Title: Vacant: One Bedroom Apt, Sleeps 6

Medium: Ink on 100% cotton printmaking paper

Size: 22 in w x 30 in h

This ink drawing is inspired by a found a red-winged blackbird nest found while out waking with my dog. Through fields near my house in Missouri. A field that was once used to cultivate hay for bovine herds is now dormant and full of tall grass, thorn trees and other thriving plant varieties. While red-winged black birds sing from trees nearby, not all areas still in mass farming operations see a comeback to population. They sing from wires, rooftops and other unnatural structures. This bird lives year round through most of the United States and one of the most abundant birds in North America. The male Red-winged Blackbird will aggressively defend its area during breeding season. This species is known for it’s brightly colored red and hint of yellow patches on their wing tops. And for their distinct loud conk-la-lee signing. As you may have wonder whats in the title. This is commentary on our shrinking forests across Canada, US and Central America, and the migratory path of many birds I study. While the black-bird thrives their are so many other species declining. I have been researching the Wood Thrush bird and the decline of population due to shrinking forests is very sharp. I hope to share more on this work in the near future.

More on the Red-Winged Blackbird can be found here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-winged_Blackbird