The Hipstabird Series
I love chickens, the softness of their feathers and their rich red combs and ivory beaks. I love the rooster’s crowing in the early morning and whenever I travel, I seek out the heart of the city, the local markets where the community thrives and is nourished. In folklore, the chicken represents a transitional animal, one poised on the threshold of change. They are keenly aware of the darkness, and they awake each day knowing to look for the light. The seagull is a survivor and represents stamina, perseverance and cunning. They are shore birds and seldom venture far from land. Seashores are places of great mystery and magic, a unique combination of both land and sea. The seagull symbolizes how to effectively live in both dimensions.
The Hipstabird series begins with the morning light and life is playful, happy and whimsical. Multi-dimensions are shown with subtle interaction between layers (1-6). Orange pods evolve, representing life and rebirth (5,6). The long somewhat unrecognizable beak on the left (8) reaches into the basket and source of life, giving and receiving from both worlds, providing that essential connection that this series so subtly expresses. As the story develops, the chicken’s heads began to disappear (10-16), no red combs for accent or color and it seems as if a transformation is occurring. The birds are becoming softer and conveying a sense of calm. In image 11, the boat is sinking and acting as a vehicle for the birds to move into a different place. Simultaneously, another boat is picking them up on the other side and they appear to be landing softly. This transition is subtle and yet despite the ease in which this shift occurs, we don’t underestimate the fact that things are changing into yet another unknown form. The series ends with a quiet landscape in which the new transition begins with seagulls leading the way (17-20).
I use my photos as a palette, taking forms, colors and textures to create an entirely new image. These layers have been building up since I discovered Photoshop eleven years ago. Often I take parts of previously flattened layers to begin a new piece, so in essence these images have eleven years of textures and history. I begin with just a simple concept, “birds”. Using the symbolism of the chicken and the seagull, the images take on a life of their own, becoming a reflection of my personal journey. The bird has been set free…at least for the moment.
