birds in art – Birds of Vermont Museum

Birds and Myth art show continues (October)

A white horse with a green decoration under its forelock looks at the viewer. Three birds in multicolored plumage accompany the horse. Painting by JoAnne Wazny, 2025, and shown with permission.

Birds and Myth continues in October! Visit often, as some works are for sale and may go to new homes during the season.

Birds are some of our teachers, not only through our senses and observations, but also through our stories about them. These stories can be factual accounts, broader myths, or something in between. Legends, beliefs, representations, truth, insight, guidance, metaphors, meanings, and understandings all play a part. What birds play a part in your autumn mythologies? You might enjoy reading the call to artists also.

The show is open when the Museum is (Wednesday – Sundays, May 1 – October 31) and is included with admission. Admission is free for members.

Exhibiting artists and writers:

Alice C (Burlington )
Alison Forrest (Huntington)
Alyssa B (Colchester)
Amanda Makepeace (Watkinsville, GA)
Anita Michele (Swanton)
Annette Goyne (Richford)
Aprille Soons Palmer (South Hero)
Cat McKeen (Essex Junction)
Chris Selin (South Burlington)
Dara Theodora (Fairfax)
Deana Allgaier (Huntington)
Deb Runge (Williston)
Denise Letendre (Castleton)
Elisabeth Mazzilli (Moretown)
Elodie Parthenay (Longueuil, QC)
Greg Didyoung (Wilmington)
Hannah Mahar (Grand Isle)
Heather Rusch Zelonis (Bristol)
Henry S (Jericho)
Jamie Quint (Richmond)
Jennefer Jolls (Williamstown)
Jessica Wilson (Saint Albans)
Jo Marsan (Johnson)
JoAnne Wazny (Enosburg Falls)
Judy Crocker (Burlington )
Julia S C (South Hero)
Julie Dunigan (South Hero)
Karla Van Vliet (Bristol)

Katrina Meyers (Colchester)
Kay Johnson (Hinesburg)
Kristen Donegan (Essex)
Kristin Dexter (Essex Junction)
Lily Hinrichsen (Bristol)
Lisa Acerbo (Trumbull, CT)
Marcia Vogler (Charlotte)
Miriam Adams (Hinesburg)
Nancy Leeman (Huntington)
Nancy Stone (Williston)
Nicole Gadouas (Swanton)
Olin P (Middlebury)
Patrick McAllister (Burlington )
Pedro Salas (Starksboro )
Peter Aldrich (Essex Junction)
Richard Crocker (Burlington )
Sandra Morris (East Middlebury)
Sandra VanVooren (East Hartford, CT)
Sarah Rosedahl (North Hero)
Steven Farrar (Richmond)
Theo Chang Andreu (South Burlington)
Todd Kiel (Bolton)
Tonya Whitney (Williston)
Tricia Knoll (Williston)
Viviane P (Richmond)
William Chaiken

Birds and Myth art show continues (September)

Baba Yaga's Hut in the Green Mountains: white earthenware clay sculpture of ramshackle cabin standing on two chicken legs. Created by Nancy Leeman, 2025, and shown with permission.

Birds and Myth continues in September! Visit often, as some works are for sale and may go to new homes during the season.

The Birds of Vermont Museum’s 2025 art show is centered on the ideas of birds, myth, meanings, metaphors, and guides. We called for art that brings birds and their meanings to retell an old story, weaves several together, represents beliefs, and/or creates a myth for the future.

The show is open when the Museum is (Wednesday – Sundays, May 1 – October 31) and is included with admission. Admission is free for members.

Exhibiting artists and writers:

Bird-craft for Community & Conservation

Enjoy a hands-on workshop where people of all ages and skill levels “craft for a cause” by creating soft-sculpture replicas of real birds lost to collisions and learn practical ways we can help protect birds in the built environment.

Bird Collisions in the Anthropocene leads this event at the Birds of Vermont Museum. They are a community art and advocacy project raising awareness about bird building collisions—a leading cause of bird mortality in the United States.

Included with museum admission (free for museum members!).

