Middletown, RI – Norman Bird Sanctuary is set to be the latest home of artist Todd McGrain’s “The Lost Bird Project” featuring five bronze sculptures that serve as memorials to five extinct North American bird species.
They arrive at Norman Bird Sanctuary (NBS) on September 19th and will be placed around the property for a two-year long installation. McGrain will also be in residence at Norman Bird Sanctuary’s Paradise Farmhouse for a week this September along with four other visual artists participating in a residency to launch a broader commitment to arts at the sanctuary.
The Lost Bird Project is part natural history, part artist’s diary, documenting the extraordinary effort to place a series of public memorials to birds driven to extinction in modern times. The Great Auk, Labrador Duck, Passenger Pigeon, Carolina Parakeet, and Heath Hen were birds that once filled unique niches in the North American landscape. Four of the five species would have been seen at Norman Bird Sanctuary.
The Lost Bird Project is Norman Bird Sanctuary’s first large scale public art installation. The narrative of conservation perfectly aligns with founder Mabel Norman’s vision for the property. The organization hopes these sculptures will honor the impressive history of artmaking on the property and launch an exciting future in arts programming.
For more information, visit www.lostbird.org.
(Photo via Source: lostbird.org)