Watch CBS News

Burbank-Based Taxidermist Preserves Lady Gaga's Meat Dress

KETCHIKAN, Alaska (AP) — A Burbank-based taxidermist has earned a rare place in pop history.

Sergio Vigalato preserved Lady Gaga's now-famous raw-meat dress for display in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland.

The project has prompted a swarm of media interest in the 66-year-old former Southeast Alaska charter boat skipper who's originally from Brazil.

Vigalato operates American Taxidermy in Burbank. That's where he was contacted by the museum about preserving the dress that Lady Gaga wore at the September 2010 MTV Video Music Awards.

At the time, he was unaware of the dress or the artist, but he agreed to the project anyway.

The ensemble, which Lady Gaga said was a statement about equality, arrived at his shop frozen and decomposing. He restored it over the next three and a half months, and the dress went on display in June.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.