Photo attached is a Great Auk, a bird driven to extinction in modern times.
(Cazenovia, NY – Oct. 2013) Mr. Hubbard’s Salon, the Cazenovia Public Library’s discussion group, presents The Lost Bird Project, an inspirational film about nature, art, and remembrance. This film by three-time Oscar nominee Deborah Dickson will be shown on Monday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. in the Library Community Room. All are welcome.
The Lost Bird Project is a film about public art, extinction, and memory. It is an elegy to five extinct North American birds and a thoughtful, moving, sometimes humorous, look at art and inspiration.
The film tells the story of sculptor Todd McGrain’s quest to memorialize five birds—the Heath Hen, Passenger Pigeon, Carolina Parakeet, Great Auk, and Labrador Duck—that have been driven to extinction in modern times. It documents the road-trip that McGrain and his brother-in-law, Andy Stern, take as they search for the locations where these birds were last seen in the wild and negotiate for permission to install McGrain’s large bronze sculptures at these spots.
McGrain’s aim in placing the sculptures is to give presence to the birds where they are now so starkly absent.
“These birds are not commonly known,” said McGrain, “and they ought to be, because forgetting is another kind of extinction. It’s such a thorough erasing.”
The film is produced by Muffie Meyer, whose previous directing credits include the original Grey Gardens documentary as well as several Emmy award-winning documentaries. The score is composed by Grammy-winner Christopher Tin.
For more information on Mr. Hubbard’s Salon or other events at the Cazenovia Public Library, call 655-9322 or visit www.cazenoviapubliclibrary.org.