Nesting

Nesting

In the world of parrot ownership, we use the word “bonding” a lot. By definition, bonding means to “establish a relationship with someone based on shared feelings, interests, or experiences” but we parrot lovers know that it means much more than that. The level of bonding we share with our parrots speaks to the amount of trust we have earned. It is the thing that allows our parrots to forgive us for the mistakes we make. Bonding is evident every time they cuddle up against our bodies and fall fast asleep without reservation. For the person willing to invest time and resources, they can make fascinating and marvelous companions. I have lived with one myself the past twenty years.

        I am investigating these connections, both with people and parrots, using their bird forms to symbolize and discuss the human need for connection while highlighting the nature of parrots. These snapshots of life with birds come from the use of my own parrot, and from friendships in my life, in the use of their parrots. The images are also a reinvestigation of traditional drawing skills not unlike the traditional portrait qualities of the atelier method. The slow buildup of form and value has a meditative quality that allows me a space to contemplate these portraits and connections, of parrots and people, and their unique relationship.

        I also want to forge a conversation about the nature of keeping an intelligent wild animal as a companion while still highlighting their obvious beauty and variety of form. People respond to that beauty, as I do, unfortunately making impulse purchases. Due though to their high level of cognitive abilities, social needs, lack of common knowledge in care and long lifespan of 30-80 years or more, a great number of parrots can develop problem behaviors like self-destruction. In 1998 the World Parrot Trust stated that perhaps as many as 50% of all companion parrots were kept in cramped and inadequate conditions. I am hoping to draw awareness to the challenges, opportunities and joys these sensitive “fids,” feathered kids, bring to human lives through their drawn images.

        The conversation lead by drawing is a philosophy of seeing. It is a way of knowing a subject through labor and practice. Through this labor and practice, I want to draw as sensitively and accurately the joy connection brings to our lives.