By: Allie Kirkman
Aimee Maychack’s masterpieces are often created with materials that many don’t think twice about before throwing away.
Old plastic bags, masking tape and paper scraps wrap around wire, transforming into bumble bees, cows and other whimsical animals in the artistic hands of Maychack, a Muncie resident who’s known as the Ethical Taxidermist.
When she’s not working long nights as a LifeLine paramedic, Maychack can be found perfecting her paper mache crafts at Madjax, a local maker’s hub located in downtown Muncie.
“Sometimes I feel like a toddler coloring with crayons. Like, why am I doing this? This is so stupid,” Maychack said. “But I just focus back on the fact that I’m doing it because I enjoy it. I’m not necessarily looking at an end destination.”
Maychack finds her inspiration in nature. She recalls visiting a restaurant in Columbus, Ohio, where she is from, and seeing bear heads hanging over each table.
She wanted one for her home, but they were too expensive. That wasn’t stopping Maychack from getting her bear head, though.
“I started using paper mache and just really got into it and started making other creations like birds and octopus tentacles,” Maychack said. “I like starting with a simple sketch, some wire, shaping it and then it can become something like my cow, which took about 30 hours to finish.
“And if I make a mistake, I end up having to cut a big section off, but it’s fine. It’s just paper, cut it off. I can start from scratch and create something new. I love that.”
Ethical Taxidermist has been at Madjax for a couple of months, but Maychack has managed to stay active and sell a couple of pieces. Her work is regularly featured on display for purchase at Madjax’s First Thursday events.
“These pieces are bought by a niche group of people, like the grandmother who wants to buy a piece for the new baby’s room,” she said.
Paper mache figurines and statues are one of the most popular items sold on Etsy, a website home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and one-of-a-kind products and gifts. A single piece of art can sell for hundreds.
But, Maychack isn’t in it for the money. All she wants to do is practice her hobby and eventually host a couple of art classes where she can teach others how to paper mache too.
“If I happen to sell some stuff that's great, but it's something to keep myself busy,” she said. “I need to create, you know, I think it's important for everybody to be creative.”
To keep up with Maychack’s work or request a special piece be made by the Ethical Taxidermist, follow the official Facebook page here.
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