map of progress

I created this map to show the locations my Passenger Pigeons have spread to, wither via download-able origami species or stickers. I hope that as my project furthers it will have a chance to grow even larger and my Passenger Pigeons will be able to migrate further afield. 

origami bird replies

Here are some origami replies that i received via email from a friend who printed of the specially designed origami paper and created their own bird.

stickers

Here are some photographs that i took of my stickers. I tried to put them in relative places that illustrated the Passenger Pigeons situation. For example on a mesh window which connotes how it is caged and cannot migrate. Or perhaps on a bin which connotes how the species has been dieposed of.

In this film I decided to see if the pigeons would eat out of my hands. The results were successful as they were very tame! Maybe this could act as a strategy to sway peoples attitudes on the widely disliked species.

Pigeons eating

I attempted to create the same view point as i did in my previous film of pigeons, however this one wasn't as successful but i like the view of the trees in the background as it gives it a sense of height and position. Also the view of the pigeons is better as there is more light i the shot and show their patterns and faces more visibly.

Squirrels

After feed back from my first  blog assessment i was encouraged to create more footage, this is one film created whilst attempting to lure squirrels. I was trying to create an interesting view point with the camera, although i realise that this isn't as successful as the other film of pigeons eating that i recorded.

http://passenegerpigeonmigration.tumblr.com/

I created a tumblr page solely for my Passenger Pigeon illustrations so that i could have them all in one place  without any distraction from research or text.

Mark Dion's Mobile Aprreciation Unit

Mark Dion's Mobile Aprreciation Unit is an interesting way to see how someone created a project about a conventional bird that many people dislike due to their behaviour and regularity.

He created a mobile unit of a giant gull that was staffed with people giving information about gulls.

These are scans for an information booklet that was given out, and I think the illustrations and use of monochrome colour scheme is interesting when considering creating my own zine.

Stickers

This is another sticker that i created, i wanted to create larger scale sticker so i got hold of some A4 adhesive paper and painted a profile of a pigeon. I like this idea, as by positioning it on a ledge you get the idea that this pigeon character is popping its head up nosily. I think that it is a more alternative sticker form, as most are the conventional sticker size but this gives it an interesting twist i feel.

some photographs of my other stickers.

click to see the GIF I created

Please click on this image to see the moving Gif that i created, 

i made it by painting 2 images of a pigeon both in different positions and then merged the images together to create a make-shift animation. The motion is very robotic i feel, however i think this is quite similar to the way that pigeons move with short, quick movements. I am happy with the outcome if this piece as i have never created a Gif file before, and i think the outcome has been a small, quirky, little piece that nicely portrays the idea of the species in flight whilst showing some considered watercolour painting.

Paintings and Drawings

I have began to create imagery of Passenger Pigeons to add to my project, because I have an idea of eventually creating a zine about the Passenger Pigeon that I can circulate. The first is a painting that I created using water colours, the second of an ink drawing in which I tried to create a kind of natural science illustration.

pigeon stickers

I wanted to create other ways that I could spread awareness  of the Passenger Pigeon as well as actually help my flock migrate. Before i literally posted my species to migrate, but now I have created these stickers that I will spread, helping them to migrate! The stickers show a link to the blog so that if someone wishes to find out more information or is interested about the illustration they can have a look.

Murmuration of Starlings

http://vimeo.com/31158841
This video was found on Vimeo and i think its really beautiful footage of a Starling's murmuration, together with the imagery and music makes a amazing footage along with the overwhelmed narration of the girls filming it.

Reflective Summary

I have managed to shape my Contemporary Technologies project around a subject and processes that I have really enjoyed, making the assignment a real pleasure. Artistically I am always drawn to natural forms, especially birds. I think audiences find these themes aesthetically pleasing too due to a primal connection that we cannot detach ourselves from. Nature is everywhere, it was here long before we arrived, and will no doubt out live us humans. It s these thoughts which make natural forms so primitive, and is a recognisable basis that everyone can relate to.

My idea of pigeons migrating via the internet stemmed from a visit to the ‘Flock’ event at The Big Draw which used the idea of a flock of birds migrating to other countries in the post, however I adopted this idea and shaped it around my contemporary technologies brief, developing it to provide many outcomes.

I began experimenting with different origami techniques that I could use as my basis, after deciding which structure to create I made a visual tutorial and designed a paper to use which featured a pigeon pattern. I recorded a video of pigeons which I used as a source of visual reference and also did some initial drawings in my sketch book. Many artists work fed into my project, such as origami artists like Miho Aishima whose work was very inspirational when considering the final forms her work takes. Also I have looked at other illustrators like Harriet Russell, who was interesting to look when thinking about the design of my ‘Passenger Pigeon Information Packs’ in regards to her illustrated envelopes. I have used processes such as print making to add an eye catching element to my work, decorating envelopes with my pigeon designs. I then left these envelopes (‘Passenger Pigeon Information Packs’) on the tube so that my pigeons could travel to other areas and hopefully people will discover them and follow the instructions inside. I also sent a pack to a pigeon recovery sanctuary and I plan to send more to other bird sanctuaries as a way of spreading information about the Passenger Pigeon whose extinct species I chose to concentrate on.

This assignment has transformed my outlook when considering projects, as usually I am a very practical creator, preferring to hand make and craft. However this venture has leaded me to use contemporary technologies to develop my ideas, an aspect which I will be implementing when creating work in the future.

The Virtual Pigeon Project

A company called Bio Motion Lab have been creating and developing digital reproductions of pigeons, paying special attention to movement and behaviour. I think this is an interesting idea when thinking about my Pigeons spreading through the web, because they have lieterally created a digital copy of a pigeon and now this robotic species is exsisting online like an avatar which can be controlled and re designed. Take a look...

Origami Art

This origami art was created for an editorial piece in the men's magazine 'Esquire'. I think its a really interesting piece of work regarding origami as the artist has made natural forms into something so structured and man made, however the forms of the models have been constructed so well they are instantly recognisable as prehistoric animals. Also the artists has 'brought back to life' extinct species by craft and placed them into very natural scenes, recreating what was once there. I think this idea of man being able to recreate and build to anyones desire is very relevant of today's society especially when thinking about contemporary technologies and the depth into which we can take and access things. It is also visually pleasing and i enjoy the contrast between natural and made made, it has given me ideas about photographing my origami pigeons and perhaps where i could take the project next.

Someone Made A Pigeon!

I got an email from one of my friends who printed off the paper I designed and made an origami passenger pigeon. It was photographed in Harrow, North West London. This means that so far a bird has migrated from Willesden Green to Harrow, this isnt very far or impressive, but it is a start!
.....
(No reply back from the pigeon recovery sanctury yet though . . . as of yet)
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Harriet Russell's envelopes

Harriet Russell's book 'Envelopes' is a book which contains examples of the unconventional envelopes that she has sent and received. Each one has been illustrated, or defaced in an interesting style, however still incorporating the address and stamp in a unique way. Russell's envelope work was exciting  and inspirational to look at when thinking about how to make my envelopes eye catching and individual.

Extreme Origami Pigeon

http://www.flickr.com/photos/inqorigami/2221259707/
I wish I could make origami birds as brilliantly as this artist!

Package ready to be sent to Pigeon Recovery Sanctuary in Sutton

Lino printed envelope ready to be sent to the Pigeon Recovery Sanctuary located in Sutton.

I painted a pigeon sticker to put on theback as well as a link to my personal art blog so they can get a better idea of who I am if they wanted. 

Passenger Pigeon sticker to seal the envelope.

I hope they like it!