Register online, or call us (802 434-2167), or just drop in!

Outdoors if weather permits
All ages & skill levels welcome! All materials provided!

More About the Workshop

Make a small fabric bird based on a real migratory bird found in Vermont for Bird Collisions in the Anthropocene, a community-sourced conservation art project. Learn about migratory birds in Vermont and the hazards of glass windows, while we craft together.

At this bird-crafting workshop, you will decorate a small, pre-made fabric “bird body” with natural fabrics and small decorations like beads, shells, and buttons that you choose from our supplies. You’ll attach them using water-soluble tacky glue. The aim is to make your bird resemble a real bird species affected by building collisions. But, no pressure! You don’t have to be an artist or a crafter to use your imagination to bring a bird to life.

SPECIES WE’LL BE CRAFTING:

Common Yellowthroat
Magnolia Warbler
American Redstart
Ovenbird
Cedar Waxwing
Brown Creeper
Swamp Sparrow

Our “sculptures” will become part of a traveling art exhibit of 10,000+ birds, raising awareness about bird building collisions in the United States, a leading cause of bird mortality. Every year, nearly 2 billion birds die after colliding with glass in our country. Migratory birds are disproportionately affected by collisions.

Come craft a bird, bring a friend, meet new friends, and enjoy a wonderful morning of “crafting for a cause.”

See one of the workshops in action! https://www.instagram.com/p/C9UyjXhRx0u/?hl=en

Birds and Myth art show continues (August)

Thief by Elizabeth Mazzilli. Hooked wool on linen: blue background; black, red, and white raven; red and white sun. The raven hold the sun in its beak.

Birds and Myth continues in August! Visit often, as some works are for sale and may go to new homes during the season.

The show is open when the Museum is (Wednesday – Sundays, May 1 – October 31) and is included with admission. Admission is free for members.

Exhibiting artists and writers:

Birds and Myth art show continues (July)

Art by Jamie Quint. Watercolor /mixed media. A bald eagle (visible from shoulders up) looks at the viewer. A yellow circle frames its head; words beneath it say "Follow" "the guide" "Magnificent" "The Power" "Warrior". Shown with permission.

Birds and Myth continues in July! Visit often, as some works are for sale and may go to new homes during the season.

The show is open when the Museum is (Wednesday – Sundays, May 1 – October 31) and is included with admission. Admission is free for members.

Exhibiting artists and writers:

Birds and Myth art show continues (June)

Art by Cat McKeen: Democracy Phoenix Egg, rising from ashes - 24" left to right, 12" frnt to back, 12" tall. It's flatter in back so it can sit against a wall. It is made of scavenged sticks, branches, grasses, Papermache egg, embossed paper outer shell, base is recycled trophy base and 1800's barnboard. I've used an old metal wreath ring to help stabilize the branches. Acrylic paint, paper strips with words attached to inside of egg shell. Hand-painted parrot feathers, glue, Sage & Cinnamon added as Phoenix nest were supposed to have been made with fragrant wood.

Birds and Myth continues in June! Visit often, as some works are for sale and may go to new homes during the season.

The show is open when the Museum is (Wednesday – Sundays, May 1 – October 31) and is included with admission. Admission is free for members.

Exhibiting artists and writers:

Opening Day for Birds and Myth art show

Rainbow Crow: art by Aprille Soons Palmer of a rainbow-hued crow seen from underneath. It is flying up and left toward a sun-like object, bearing a flaming object in its beak.

The show is open when the Museum is (Wednesday – Sundays, May 1 – October 31) and is included with admission. Admission is free for members.

