a bat to see why the kids call them ‘way cool.’ The larger bats have a 22-inch wingspan and they’re impressive little creatures even when mounted in a frame.” It’s easy to see why someone would want to decorate with a shadowbox-framed butterfly or two. The colors are amazing and Brian’s double-sided glass and wood frames permit viewing from both sides. But who wants to look at creepy crawlers on their walls? “You’d be amazed at the cross-section of people who love nature and want to bring it in doors. I sell more insects to women than men. Kids are the best. They see all this stuff on the walls and literally drag their parents in to see the ‘bugs.’ They browbeat their parents into buying. For an adult, my insect creations are a conversation piece.” In addition to taking his show on the road to outdoor festivals across the state, Brian’s parents run a small shop for him in Kitchen Kettle Village in the heart of Lancaster’s tourist country. “I grew up in Kitchen Kettle and I chased my share of butterflies as a kid. A lot of people relate to their childhood when they see these mounted creatures. I think nostalgia motivates some buyers.” What questions do customers ask when they see your collection?
Why would anyone want to ‘farm’ insects? “One of the major markets for farm-raised insects is for the cocoons that have many uses. Countries where a species is threatened will buy and import new stock. These international farms have permits that allow them to ship across borders.” How did you find these international farms? “When I had a real job, I was Senior Global Manager for an international firm that paid me to travel the world. Despite the size and scope of these farms, I probably would never have come across them as a tourist. They’re deep into the rural areas. The government of one Pacific island where I buy most of my materials owns a 10,000-acre preserve and they employ 2500 workers. This is an economic boon for the economy of the area.” How are they shipped? “I buy 5 to 10,000 insects every year and they come to me unmounted. I treat them for parasites and then I have to pose them - open the wings of the butterflies; reattach legs or antennae. You might call me an insect mortician. This is not destructive of nature. It’s life giving for these insects have a very short life span. What I do preserves them forever. I guarantee that my framed insects will be around longer than you will.”
“It blows my mind the way people respond to these creatures.” He suggests browsing without fear of breaking anything. His motto is “You break it. I fix it.” For preview views of a few of his mounted insects, check out his website at Insect Creations. He notes that the pictures on the site aren’t adequate to show the true beauty of the collection and it isn’t a sales site. © Copyright ShakerWoods.com |
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