(WBBM NEWSRA DIO) – The Insect Asylum in Avondale is not your average museum.
"We focus on eco-sustainability, post mortuary arts, live animal education and avocation for community, mutual aid, things like that,” says Nina Salem, founder of the vintage taxidermy museum.
One of her goals in starting the venue was to demonstrate to people that bugs play a major role in our natural world. The immersive and “touch friendly” museum also sponsors classes that reflect its art-meets-science mission.
“We need people to understand that if we don't have them in our lives, we won't have lives,” Salem says of bugs.
The Insect Asylum, 2870 N. Milwaukee Ave., also has a strong bond with people who have autism. Most staff members, including Salem, have autism, and the museum has regular “sensory friendly” days for visitors who do not want be overwhelmed.
"Everything that you see when you come into the museum, I have been collecting for my entire life,” Salem says. “As an autistic individual, this was my hyper focus and something that I'm deeply passionate about.
“For years, I was told it was weird and wrong and different. In 2018, I threw that all out the window, quit my actual job and started this space so that everybody can feel like there is room for them to grow."
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