The Jamestown Arts Center (JAC) is gearing up for an eye-opening exhibition called “Canaries in the Coal Mine: Where have all the birds gone?” running from June 28 to August 23, 2025.
Curator Rachel Rosenfield Lafo has brought together artists who are tackling the worrying decline in North American bird populations through their work.
“I cannot imagine a world in which we no longer hear bird songs or observe birds in flight,” says curator Rachel Rosenfield Lafo. “This concern is shared by many, including the artists I have selected for this exhibition. In a variety of mediums and styles they depict the diversity of bird species and the threats that they face, reminding us that bird loss is just one indication of an environment in distress.”
The show features an impressive lineup of artists, including Holly Wach, Amy Ross, Josie Morway, and Resa Blatman. A standout piece is Walton Ford’s “Granary,” which shows Acorn Woodpeckers protecting their food supply as wildfires loom over the Hollywood Hills.
“This exhibition challenges us to connect the dots between the environmental issues we hear about and the living creatures they affect,” said Karen Conway, JAC Exhibitions Director. “Living on an island, we see climate change happening right in front of us. This exhibition makes that already personally felt reality visible and tangible in hauntingly beautiful new ways.”
This exhibition marks the first to receive backing from JAC’s Local ECO ARTS Endowment Fund (LEAF), established in 2024 to support art projects focused on environmental issues.
To complement the exhibition, JAC has planned several events. These include an opening Summer Soirée on June 28, a film screening with a panel discussion on July 16, and a Meet the Artists Reception on August 6.
