In this series, I explore the possibilities of transforming found packing paper into sculptural illustration of birds in their natural habitat.
Around the time the pandemic shelter-in-place began, I heard chirping inside our old pear tree. It was an oak titmouse couple and their chicks started their lives in the tiny hole created by probably a woodpecker the previous year. It was such a solid piece of joy and happiness in a time of uncertainties. I followed their progress daily and they gave me the motivation to start this project.
The paper which wraps our online orders is known as kraft paper. It gets crinkled into a box in shipment, that texture is like wood grain to me. Like wood, with a touch of hand you can bring out its character. I found joy in manipulating that essence with basic methods like folding, cutting and tearing.
With this ordinary material and simple technique, I hope to grasp the joyous moment in their quiet life.
One of the works from this series was exhibited at Bedford Gallery in Walnut Creek for “Bird, Nest, Nature” in 2020.