Junk Mail Migration at the Oskaloosa Art Center
The Oskaloosa Art Center is the next stop on the Junk Mail Migration tour of the state. If you aren’t familiar, this is a great artist run community center for the arts in Oskaloosa. You can take a class, enjoy artwork, and it seems like there is always some new event or art social happening!
What is the Junk Mail Migration project? The project was initially inspired by the question, "Where does junk mail come from?" which led to identifying the impact of deforestation on Iowa’s backyard, migratory bird populations. The series consists of paintings and an interactive tapestry featuring data from 12 migratory birds. You can read more about the making of the tapestry here.
From March 7 - April 26th, 2023, the traveling exhibit of the Interactive Migration Tapestry and Junk Mail Bird Paintings will be on view in the main floor of the Oskaloosa Art Center. Near the end of April, there will be a closing presentation about the process of creating the series and a hands-on weaving workshop.
The Junk Mail Migration Tapestry is a large-scale interactive hand-woven wall hanging that integrates art, craft, and technology. Visitors control the bird sighting data being displayed. Over 12 feet long and 4 feet wide, the tapestry is made using walnut dyed wool and LEDs. Over 100 years of bird sighting data illuminate the tapestry from within.
This project was made possible in part by the Iowa Arts Council’s grant program and in partnership with software engineer Jason B Shaw. Data courtesy of Cornell University Ornithology Lab’s citizen science project eBird.
Now it’s traveling all over Iowa to communities small and large. Love this work and want to help spread the reach of the work, the message, and boreal forest love? I need your help to continue its journey into 2024. Make a donation to support its continued migration around Iowa and Beyond!
Want to share the project details with your community or media platform? Here’s our official press release. Feel free to use any images on the website, just credit them to Kristin M Roach, Copyright 2023.
