Bird Spirits Collection

Birds are beautiful, funny, fast, and fun to watch. Viewing their antics is relaxing and builds a connection to nature.
This new series of 21 pieces of art explores the magnificence of some of the birds I have encountered in the American Southwest.
The underlying theme is; how do they survive the continuing loss of habitat? Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change, so hopefully they will endure.
The recycled found metal represents the industrial age from the late 1800's to present day. Many other intriguing objects were collected from abandoned ranches, old railway dumps and scrap metal yards from Santa Monica to Santa Fe. The bullet holes are from random shootings and provide a strong design element.
Visually, each piece is an abstract graphic puzzle seeking resolution of line, shape, tone, texture, color and a balance of areas of activity and rest. There is also a juxtaposition of implied value; high karat gold, tanzanites, opals, diamonds and turquoise combined with rusty found objects. The sun-sanded wabi-sabi of faded paint and rust has equal visual value to gold and gemstones. It is all about shape and color.
Everything I know and am continuing to learn about art, composition, jewelry making and metalwork is evident here. It is a joy to create, I hope you like it too.

Kit Carson, 2020