Article Type Making Art Together Making Art Together Categories Collage Drawing Nature

Feathered Flyers: Collaging Paper Birds

Diana MacKenzie

Have I ever mentioned how much we love birds here at The Carle?  I don’t need to convince you that birds are pretty magical creatures, but we’ve especially obsessed with them lately because of the current exhibition, Seriously Silly: A Decade of Art and Whimsy by Mo Willems, on view through February 23rd, 2014.

 Feathered Flyers/ The Eric Carle Museum Studio Blog

Mo Willems, the author and illustrator of the popular Pigeon series of picture books is the latest inspiration for The Art Studio’s project, Feathered Flyers, which just ending last week.  We offered a selection of large bird-inspired construction paper shapes for guests to choose from.

Feathered Flyers/ The Eric Carle Museum Studio Blog

Paper scraps, texture rubbing plates and wax crayons added fun feathery details to the birds.

Feathered Flyers/ The Eric Carle Museum Studio Blog

Feathered Flyers/ The Eric Carle Museum Studio Blog

Feathered Flyers/ The Eric Carle Museum Studio Blog

Here are many more of the beautiful birds flying around The Aviary here in The Studio!

 Feathered Flyers/ The Eric Carle Museum Studio Blog

We have birds on wires…

 Feathered Flyers/ The Eric Carle Museum Studio Blog

Birds that like to flock together….

Feathered Flyers/ The Eric Carle Museum Studio Blog

Birds sitting in nests…

Feathered Flyers/ The Eric Carle Museum Studio Blog

and birds with lots of tiny little shapes attached!

Feathered Flyers/ The Eric Carle Museum Studio Blog Feathered Flyers/ The Eric Carle Museum Studio Blog

This was a really popular project with The Carle’s guests and I was sad to see the project end, but The Aviary will stay on display through November.  When you stop by for The Fine Art of Friendship, the new Every Day Art Project,  be sure to check it out for yourself! Want to make your own texture rubbing plates? Read our paper and glue rubbing plate tutorial, our natural material rubbing plate tutorial, our constructed rubbing plate tutorial.

Authors

Diana, smiling wearing an orange scarf and brown shirt.

Diana MacKenzie

Public Art Program Educator from 2007-2016, Diana has a BFA in Printmaking from Syracuse University and creates mixed-media works inspired by her travels, combining her interests in printmaking and sculpture. She received her M.A.T. from Mount Holyoke College in June 2017, and continues teaching visual arts to children and adults.