Exhibiting artists and writers:

Alice C (Burlington )
Alison Forrest (Huntington)
Alyssa B (Colchester)
Amanda Makepeace (Watkinsville, GA)
Anita Michele (Swanton)
Annette Goyne (Richford)
Aprille Soons Palmer (South Hero)
Cat McKeen (Essex Junction)
Chris Selin (South Burlington)
Dara Theodora (Fairfax)
Deana Allgaier (Huntington)
Deb Runge (Williston)
Denise Letendre (Castleton)
Elisabeth Mazzilli (Moretown)
Hannah Mahar (Grand Isle)
Heather Rusch Zelonis (Bristol)
Henry S (Jericho)
Jamie Quint (Richmond)
Jennefer Jolls (Williamstown)
Jessica Wilson (Saint Albans)
Jo Marsan (Johnson)
JoAnne Wazny (Enosburg Falls)
Judy Crocker (Burlington )
Julia S-C (South Hero)
Julie Dunigan (South Hero)

Karla Van Vliet (Bristol)
Katrina Meyers (Colchester)
Kay Johnson (Hinesburg)
Kristen Donegan (Essex)
Kristin Dexter (Essex Junction)
Lily Hinrichsen (Bristol)
Marcia Vogler (Charlotte)
Miriam Adams (Hinesburg)
Nancy Leeman (Huntington)
Nancy Stone (Williston)
Nicole Gadouas (Swanton)
Olin P (Middlebury)
Pedro Salas (Starksboro )
Peter Aldrich (Essex Junction)
Richard Crocker (Burlington )
Sandra Morris (East Middlebury)
Sandra VanVooren (East Hartford, CT)
Sarah Rosedahl (North Hero)
Steven Farrar (Richmond)
Theo Chang Andreu (South Burlington)
Todd Kiel (Bolton)
Tonya Whitney (Williston)
Viviane P (Richmond)
William Chaiken

January 2, 2025January 25, 2025

Call to Artists: Birds and Myth

Birds and Myth: meanings, metaphors, & guides

We seek to understand the world. Birds are some of our teachers, not only through our senses and observations, but also through our stories about them. These stories can be factual accounts, broader myths, or something in between. A myth might be a traditional legend, a widely-held-but-false belief, or a representation (or misrepresentation) of something true. A myth can offer insight into who we are, individually or collectively. A myth can offer us ways to behave and ideals to live by. What understanding of birds and humans have you gained through myths you have heard, told, or invented?

The Birds of Vermont Museum’s 2025 art show is centered on these ideas. We invite art submissions that bring birds and their meanings into art to retell an old story, weave several together, represent your beliefs, and/or create a myth for the future.
Continue reading “Call to Artists: Birds and Myth”

August 30, 2016July 15, 2018

Artists Gathering & Reception for “In Layers: The Art of the Egg”

Visit art and artists at “In Layers” Reception: Sept 10, 3-6pm.

http://ow.ly/69JM303i0vt http://ow.ly/i/ma2R8

March 12, 2013December 2, 2018

A Call to Vermont Bird Artists!

Do you do birds? The Birds of Vermont Museum and the Vermont Center for Ecostudies are collaborating on an exhibit for this year at the Birds of Vermont Museum. We are celebrating the VCE’s updated Breeding Birds of Vermont atlas and its release as a printed book (see more at http://www.vtecostudies.org/vbba/). This atlas is a gigantic citizen-science project and the result of hundreds of volunteers and thousands of hours of birding observations and data analysis.

We seek art to complement the data-rich maps and species descriptions. The exhibit will run from May 1 through October 31.

The birds we’re looking for are these:

American Kestrel
Bank Swallow
Blackpoll Warbler
Merlin
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Tufted Titmouse
Whip-poor-will

The art we seek is ready to hang, and is at least 10” x 10” (up to say, 3’x3’). We’re happy to consider sculptures (especially if it fits on a small wall-mounted mantle-style shelf or can be hung on a wall). We are hoping for a diversity of media, and we’re happy to carry some prints and cards of yours in our gift shop as well for the season. The original work can be for sale or not, at your discretion.

Are you interested? Do you have something you’d like to exhibit with us? Do you want to check out our exhibit space? Call or email us, tell us about it, and send us an image (.jpg preferred) by Friday, April 5. We’ll be choosing up to 15 works of art for this exhibit. We’ll need to hang the artwork by the first weekend in May. You can reach us (Erin, Kirsten, and Allison) at (802) 434-2167 and museum@birdsofvermont.org.

We look forward to seeing your work!