Talk Shop is the series where we interview independent store and gallery owners from across the country, to get their inside take on running an independent business that supports the handmade community.

I’m excited to bring the Talk Shop series back after a short hiatus. This week’s Talk Shop features Pterodactyl — a super cool creative space that offers an awesome line-up of classes and is also used as a gallery space to exhibit shows.

Currently in the gallery is Animal Show, in which animals become “a canvas onto which we humans project our myths, fantasies and ideas, making up our own meanings. In Animal Show, 9 artists explore ways in which animals are transformed into such unwitting actors.”

Here, Catherine Dentino of Pterodactyl talks about how the creative space was conceived, classes available like introduction to taxidermy and their call for curators.

How did the idea for Pterodactyl Philadelphia come about?
My partner Paul and I both have a background in the arts. I have a BFA in photography and am currently pursuing my Masters in Arts and Cultural Management. Paul is the founder and director of Big Art Show, a random and often occurring art carnival that for five years brought together artists and musicians to perform and show their work at locations across the country. We’ve both wanted to do this for a long time. We have a partner company called Fireball Printing, and because of our income and shared resources from Fireball, we were able to acquire the space and funding needed to make Pterodactyl possible.

Was it hard to bring the idea of the creative space to fruition?
It’s still hard. We have to work a lot to get people involved and to let people know about us and about what we’re doing. We’ve had a really great response though, from everyone that’s been involved in our exhibits, events, and classes, and we love doing it.

Can you tell us more about your call for curators in 2010-2011?
The call for curators is because we want to bring more voices and perspectives into our shows, and to democratize the art process a bit by allowing people to organize shows regardless of experience or education.

Is there a set deadline for curatorial proposals?
There’s no deadline; it’s more of a general policy than a single event.

There’s an amazing variation of classes offered at Pterodactyl Philadelphia — including classes focusing on using animal skeletons as materials for art and introductions to taxidermy. Can you tell us more about them?
In organizing the classes, we try to focus on topics that give people basic art-making skills, as well as more obscure information that it’s difficult to find elsewhere.

On your Web site it states plans to increase the number of studios in the future. What are your plans for those creative spaces?
Well, our master plan is to purchase a building and transform it into a multi-faceted art space with studios, shared equipment, exhibitions, performances, and classes.

Pterodactyl is located at 3237 Amber St. Box 3 Fl 5 N Philadelphia, PA 1913.

Check out Pterodactyl online at http://pterodactylphiladelphia.org/.

If you own a boutique, gallery or other place of business that supports the indie craft community, and want it featured in Talk Shop, email Christine at christine[at]hellocraft[dot]com, with Talk Shop in the subject line.