HOLY BIRDS

Why I use so many birds... Especially in the beginning.

It all started in art history. Out of the hundreds of artworks I studied that year, one stood out to me more than the rest.

I've always liked birds. I can't remember a time that I wasn't drawing birds. They have such a beautiful and simple shape but when their wings are out, the shapes become much more complicated and detailed. I appreciate the variety in depictions of birds found throughout history and diverse cultures.

The particular painting that stood out to me was Saint Francis Preaching to the Birds by Giotto. In this fresco, Saint Francis is, like the title suggests, preaching to a flock of birds.

At this time in history, religion was most notably for the wealthy and affluent. Then came Saint Francis, who shaved his head and wore the same bland brown robe and taught that sacrifice of worldly and materialistic things was a sacrifice valued by God. He also taught that religion and the good word is for everyone. Not just everyone, but everything! Including pigeons, animals that were often overlooked but could be described as lowly and humble.

I found this message not only beautiful, but also funny. Sometimes when we think of old masterful art, we think of very tight and very serious paintings with serious subjects. But here there is a man of God, telling birds about the gospel.

This piece really resonated with me and the things that I value and enjoy; a well done painting, God, and a bit humor. I also, really loved the idea of small birds, animals, or anything really, that we don't often think about, being these mighty symbols of faith, spirituality, humility and whatever have you.

With this painting often on my mind during this time, I created multiple pieces inspired by it. The first was an intaglio print of an oxpecker standing on the back of a zebra. I learned about this bird while visiting my family in South Africa. When driving through the game reserves, you'll notice a little brown bird with a stunning red beak and eyes, sitting on the backs of most herbivorous animals. I have collected many photos of them of the backs, sides, and faces of impala, zebra, wildebeest, giraffes, rhinos, and any many others. If it ate plants, it had at least one of these birds on it.

I learned that the oxpecker will eat the ticks and bugs off these animals, something an impala couldn't do on its own. In exchange for the free meal, the bird acts as a security guard or an alarm for these animals. It is difficult to beat a bird in a contest of best eyesight, so when a predator is near the first to spot it is the oxpecker and once it does the bird will make a call to alert the animal it's with, indicating that it is time to flee.. What a nice guy right? It's an amazing symbiotic relationship.

In my print I gave the oxpecker a renaissance halo to remind us that even birds can be righteous or holy or sacred. I hope it also serves as a reminder to be open minded and give thought to the small things like birds, snails, or insects. I could write seemingly endless stories and facts about birds alone. Just imagine the possibilities of things we could learn about other animals, or people or really anything in this universe!