Wall color:
The Wilson’s Warbler passes through every state in the lower 48 during migration. During the springtime it’s a bird I hear daily on my walks through the redwood forest. But while currently stable, their populations have declined by about 60% in the past 50 years. This is the third in a series exploring extinction. The aviary format was inspired in part by Joseph Cornell’s Aviary shadow boxes.
Marquetry is a process where thin slices of wood are pieced together to form an image. I rely on the natural variation in color and grain of the woods I use and don’t add any dyes, paints, or stains. Birds are a favorite motif, and in this piece I explore the tension between a native species and one introduced by humans, which in a way can be seen as a stand-in for modern human society in general. What do you see when you peer into this shadow box?
