Recycled bird with outer covering of found bald-faced hornet nest and metallic wrapping tissue; bird body made from reclaimed materials (cardboard, postcards, packing newsprint); legs made from reclaimed wire from spiral notebook; mounted on a found grater.

Like birds, bald-faced hornets build homes that echo the resources of their immediate surroundings, chewing bark from nearby trees to make their nests They build the layered walls in small strips of colored pulp that reflect the varied barks. These birds are a call to respect the intricate balance we all rely on to survive. A portion of the sale of this bird will be donated to the Rock Creek Conservancy (https://www.rockcreekconservancy.org).

I collect empty nests when they are blown out of trees. The paper-like material is fragile and water repellent, making it fairly tricky to work with, but the results are so subtle and beautiful, I can't resist.

WEIGHT AND DIMENSIONS:

4.95 oz; 9"H x 4"W x 3"D