Bird Life (arrangement #1), 2022-ongoing
Birdsong embroideries on fabric, heron nests, photograph
Bird Life (installation shot) (l-r) song sparrow, american goldfinch, eastern wood pewee, eastern towhee, eastern winter wren, chickadee, blue jay, purple finch, eastern kingbird (embroideries), heron nests (photo)
For the last several years, I have focused on embroidery projects and photographic works that reflect my observations and research into animal and plant life. Working within this framework, I have been drawn into the science of the natural world, and the ecological connections that exist within, particularly the fragility of our ecosystems and the modes of communication; auditory, visual, chemical, and tactile that are used to enhance survival and diversity in an ever-challenging time.
Bird Life, includes a series of embroidered drawings inspired by the language of birds and a photograph of heron nests taken in a local conservation area. The embroideries are a visual interpretation of the birdsong produced by a selection of birds that can be found in Kingston and the surrounding region. They are based on birdsong spectrograms, audio recordings where instead of notes, the songs are displayed as continuous lines based on their frequency at a given time. Used to identify birds by visualizing their songs, they help us to understand the complexity and rhythm of their communication patterns. Each bird ‘note’ is represented by the different patterns in the spectrogram. The richness of this language becomes apparent through the diversity of songs associated with each bird in the species. This project is a continuation of my ongoing interest in nature but like most people was shaped by personal life challenges brought on by the pandemic. As life events interrupted the flow of pre-pandemic life, the study of birds presented a path outward and forward, creating a space for new perspectives and understanding and an abundance of joy.
Birdsong detail (l-r) song sparrow, american goldfinch, eastern wood pewee
Birdsong detail (l-r) blue jay, kingbird, purple finch
Heron nests
Birdsong (individual pieces)
Birdsong (l-r) blue jay, eastern kingbird, black-capped chickadee, upland sandpiper, eastern towhee, northern cardinal duet, eastern phoebe, purple finch, northern winter wren song pt. 1, northern winter wren song pt. 1, song sparrow pt. 1, song sparrow pt. 2