Hear Philly: Bird, Nature-Themed Art Show Flies Into Historic Montgomery County Site
By Andrew Kramer
AUDUBON, Pa. (CBS) - For two weeks in April, artists' original work will be showcased at the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove during their 9th annual Art Show.
The show features the over 200 pieces of artwork from about 120 local and regional artists.
The Center's Education Manager, Carrie Ashley, explains to go along with their theme, which is "Drawn from Nature," they will honor the 100th anniversary of the carrier pigeon, and will do so in a very special way:
"We're doing an installation in the barn of over 1,000 origami passenger pigeons that are being folded by area students and community groups, and it's going to look like a virtual flock that will be flying at the middle of our historic barn where the art show is, so this is something that we've never had before and it's going to be really exciting."
Each year, the show features different types of art. Ashley says if you're a fan of birds, like herself, you definitely don't want to miss this year's show:
"Some of the things that I have fallen in love with, of course, is bird art, so we have had just amazing photographs of birds."
The show will take place in the Center's historic barn, which is not always open for everyone to see. Ashley says on top of that, folks will also get to experience the John James Audubon house itself -- the first home in America of John James Audubon -- while the Art Show is taking place:
"The house will be open and free to the public," she says. "You'll get a chance to tour the house and it's a three-story house with a lot of his original prints."
Ashley says one reason to see this show is to support local artists. She says another reason..."because you're going to see a beautiful art installation of between 1,000 and 2,000 origami passenger pigeons made by school groups as young as 1st grade and as old as high schoolers and it will really give you an idea just how amazing these birds were."
She adds everything they're doing in relation to the passenger pigeons make this a very meaningful show:
"We always say, 'the most common of birds can go extinct.' At one point there was over three billion and now there's none."
The show runs from April 12th-27th, every day except Monday.
For more information you can visit the John James Audubon Center website, the Audubon Pennsylvania website or find the John James Audubon Center on Facebook. You can also call the Center at (610) 666-5593.
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