Bird Brains
2022 – 2024
The English language is full of expressions, sayings, and stories that refer to birds. My series "Bird Brains" is a visual glossary of those expressions whose meanings point to human irrationality. Each artwork is inspired by the bird that best matches up with an entry in the Cognitive Bias Codex, an online inventory of biases and fallacies. From Black Swan Theory to the proverbial canary in the coal mine, I tap into this language to point out the variety of ways we misconstrue the world and each other.
Beginning in 2022, my research for Bird Brains inspired wall sculptures on birch panels. In 2023, I began making mixed media fiber sculptures. A metaphor for my yearning to bridge gaps in understanding, these works combine materials from disparate chapters of my life. Denim clothing and horse hair represent my childhood in Texas. Cotton muslin – a fashion prototyping staple – is representative of my decade living in Paris and working in couture. The use of sumi ink, washi paper and tatami grass is a nod to the three years I spent living in Japan. And finally, the feather-like protrusions I affix to many of my sculptures are made of thermoplastic, a versatile and shape-shifting material that represents my current life in New York City where people are free to take many forms. They create repeating elements that are sometimes mounted sideways like glass fins on rigid surfaces, other times sewn like textured feathers into fabric and leather or piercing translucent organza.
Bird Brains research on the studio wall