Flock
2010
This project was completed as an artist in residence with The Animal Behavior Farm of Indiana University Bloomington. With the help of Dr. Andrew King, Dr. Meredith West, and Graduate Student Gregory Kohn, I learned the introductory skills of watching and studying cowbirds. Dr. King took me under-wing and explained much of the basics about bird communication and the importance of the cowbird song.
This project is my attempt at visually representing the nuanced interactions and vocalizations that occurs amongst a flock of Brown-headed Cowbirds. While observing their relations and listening to their calls, I often felt a state of overwhelming aural and visual stimulation. Everything from the quick flap of a wing to the babbling brook bass contained in their songs flooded my senses. This overwhelming feeling inspired the web shape. The colored threads represent different bird’s songs that spread throughout the flock to be heard and counteracted by other birds. The incorporation of vocalization charts as an underlying texture of the birds acts as a visual aesthetic along with the choice in binding, colors, and inks.
This project is my attempt at visually representing the nuanced interactions and vocalizations that occurs amongst a flock of Brown-headed Cowbirds. While observing their relations and listening to their calls, I often felt a state of overwhelming aural and visual stimulation. Everything from the quick flap of a wing to the babbling brook bass contained in their songs flooded my senses. This overwhelming feeling inspired the web shape. The colored threads represent different bird’s songs that spread throughout the flock to be heard and counteracted by other birds. The incorporation of vocalization charts as an underlying texture of the birds acts as a visual aesthetic along with the choice in binding, colors, and inks.