GRCC Student’s Artwork Brings Ancient Mastodon to Life at Public Museum
Grand Rapids Community College student Paul Kuchnicki is continuing to make his mark in the world of fossils and paleontology — this time right here in West Michigan. Kuchnicki, a geology student with a lifelong fascination for prehistoric life, created the illustrations for the new mastodon exhibit at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. The exhibit, The Clapp Family Mastodon , features the skeleton of a 13,000-year-old mastodon discovered in Kent County and now preserved for the community to explore. “It wasn’t just about making art, but also getting to know the animal and the environment in which it lived,” Kuchnicki told MLive. “It has given me a deeper connection to the state of Michigan and how beautiful and prolific this state is.” This project builds on Paul’s growing reputation for blending science and creativity. Earlier this summer, in GRCC Student Answers the Call for Fossil Preservation , we shared how he traveled to Utah with GRCC adjunct professor John VanRegenmorter for his first-ever fossil dig. That experience deepened his commitment to paleontology and paleoart, where scientifically accurate illustrations help us understand the past. Paul’s work is now on display for the entire region to enjoy, standing alongside a full 3-D-printed replica of the mastodon, fossils unearthed during the dig, and renderings of ancient Michigan’s landscape. The mastodon exhibit is open now in the museum’s atrium, and a new tyrannosaurus exhibit will open on Oct. 11. Read the full MLive story here: “It’s so beautiful”: Skeleton of 13,000-year-old mastodon unveiled at Public Museum
