4 The Birds

Concord CA | 1994-95

High in central Todos Santos Park trees, collaborator Andree Singer Thompson and Leibovitz Steinman installed “negative space” sculptures of endangered N. California birds, plus one huge nest. The recognizable home materials were culled from local commercial construction debris. Intent was to stir discussions about regional habitat loss caused by burgeoning home and mall developments.

As counterpoint, artists taught a sculpture workshop to at-risk public high school students to create “positive” birds–later perched in 40 trees encircling the Plaza.  Working alongside city trash collectors the artists selected student materials off of neighborhood curbs on special refuse pickup days.

Artists also led a free Plaza “art 4 birds day” where participants created their own home habitat birdhouses.

City of Concord Public Art Commission project, with curator Hawley Holmes.