Wyoming Secondary Art Educators’ Association (WSAEA) delivered a clear message to the Powell High School Art Guild, during last year’s state competition.

Powell High School Art Guild has established a solid reputation for the art of taxidermy.

During last year’s competition, at which PHS students won several awards, Mr. Jim Gilman, head of the art guild, was addressed by the WSAEA’s president about how they were going to uphold a vote proposing taxidermy will no longer be accepted into the competitions because it is not seen as art.

“Taxidermy is an art,” Mr. Gilman said. “People who don’t think that don’t know what taxidermy is.”

In spite of the WSAEA Mr. Gilman and his vocational art classes decided to create a unicorn as a symbol of rebellion.

“Taxidermy involves sculpting, stitching and precision work,” Mr. Gilman said.  “We are seeing many of these things appear in the unicorn project.”

With the combined ideas and inspiration provided by students teachers and others online from across the world the unicorn is beginning to take shape.  The support shown on previous projects has also been shown with the unicorn.

“People online have been helping with the design,” Mr. Gilman said.  “There has been lots of modifying as we go.”

Mr. Gilman has been given ideas and advice from many people across the world along with being sent items in the past such as the golden spike, the space shuttle patches, and much more.  The support of this project not only shows the amount of support for the art program but for the art of taxidermy as well.

“All the art projects have been good in the past, so this one probably will be too,” senior Aaron Jacobsen said.  He was also aware that the project was being created.

Mr. Gilman said the work of art has something in it for everyone.

“When you look at the unicorn we want you to see yourself as a unicorn,” said Mr. Gilman.